Author Spotlight: Farida Mestek

I started writing down things when I was very young. Before I knew how to write, I would make up stories and act them out in front of my family. As a child and a teenager I was more of a poet: I wrote poems about love – especially tragic kind – and about animals. I also wrote songs, because at one point I wanted to be a singer, and essays, when I wanted to talk about something that was bugging me. My best friend and I used to share our stuff over the phone, because we were so proud of our scribbles :)) Oh, those were good times! Dreams were big and seemed just within our reach. I also kept journals at various times, mostly, in order to deal with my emotions, disappointments, doubts and fears.

When I was sixteen, I had an idea for Almendra, and, from that time on, I knew that I wanted to tackle prose and to become a real writer. But I didn't start writing my first book straightaway. I knew that I had to work on my writing skills and style, develop my voice and enlarge my vocabulary first, so I took to doing writing prompts, reading up on writing and writing fanfiction. When I thought I was ready, I finally started working on Almendra. I worked tirelessly and devotedly on her story during my university years, and she and her friends became a part of my life and even that of my family. When the book was complete, I tried getting it published and began sending out my submissions. As naïve as I was back then, I thought that acquiring an agent would be a piece of cake. But five years later the book was still where it had been before: in my computer folder.

Thankfully, five years in publishing industry saw many changes and made it possible to get published without acquiring an agent. I took a break from Almendra and started working on something entirely different: Jane Austen-esque Regency-set stories. The kind of stories that are not popular with the majority of Regency Romance fans, but the kind of stories that I like to read. Then, last year, I felt a great wave of nostalgia and reread Almendra. I remembered why I liked it so much and, encouraged by my family, submitted it to Girlebooks. They published my first Regency-set novel “Margaret's Rematch” and agreed to publish “Almendra: A Fairy-Tale” too.

Now I continue working in my two favourite genres: Fantasy and Regency. I have big plans for Almendra. Because I have a great deal of backstory, I want to write a prequel about the foundation of The Upper Kingdom as well as rework and expand Almendra's story into a three-book novel. As for my Regency-set stories, I've got loads of ideas for novellas, novels and even series of books. I would also like to try writing screenplays. And, though my transition from a writer to a published author isn't going as smoothly and successfully as I would have liked, I hope to have my own, devoted readership one day.

Blog: http://the-upper-kingdom.blogspot.com/

To buy Farida's book, visit http://girlebooks.com/ebook-catalog/farida-mestek/almendra/