Can you tell us a little about yourself
,your blog(s)/website(s),and your aspirations and your hobbies!!
I was born in a “dormitory town” called Reading, not
famous for much, apart from a huge Rock festival, and for the fact that Oscar
Wilde was sent to prison there and wrote “The Ballad of Reading
Gaol”. My family then moved to a farm in the country, in Sussex, not too far
from London. I was sent aged eight, to a boarding school, so I would spend long
periods away from my family. Imagine
having regular prison sentences, imposed upon you, as a child. At some of the
schools I attended, there were psychotic teachers and cruel nasty
children. I used to count the days when
I could be reunited with my family. I
became a recluse in the art room and painting was my salvation. I had a teacher
who encouraged me to paint and introduced me to various artists, including Kandinsky. I went
from austere harsh boarding schools to Art College, a very different
environment.
My websites
are
https://francishpowellwriter.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/flightofdestinyshortstories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwNl0F6095Q
http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Destiny-Francis-H-Powell/dp/0988664097/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
http://theflightofdestiny.yolasite.com/
How you first got involved in with blogging/writing,
are you an imaginative person?
I moved to a remote village in Austria. It was not far
from Vienna, but a very oppressive and strange environment. I thought I should
try writing a book. I launched into it…nothing came of it. I do many creative
activities, painting as well as writing music. Writing lay dormant, put to one
side. Then later, living in Paris at this point in time, via an advert, I made
contact with a man called Alan Clark, who had a literary magazine called “Rat
Mort” (dead rat). I submitted four short
stories for this magazine, encouraged by Alan, I began to write more and more
short stories, and developed a style…I guess if I compare these stories to
earlier efforts at writing…there has been a huge development…I am sure my early
attempts were imaginative but raw. I
have always been a creative and imaginative person. I went to Art College, but I have always done
different creative things, like writing music, making videos…
What do you find most challenging about blogging/writing
about your topic?
I think with writing, especially as
I write short stories, it is important have really powerful first sentences, as
well as finishing strongly.
Tell me about some of the people you have
met while working on your blog?
Since I have been promoting my book
(Flight of Destiny) I have met some fellow writers.
How would (someone) describe your blogging/writing
style?
I have been compared to Edgar Alan
Poe. I am very much influenced by Roald Dahl’s short stories and I try always
to put an unexpected twist, at the end of each story.
What do you do when you are not working on
your blog?
I am a teacher, I teach different
students, some are architecture
students. I teach both British and American culture.
Where do you see
yourself blogging/writing wise in the next 6 months, and 5 years down the road?
My aim is to have follow up books published.
What networking do
you do that you feel helps your blogging/writing business?
I do Goodreads, facebook, Twitter, as well as other
social networking sites. I have posted
videos on youtube, my page is called
Flight of Destiny.
How do you keep
coming up with material/content for your blog? Many people struggle with coming
up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.
I think about things from different angles. I do an
author to author interview exchange.
Whats your
strategy with your blog in general?
I guess I want
it to be linked to as many websites as possible. To see “Flight of Destiny
a book of 22 short stories by Francis H Powell” in as many places as possible.
Any specific tips
you have for newbie bloggers who want to make it in the blogosphere?
To look for likeminded people so you can grow
together.
What would you
prioritize? Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers?
I suppose a mix of all three.
Whats the best
thing a blogger can give to his readers?
Interesting information and updates.
A lot of people
are interested in blogging/writing for the money earning potential. What are
some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging/writing? What
are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?
My hope is that if I work hard enough, I will sell more copies of my book. Maybe I need a lucky break…Somehow a Tim
Burton type, chances on my book, and decides to make into his next film. I can but imagine.
What motivates
you most in life?
To do things well, to be creative, to entertain
people, make them think, to inspire others…many things…
What has been
your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog?
To post…post..post…and to search for as many opening
as I can..
Name some of the
bloggers whom you look up to and why?
I am more thankful to anybody who has given me an
opportunity to do an author spotlight or do an interview…it is hard to name
names…
What is the story
behind the name of the blog?
It is the same as the name of my book…Flight of
Destiny…
Five adjectives
that describe you.
I would like to
think…creative…witty…brave…unusual…humane…
What book would
you say has made the biggest impact good or bad on you?
Any book by the writer Rupert Thompson has a
powerful positive impact…
Do you get easily
provoked by positive/negative comments??
I would like to think “no” but the reality is
different, most people like or not are stung and hurt by criticism.
Do you plan to
write a book, as every bloggers dream it is?
As I said before I am hoping to have a second book
published…
Are you a
judgmental person, do you prefer to take sides instead of standing neutral?
I am strongly opinionated, but being a teacher I
often have to present both sides of an argument.
Your
collaboration with other bloggers, are you much into social networking, tell us
everything about it?
At the moment I am really into social
networking…expanding my contacts and I have already said spreading my name and
my book as far as I can.
Words for me and
my blogs Desire v/s Destiny and Blogger Interviews and my Website www.MyMagicJobs.com
God luck carry on the good work…
On winning the
Award/s , Are they Really necessary.
Nice if you can get them…
So whats Next in
your list?
As I said before a second book of short stories.
Words for your
readers and why they should follow you?
My book is about, the freaks,
outsiders, the downtrodden and oppressed of this world. Maybe people who were
or who are still fans of “The Smiths”…people stuck in bedsits…in dingy
surroundings…you might like this book.
People who wear black, who are “Goths” who like Edgar Alan Poe…you might
like this…People who hate hunting…have issues with the establishment…abhor the
British class system…this will be a book for you…I don’t consider myself a
horror writer…but I certainly show the cruelty of mankind…and the depths they
can sink to…There are also 22 illustrations that go with the stories…
