Name Livia York
Age I am 73 years old
Where are you from
I was born in Rome, Italy on the 9th July 1942 1 now live on the Gold Coast of Australia.
A little about yourself ‘ie your education Family life etc
At the height of WWII on the 13th August 1943 1 was rescued from a bombed apartment by my nanny. I lived in privileged boarding schools with the nuns from the age of six. My education was interrupted at age thirteen when I was taken to live on a farm in Sardinia Italy with my relatives. I lived with them for two years before arriving in Australia in 1958 where my mother had migrated to in 1956. I have one surviving son from my first marriage. I have been married to my soul mate husband Glenn for 44 years. We are both still actively working as equal partners as Financial Risk Insurance Advisers
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
I am in the process of writing three sequels to my book because the why and how I wrote ‘Rise, The Abused Child of the Phoenix’ in my view, will be more interesting than the first book. What I can say about myself is that I love my life, and I accept and deal with confidence anything that life sends my way.
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
My writing began after my beloved fifty-one years old daughter Daniela passed away from cancer on the 21 October 2012. I was then seventy two years old. For ten months after her passing she would manifest herself into my dreams every night giving me instructions on things she wanted me to do. Following her instructions I started writing my Ancestors story in August 2013. Sitting up in bed, at night only with just the light from my laptop, I would write for six to eight hours. Every night, when I opened my laptop I would not need to read the last paragraph from the night before, I would automatically pick up from where I left off. For eleven months sleeping only through the day I typed 141,501 words one letter at the time. I have been told I was channeled by my mother and Daniela.
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I didn’t consider myself a writer it was something I was compelled to do.
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
As I said 1 was compelled to write about my ancestors my mother and myself by my departed daughter.
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?
My first book is in the narrative of the first person, me, because my book is my family true story. I follow the same style with the sequels.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
Throughout the years my ancestors have struggled and overcame many challenges like most families I guess, but the title manly represents my mother and I overcoming , not only the horrors of war and the challenges of life, but of myself being trapped in a violent marriage following my raped at fifteen years of age.
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Yes, want my readers to know that there can be life after tragedy. My book is of triumph over abuse.
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic ?
100%
Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Yes, my ancestors, my mother and me, from 1889 to 1969.
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?
I’ve not had a mentor. I love reading true life stories.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
Kathy Lette: The boy who fell to Earth.
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Yes, a local Author who has written about her autistic child.
Fiona: What are your current projects?
I am writing what I consider to be more important that my first book. The story of why and how I came to write my first book.
Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Lyn & David Hinds: my long standing friends of over thirty years. I had not seen them for two years, and unbeknown to me, they were recording an inspirational song at the same time as I was writing my manuscript. They called their song: Rise.
The song is now my book signature.
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
Yes, without interrupting my business carrier.
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Definitely not.
Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
From childhood my mother would constantly tell me of our ancestor’s stories, I in turn told my children about it. My departed daughter would often tell me to write the stories down because she was concerned that she may not be able to relate the stories to her children. After her passing she channeled me, she was the writer I was simply the instrument.
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Three books in the making: 1) the why and how of book one. 2) The first three years. Of my life after escaping from a violent marriage. 3) The making of a Brady Bunch for the last forty-five years, warts and all.
Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
No favorites, I like any kind of readings. I have not been influenced by any writer.
Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I self-published my book in October 2015 and I promote my book within my state of Queensland Australia.
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
1 did, with the help of In-house Publishing, the business who printed my book.
Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
To having to tell my son things from my past I had buried in my subconscious for over forty-five years, and of things he was not aware of about his father.
Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learn what made me strong. That in order to do the right thing by others I have to first be true to myself.
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
If you are self-published like me don’t expect your book to sell itself or for others to rush to buy your book, be prepared to promote your book all the way.
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I am passionate about my book because has made me see that there are way too many women in the same situation as I was, caught in domestic violence. I wish to continue the conversation about it and not sweep it under the carpet. I believe it’sthe only way to educate the adults of the future to respect one another.
Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
It was Little Women. My mother gave me the book as a reward for successfully passing the exams in 1955.
Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?
Mother Nature has gifted me with a positive attitude I love laughing at anything apart from crude/rude/racist jokes. I love my life. I only cry at the loss Of a loved one, and only when I am on my own, manly when I am in the shower.
Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?
My mother and my daughter, both passed, together if I could, I would love to learn how they channeled me.
Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?
She was the forever optimist. She believed she would live ’till past 100.
Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?
I love drawing rugged looking faces with just a black pencil. I love music and with my soul mate I have been a semi-professional artist.
Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
History, true stories, musicals like Chicago, and fantasies like Avatar.
Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music
Favorite food: Pasta, salads and crusty breads. Favorite colors: Blue, green, white and black in that order. Music: love ballads, light jazz, light country, music of the forties, the sixties, the seventy…any good music…not heavy rock.
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
My dream as a child was to be an archeologist and discover antiquity…l never want to stop discovering and learning.
Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
Website: www.liviayork.com working toward a blog.
Dear Fiona, I know it’s long time coming. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of your wonderful project. For your interest visit my new website and see my Author’s interview and book trailer combined. Regards, Livia York
Buying link USA http://www.amazon.com/RISE-Abused-Child-Phoenix-Story/dp/1925388328/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464502572&sr=1-2
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