Interview with YA author Dmitriy Kushnir

Novelist Dmitriy Kushnir joins me today to chat about his new YA fiction, Thea Reeves and The Tear of the Morning Star.

During his virtual book tour, Dmitriy will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops, too.

Bio:
Dmitriy Kushnir is a Sarasota, FL local and is a student of life. In his younger years, he had served in the military and received various degrees from multiple universities. One day, Dmitriy Kushnir realized that he had just too much to share with the world and began writing in the fields of philosophy, business, religion, history, fantasy and science fiction. To this day, he has written more than 40 books under various aliases.

Welcome, Dmitriy. Please share a little bit about your current release.
I chose to write Thea Reeves series in order to inspire my daughter to read. I created a character, Thea Reeves, as a hero a young girl could look up to. It is a story about an ordinary teenager, who is entangled in extraordinary circumstances with mythical creatures and beings.

What inspired you to write this book?
I was inspired by my young daughter. I also wanted to write a series with a female character in the lead, and to have a book that is easy to read and does not leave a bad aftertaste.

Excerpt from Thea Reeves and The Tear of the Morning Star:
The girl took her eyes away from the pug and redirected all of her attention toward the raven, who sat just a few feet away from her. She talked softly, so no one, especially not even one of her neighbors or her parents would overhear. People these days may get the wrong idea from just a few misheard words, and the witch hunts and trials can begin again. Women have always been identified as the weaker sex throughout the centuries, and every time a woman spoke out or displayed any kind of strong character, she was met with oppression ... especially from the side of organized religion. Not long ago, Thea learned about Salem Witch Trials a few centuries back, and about how many ordinary women were tried by the church and by their neighbors and were executed. History tends to repeat itself.

I am no longer ordinary. Thea thought to herself, and immediately understood that no longer being ordinary could actually have a negative impact, rather than a positive one.

What exciting story are you working on next?
This will be a bit of the spoiler, but the next book (this will be book 5 of the Thea Reeves series) will be about Thea Reeves meeting the dwarf king.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

The first time I earned a royalty from the sale of my first book, I considered myself a professional writer. Only once you earned any kind of income/royalty/commission, can you consider yourself to be a professional in any kind of venture.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
No, I have other ventures I pursue full-time. Writing has always been a hobby, even if I spend ten or twelve hours a day writing, it will always be a passion and a hobby.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

We have a vacant RV trailer on our property. If it ever gets too loud or too crowded in the house, I usually escape to the trailer in order to write. Once I went an entire day with my family thinking I was in the city, when I was only a few steps away in the trailer ... writing.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I honestly do not remember, but definitely not the individual I currently am. I currently inspire thousands on daily basis and have the thousands I inspire, inspire me in return.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
The reason I do not include images in my books is because images kill imagination. So put your tablet or smartphone aside, pick up a book with no pictures and give your imagination a mental exercise.

Links:

Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon book page

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