Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Reading and writing; they often go hand in hand. Both have played a significant role in molding me into the person I’ve become. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, taking up a lifestyle where I spend hours on top of hours editing might seem torturous, but the challenge of it all brings forth a sense of satisfaction that makes it all worth it.
I published my first book shortly before my 24th birthday, and holding a physical copy of it was my equivalent to winning a trophy for the first time. The first draft only took me 30-days to write, so I thought -‘I’ll be finished in no time!’-, rookie mistake. It seemed that there was always something coming up that was setting me back. Whether that be a crashing computer, file sync errors, or my own incompetence with formatting, I kept finding myself re-writing chapters of my book. Trial and error; sometimes that’s how we learn our lessons. It’s only wasted time if I continue to make the same mistakes time and time again.
The book I’ve published was not the first book I worked on. I had been trying to find the right project for years before I settled into the right one. Understandably, some of those others I’ve worked on may never see the light of day, which is fine, because they served as practice for the real thing.
Given my interest in history and writing, it would not be outlandish to assume that my favorite school subjects were History and English, but my interest in those subjects didn’t really develop until after I graduated. I was interested in EVERYTHING; world history, binomial nomenclature, anatomy, business, astronomy, psychology, etc. (world religion came later). I was buying second-hand books thirty at a time, I was filling notebooks with horrendously unorganized notes, and the flaw in my note-taking became gruesomely apparent. My ‘new and improved’ note-taking strategy came to form the e-newsletter that I started writing back in 2016.
Whenever someone discovers that I’ve published a book, they almost always ask if I’m going to write another one. The question throws me off every time, because writing is what I do, it’s who I am.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Mahdi: The Guided One; History & Controversy is the name of my book. It’s a historical look at messianic figure from Islam that has a complex story. Islam is a polarizing subject in the Western world.
One question I always get asked is -‘Are you Muslim?’-. I am not. I’ve never practiced any religion. Religion often serves as a foundation for how people decide to live their lives. Religion is full of symbolism and beautiful stories. Religion is something many people hold very close and dear to their hearts. But I didn’t grow up in a religious household and I find joy just in studying the world religions as an outsider looking in. With that said, my decision to write this book came from a desire to understand, not to deface.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing habits are not unusual to me. I can write in complete silence or while listening to music. I can write day or night. I do struggle to focus though if I can hear a TV, a podcast, or just general chatter in the background. One habit that some may find unusual is that I work on more than one book at the same time. By that I mean that I can work on ‘Project A’ for a day, then the very next day work on ‘Project B’.
I do have an usual reading habit. I can switch from reading ‘Book A’ to ‘Book B’, switching after each chapter, and I never confuse them with one another, even if they’re both works of fiction on similar subjects. I’ve done this with 7+ books at the same time with no issues. I never thought anything of it until people saw what I was doing and discovered that they were very much confused by how I could do it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are many authors that have probably influenced my writing. Some of the authors that I’ve got a great deal of respect for include Nikos Kazantzakis, Sigmund Freud, David George Haskell, Daniel Quinn, Douglas Brinkley, Ayn Rand, Fiona McIntosh and many more.
What are you working on now?
A project of top priority that I’m working on at the moment is a historical novel. Writing fiction is a bit out of my comfort zone, but it’s exciting thus far. I don’t have an estimated date of publication; it’s too early to tell at this time.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m the wrong person to ask for tips on book promo. I’m optimistic that I’ll see good results here at AwesomeGang.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to anyone that wants to publish a book:
No matter how prepared you think you are, you’re going to find something that’s going to challenge you. Don’t walk away from a challenge. You’re going to make mistakes, just try to learn from them so you don’t make them over and over again. You can read it over a million times, but it’s best to get a second and third opinion, because there’s a good chance you’ve made some silly mistakes that only a fresh set of eyes are able to catch. Lastly, remember that the best way to become a better writer is to write more often. Practice makes perfect.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Some of the best advice is the most overlooked; practice makes perfect. If you want to get better at something, then practice, practice, practice.
What are you reading now?
I’m slowly working my way through Zen and the Art of Making a Living (1993) by Laurence Boldt.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m revamping my e-newsletter, promoting my published book, and continuing to work on my historical novel.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1.) Report to Greco (1961) by Nikos Kazantzakis
2.) With Malice Toward None (1977) by Stephen B. Oates
3.) A Brief History of Time (1988) by Stephen Hawking
Author Websites and Profiles
Alexander Ekwall Website
Alexander Ekwall Amazon Profile