Interview with Author Vince Guaglione

Vince Guaglione

Raleigh, North Carolina  U.S.A.

Good morning, Vince and welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors.  We're happy to have you hear with us the morning.  Tel us what have you written.

I’ve published five short works as an independent author, three of which are in the personal growth/personal transformation genre.  The other two live in the short suspense fiction genre.  My personal growth series is titled “The Narratives,” and can best be described as my own unique brand of journaling.  The fictional pieces are titled, “Chasing Angels” and “Eva.” I started writing in late 2012 as a means of calming my brain and refocusing my energy my energy after losing my significant other to suicide.  I needed to do something to make sense of what I was feeling and to cope with her passing, and out of this came my first work, "The Narratives: Keeping the Soul Alive."  In it, and in the other books in the series, I write mostly about my own struggles while navigating my path to healing, and towards self-actualization.  But I also write about the things I see happening around me in society today.  I talk about how we've become more closed off as a society today, more ego-centric, and how our societal values have changed.  These works can best be summed up as my take on this thing we call life.

The 4^th book in “The Narratives” series, subtitled “Evolution,” is being released today, July 1st. 

Congratulations!
It’s one that I’m really proud of because as I was writing it, I was transitioning into a new phase in my life, and could see I was evolving as a human being.  Here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Narratives-Evolution-Vince-Guaglione-ebook/dp/B00LEKMT0O/ref=la_B00AHGQZDS_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404167031&sr=1-6

We are sorry to hear about the circumstances that led you to writing.  It's good that you used your grief to propel yourself  forward.  You are a brave man.  What is your favorite genre to write?

The core of what I write is about my own personal growth but I enjoy fiction immensely.  It’s hard to pick one because they are both so different.  In one, I’m writing about me – my innermost thoughts, feelings, and fears.  In the other, I’m telling a story.  But I do find that even in my fictional pieces, I’m pulling parts of myself into my main character.  The best advice I’ve ever received about writing is to write what you know.  I’ve tried to honor that so it’s not surprising that all of these works boils down to a personal struggle - the battle to overcome - and this is readily apparent in both genres.  But, in all honesty, I would love to write a suspense/horror piece.  I have plans to undertake this type of effort over the next few months.

Favorite food.

Did you mention pizza earlier?

Probably.  I'm Italian.  Canoli.  Do you prefer tea or coffee?

I’m a coffee addict.  I have an affinity for Starbucks coffee and I’ve made my local Starbucks my second home.  I do all my writing there.

Pizza or ice cream?

Do I have to choose?

No.  You can have both!  Where would you like to visit?

I’ve never been outside North America but I plan on visiting the Scandinavian countries and Iceland before my time is up.

Italy.  You have to go to Italy. Fabulous!  Add it to your list.  Favorite musical artist.  Do you listen to music when you write?  What?

I have lots of favorite artists, mostly in the rock genre, and don’t normally listen to music when I write.  When I do, I usually try to find something mellow in my collection.  It just depends on my mood.

What makes you laugh?

I have a Jerry Seinfeld sense of humor so I usually find humor in everyday life.  I think I’ve got a little of both Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza in me.  I can relate to both characters.  Some of these personality traits certainly come through in my writing.

Favorite work of art.

Any Frank Frazetta painting.  His fantasy works are spectacular.  I’m a big fan of fantasy art and he is my favorite fantasy artist.  I’m also partial to the photography of Ansel Adams.

I love Ansel Adams, too.  How old were you when you started writing?

I started writing in a journal at the age of 13.  Initially, I documented what I could remember of specific vivid dreams I had as a young adult, but then transitioned into journaling, then to short fiction.  Throughout my formative years, I kept a journal, so it’s not surprising that the core of what I’ve put in the public domain is my 2014 version of journaling.

Describe your perfect evening.

I love meeting new people and love socializing.  To get a chance to talk to lots of interesting and fun people in a social setting is actually the perfect evening for me.  It’s funny that as a young adult, I was actually very shy.  Now, I can’t wait to talk to someone new!

Where do you get your inspiration?

For my Narratives works, I get most of my inspiration through everyday life.  I’m learning new things about myself all the time.  Sometimes, all it takes is an interaction to show you something about yourself you’ve never recognized before.  When those moments reveal themselves, I write about them.

For my short fiction pieces, I find I’m drawn to the metaphysical.  It’s an area that has always fascinated me.  It gets me thinking about what’s really possible.  I usually wind up entertaining those thoughts then crafting a story around some aspect of the phenomenon.

What do you do when you get a writer's block?

I don’t block often because my process is very structured.  When I come up with a new idea or concept, I map it out in my head then outline it, particularly for my fictional pieces.  My Narratives essays are short so I can usually write what’s in my head in one sitting.  But for fiction, I don’t actually start the writing process until I have a clear outline, and that makes it easy to just go.  But on the oft chance I do block, I take that time to think up ideas for future works rather than try to force the issue.

Who is your favorite author?

That’s a good question.  I love reading horror, suspense, and thrillers so I’d have to say Stephen King is my favorite.

Best book you ever read.

That’s a difficult question to answer.  If I take a look at my reading history as an adult, most of what I’ve read sits in the political, economic, sociological, and investigative journaling categories.  I read select thrillers and horror, although not as much as I did as a young adult.  To pick one book is difficult, however, one of my all-time favorites is a book titled “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer, which documented the 1996 climbing disaster on Mt. Everest.

I love that one, too.  Amazing book.  Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?

I did a lot of bowling throughout my 20s and 30s and was lucky enough to find a man who did a lot more than just coach me in the sport.  He is the person who has had the biggest influence on my life.  He was the toughest coach I’ve ever had but more than being a great bowling coach, he was an unbelievable life coach.  I used to think the world owed me something.  He was the one person who was able to knock that chip off my shoulder, make me face my fears square in the eye, and make me take responsibility for my life.  He’s no longer with us, but will always be one of the finest human beings I have ever known, and I will forever be grateful for his role in turning me into the person I am today.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

I’d have to say Thomas Jefferson, or any of the founding fathers of this country.  How they had such foresight in crafting the U.S. Constitution is quite amazing to me.  They were incredible people who were far ahead of their time.

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?

The best advice I can give anyone is to be authentic.  Don’t try to be something or someone you’re not.  Readers can see right through that.  Believe in yourself and do it because you love it, not because you hope to be the next best-selling author.  I started off with one idea, entirely in an effort to redirect my energy, and wound up with enough material to entertain the idea to self-publish.  I never believed my works would become commercially successful, nor had any idea if what I’d written was any good, but I felt that this was something I needed to do.  Anyone can publish these days, but if you decide to go this route, ensure that you’re putting the best product out that you possibly can.  Once it’s in the public domain, it’s there for the world to see.  For me, it was about telling my story and leaving a legacy.  Be authentic, be honest, and don’t be afraid to share your gifts with the world. 

Do you have any links where we can follow you?

My social media links:

Website:              http://www.vinceguaglione.com

Amazon:             http://amzn.to/1h3puT3

Facebook:          http://on.fb.me/1ruQa48

Twitter:                http://bit.ly/1l2b5qX

Pinterest:             http://bit.ly/1oOBA7v

Goodreads:        http://bit.ly/1fdPKz7