Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Sonja has written three books. One is “Art Pedagogical Seminar Cultural Bridges Between Nations” Swedish Institute, 2003, second is “Tracks of Living” retrespective art works and poems, and together with Esin Tanrisever, she wrote “Free Art Learning With Kids” art education book aiming to reach parents, teachers and teacher candidates.
Esin has written memoirs as a volunteer rescuer in “AKUT” Search and Rescue Association that works in Disasters and also wilderness but not published yet. She also has written tens of short stories, not published yet but thinking to start collecting and publishing them in a book either in Turkish or English,couldn’t decide yet. She also is the co-writer of the book “Free Art Learning With Kids”
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Free Art Learning With Kids” is an intorductory book upon art education of kids and aims to reach parents, teachers and teacher candidates.
Sonja has been working with kids in art education for 58 years and Esin 20. Collected “lots(!)” of things to share and wanted to spread the word and there has been lots of requests for us writing books upon the subject.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Esin=> I can write my short stories while I write emails to someone else. That is mostly my best friend; he has been a “pen friend” for more than 10 years. When I’m writing him, or sometimes when for instance he is in vacation and ca not be online, I ‘pretend’ writing him, then I don’t need to worry about the words, sentences or composition, nothing… Because I feel the strong urge to tell the thing (whatever the subject is, which can be anything), the story comes out ‘by itself’. Sentences follow each other and I just watch, follow them
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Sonja: Panait Strati, Jean Paul Sartre, Gorki, Octavio Paz, Lorka
Esin: Jack London, John, Steinbeck, Dostoyevski, Gorki, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
What are you working on now?
Working on our second book on our art education “serie” handbook: Art making out of recycled materials
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We are working on different promotion methods right now
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sure. Do not be afraid of writing what you think or feel. Don’t limit yourself when it all just needs to “flow out”; let them (thoughts, emotions) all come out of you, some time later you will work on structuring them, that’s a “later process” and also you can get support from professionals for doing that but what comes out as a whole is very valuable and only YOU can do or write that. The rest, you can “play with” later on
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Don’t limit yourself when writing. Let is all flow. Somethings, some memories or obervations or whatever; you may not want to share with others. Don’t mind about that when writing, just let them all flow. Later on, you can “play with” and work on what you have in hand”
What are you reading now?
Esin: George Orwell, 1984.
Sonja: Inner Simplicity, Elaine St James
What’s next for you as a writer?
We want to write a big serie, which will make up a a library on art education with kids; especially on different techniques of art.
Esin: “In the meanwhile, I may publish either own rescue experiences from earthquakes as a volunteer rescuer, or collect the short stories I had written long ago, and let them make up a book”
Sonja: “So I may also publish a cook book, why not! In fact I mostly would like to publish a psychological novel; my experiences on ‘inner mirrors’. Another idea is collecting my notes on own artistic production”
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?
Esin: Gabriel Garcia Marquez – 100 Years of Solitude, Jack London’s Martin Eden, one book from Dostoyevsky.
Sonja: Rainer Maria Rilke- The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, Hermean Hesse’s Siddhartha, one book from Nazim Hikmet
Author Websites and Profiles
Sonja and Esin Tanrisever Website
Sonja and Esin Tanrisever Amazon Profile
Sonja and Esin Tanrisever Author Profile on Smashwords
Sonja and Esin Tanrisever’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account