Interview With Author Richard Silvia
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Like most introverts, I’m highly sensitive to my surroundings and the energy people bring with them. As a kid, I often felt like I was in my own world, one that others didn’t understand. I would question things that others overlooked and channel my observations, both positive and negative, into something soothing. This eventually became my writing, poetry, and music.
I was a late bloomer, partly because my family didn’t appreciate the arts or value a well-rounded education. So I needed to discover all that and my channeling my passions has been a lifelong journey for me.
“Cultivate Curiosity” is my eighth book. All my works revolve around themes of social observation, trauma, empathy, and hope for social betterment, expressed through narrative, prose, poetry, and sometimes photography and artwork. My books emphasize empathy and compassion, inviting readers to see themselves and others in a new light. I want to create a sense of journey and discovery that offers a transformative experience through poetry and philosophy.
When we start asking questions, we foster community and build bridges between our communities.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Cultivate Curiosity: There is Hope Even in Unimaginable Circumstances” is a work that is both deeply personal and socially aware. Life’s challenges have taught me to process trauma in order to re-establish a safe and healthy lifestyle. I see society doing the same thing. The pandemic affected us all profoundly, and combined with politics, the rapid progression of social media, information wars, and AI, it has brought us to a point where hope feels elusive.
This book is about recognizing our interconnectedness. By addressing broader social issues together, we can advocate for a more compassionate and equitable world. Through this collection, I hope to inspire readers to find hope even in the most unimaginable circumstances.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
This is one of those moments when I feel boring. I haven’t seen the film yet, but I heard a line from “National Anthem” that says something like, “for those of us who feel boring, you just haven’t met your people yet.”
My people are the ones who find value in my work. Whether it’s a laugh or an aha moment, those are my people.
So my habits are pretty basic. I try to eat healthy, exercise, and be a good human. I go to bed around 10 p.m. and get up at 5:30 or 6 to start writing. I write all the time, throughout the day, at social events, anywhere and everywhere, as long as I can send myself a text! LOL
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always adored Maya Angelou, Yoko Ono, Milan Kundera, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and many more. They’ve influenced me because they capture the heart of humanity, creating art that is social, deep, and interconnected. They inspire positive change in their communities and in the world.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently busy promoting “Cultivate Curiosity.” I’m also preparing to transform one or two of my songs into dance music. The timing keeps getting pushed back because everything always takes more time than we initially think it will. I think it will be fun and exciting!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m glad I discovered awesomegang.com because it provides a great service to independent writers. Social media is a useful tool, though it can be time-consuming and competitive, especially when you don’t have substantial financial resources.
Word of mouth is always the best way to promote your work, and I firmly believe in that beautiful, magical thing called “serendipity.”
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep at it. Never give up. Write because it’s who you are, not for quick rewards or acknowledgment. Often, recognition doesn’t come in the way you expect. Find peace and fulfillment in your own writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
An artist friend of mine creates portraits and sometimes writes phrases on the canvases. One that I consider some of the best advice I’ve ever heard is, “You can only be valid to yourself.”
What are you reading now?
I’m reading a book by historian Heather Cox Richardson called Democracy Awakening. It has three sections: “Undermining Democracy,” “The Authoritarian Experiment,” and “Reclaiming America.” This book has inspired some of the poetry in Cultivate Curiosity and encouraged me to learn more about our history.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, I have the music project under another name, The Rick Eva Music Project, which I’ll need to devote a chunk of time to. I also have a journal full of other ideas that will reveal themselves to me as I move forward. They’re not shy—more like eager children, ready to express themselves!
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?
Maybe Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, An Open Heart by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, and of course, Cultivate Curiosity: There is Hope Even in Unimaginable Circumstances. LOL
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