Background
Information on the Author
A product of a true melting-pot family, Aman Kay is
a published author/poet on three continents in several languages. The themes and motifs in his poetry and prose reflect
his sincere love and regards for human race and its future challenges. Although established in the circle of
academic and scholarly endeavors (since the early 1990s he has been included in
various Who’s Who volumes), Aman is much in touch with the world of an average
citizen. He spends plenty of time
reading genre writers, watching popular movies, and participating in
sports. He is a serious NBA and NFL and
international soccer (football) and tennis fan.
Tell
us about the genre of your work.
This particular book is a collection of my
poetry. These are like my children that
I have been guarding for several decades.
The themes of my verses are the reflection of every person’s joy,
prosperity, failure, heart-breaking experiences and the like.
Why
did you choose this genre?
A great Persian poet was once asked, “Why do you
write poetry?” He replied, “It’s like
you ask an apple tree why your fruit is apple?”
Like him, I, too, do not know what really happens. I live, I enjoy and I laugh; I suffer and I
cry, and then when the time is right everything comes together and I have a new
poem. At the time of versifying my new
production, I am merely a narrator who is simply acting as though he is taking
dictation.
How
is writing in the genre you write, different than other genre?
In addition to writing poetry, I write novels,
analytical articles, and other types of non-fiction pieces. Poetry, to me, is the ultimate refuge and
savior. I love and enjoy writing prose. When I complete a poem, however, and I reread
it a few days later (I hardly ever polish my original verses because I do not
believe in artificial creation), I feel like I am closer to humankind and our
unending common grounds. My soul rests
much easier at least for a while.
What
are some of your books, stories that have been published?
I cannot even come close to recalling the hundreds
of poems and various pieces that I have published worldwide. I have published several books in other
languages, an out-of-print novel in English, and now I have Wings of Times published.
Can
you tell us where we may find your newly released collection of poetry.
It was just released this May, and it is available
on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Wings-Time-Selected-Poems-Volume/dp/1475215258/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339980578&sr=1-1&keywords=aman+kay
Where do you get your ideas for writing?
As
I indicated earlier, for my poetry it is the idea and the poem that come to me
sometime “in single spies” and sometime in battalions.” For my analytical pieces, I always seek ideas
from the original source, i. e., a film, a play, a short story, or a novel. For my make-believe stories, I rely mainly on
fictionalized true events.
What
is your favorite thing about your book?
As a rule, I do not like to talk about myself or my
books. About this particular book of
poetry, I want to think that I truly like it because there is nothing
artificial about it. Each poem is an
honest reflection of all that has led to its production.
Why
and when did you begin writing? Is there
any one person who had a big influence on you or encouraged you to write?
From elementary years, I developed a mysterious love
affair with words and verbal expressions.
It was from those 3rd and 4th grade years that I
started writing, but I used to hide my writings from others. Like almost all other mothers, my late mom
was the main source of motivation and inspiration. Later on, I was fortunate enough to be
encouraged by a variety of teachers, movie stars, writers, poets, and
movie/theatre directors.
What
is your writing schedule? What
atmosphere do you need to write?
Unfortunately, as much as I do not want to admit it,
I am not a considerably disciplined writer. The more grey hair I get, the less motivated
I am; nevertheless, I still find time to write.
Anywhere away from the home-office is the best atmosphere for me! I’d love to take my laptop to a nearby park
or on a cruise ship and write as I am exposed to nature and especially open
water.
What
projects are you working on now, or plan for the future?
I am actually disciplining
myself to complete two novels that are completed and need final touches. I am working on a book that can be used as a supplementary
book for upper high school and college students in their literature
classes. In this book I guide the
potential readers through various stages and strategies of identifying
essential components of elements of fiction and infer the hidden/implied points
more confidently. And of course I am
usually writing more poems that may turn into another book in the future.
What
kind of advice or tips do you have for someone who wants to write and be
published?
Do not ever, ever try to be someone else. Write what you know and what you enjoy. Be mindful of your potential audiences, but
never forget the late John Macdonal’s advice: Write to please yourself. “When that happens, you will like the work
too.” Too, know your craft and be smart and wise
enough to realize that you can always benefit from others. Lastly, be patient. In this amazingly competitive world, less and
less great writers are being discovered in a short time.
Are
there any other comments, advice or tips that you would give to beginning
writers?
The only thing you should resent about your writing
is that it takes time away from your reading!
What
do you do when you are not writing?
Sports, movies, plays, traveling, and visiting my
favorite restaurants are among the basic things I do when I am not writing.
Include
anything else you may wish to add.
If you have been reading everything
I have been saying to this point, I am truly grateful to you, dear reader.
What
“Made It” moments have you experienced in life?
Every moment is truly precious. I have never been fascinated with the
destination. It’s the journey and its
adventures that have been inspiring me.
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