What inspired you to become an author?
I never really set out to be an author,
but writing is something I always knew I could do. When I was at school, some
of my friends could sing, some could draw… I could write. I was the editor in
chief of the school paper so I edited and wrote news articles, I wrote many of
the school plays I performed in, I entered poetry writing competitions and
performed spoken word poetry, I wrote the speeches I delivered in oratorical
competitions, declamation, debates, etc. At the time, I thought I was doing so
many different things, but looking back, everything I chose to do involved
writing.
How did you come up with the title for your latest book?
I wanted something that would encapsulate
the romantic and fantastical elements of the book. Like everything else, it
came to me when I was minding my own business and not thinking about it.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
‘Heartbound’ is a fantasy so it’s
littered with elements that are out of this world (literally). But at its core,
it’s about questioning and finding one’s own identity, trying to find a
resolution between who you’re meant to be and who you want to be. It’s about
finding the bravery and courage to go against the tides, refuse to conform, and
fight for something that means everything to you but means nothing to everyone else.
Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true-life
experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?
I moved from the Philippines to London,
so I was able to draw from my own experiences when writing about Petyr’ s
struggle to adapt to his new environment, fit in, and find a sense of
belongingness in an unfamiliar world.
What books/authors have influenced your life?
I
love writers that make me feel something I can’t explain or change my
perspective. When I read anything by Virginia Woolf, for example, be it an
essay or a novel, I feel baffled and enlightened all at once. ‘Paradise Lost’
by John Milton, ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe and ‘Dubliners’ by James
Joyce are some of my favourites because these literary pieces pulled me into an
unfamiliar world and compelled me to change my perspective.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I think poets more than novelists have
influenced the way I think, the way I see the world, and the way I write. There
are so many, but if I have to choose one, it’ll have to be John Milton. I was
raised Roman Catholic so when I read ‘Paradise Lost,’ I found the sublimity and
the epic heroism in a figure I grew up seeing as a one-dimensional villain very
enlightening. It was empowering to see how Milton took something a lot of
people considered sacred, especially at the time, and manipulated it with such
grace, such skill.
What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?
I’m working on three novels at the moment.
One of them is the second book in the Heart Series (sequel to ‘Heartbound’).
The other two came to me at the same time, and I just couldn’t choose between them.
I’m also working on some poetry (spoken word). I’m building a collection that
will hopefully be ready for publication by next year. There’s a video
performance available for ‘Unmoving,’ and a few more from the collection should
be up soon.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you
about their work?
This
is always the most difficult question to answer because there’s just too many!
If I have to choose though, it’s got to be John Milton and Virginia Woolf and
James Joyce and Chinua Achebe and… (it’s impossible to pick just one).
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Write for yourself. It doesn’t matter if
your style doesn’t fit the current trend or if some circles won’t consider it
“good writing.” Write because you want to, and write whatever the hell you want.
Writing is not a way to fit in or please others. It’s one of the very few
things in the world that allows the liberty to be true to yourself.
Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think
represents this book?
Chapter 1: BELIEVE by Mumford and
Sons
Chapter 2: EVERYTHING by Lifehouse
Chapter 3: BUILD IT BETTER by
Aaron White
Chapter 4: FEELS LIKE HOME by Chantal
Kreviazuk
Chapter 5: WHEN YOU FIND ME by
Joshua Radin feat. Maria Taylor
Chapter 6: GHOSTS THAT WE KNEW by
Mumford and Sons
Chapter 6: GRACIOUS by Ben Howard
Chapter 8: SOMEBODY TO DIE FOR by
Hurts
Chapter 9: FLAWS by Bastille
Chapter 10: HERE IS A HEART by
Jenny Owens
WAS THERE NOTHING by Ásgeir
Epilogue: SCARS by James Bay
ATLAS
HANDS by Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Heartbound
P.I. Alltraine
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Date of Publication: July 2015
Number of pages: 295
Word Count: 65,000
Book Description:
Petyr has never found it necessary to consider the humans as anything more than distant, inferior beings–until now. They are the cause of the fatal disease that has plagued his realm, taking the lives of too many of his kind.
As a future leader of a realm in peril, Petyr must find a way to resist and cure the affliction. He must enter the unfamiliar realm, appear to be an ordinary eighteen-year-old human, observe and learn.
However, things don't exactly go according to plan. Instead of embarking single-mindedly on his sober mission, Petyr meets an 18-year-old girl who does things to his emotions that he can't quite fathom or control. Petyr is falling in love, and he almost forgets the gravity his choices have on his entire world. Despite the risk it poses to his life and hers, he wants to know her, and he wants her to know him–and his world.
About the Author:
P.I. Alltraine is an award winning poet and author. She has won several international poetry competitions, and her poems have been published in separate anthologies.
She teaches English Language and Literature in London. She earned her degree in BA English from Queen Mary University of London, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and Master’s in Teaching at the UCL Institute of Education, University of London.
Before moving to London, she lived in the Philippines where she was ensconced in the rich culture encrusted with dark myths and enchanted tales. She draws inspiration from these in her writing. Although she has lived indifferent places and experienced different cultures, she always enjoyed the constancy of writing in her life. Her favourite authors include John Milton, Virginia Woolf and James Joyce.
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