Ask the Author: Nick Alimonos
Answered Questions (10)
Nick Alimonos
Hi Ric,
I appreciate the kind words and your interest in the Aenya Series. Much of my literary journey can be found on my blog, but if you'd like a personal interview, we could chat over IM or through Alitu (my podcast program). Unfortunately, I am fairly busy at the moment and don't think I can make it to Tampa any time soon.
Thanks again.
I appreciate the kind words and your interest in the Aenya Series. Much of my literary journey can be found on my blog, but if you'd like a personal interview, we could chat over IM or through Alitu (my podcast program). Unfortunately, I am fairly busy at the moment and don't think I can make it to Tampa any time soon.
Thanks again.
Nick Alimonos
First, PLEASE ignore the "readers also enjoyed" or "books similar to" suggestions from Amazon and Goodreads. An algorithm drives these suggestions, a blind system that is either grossly misinformed or outright broken. Since there is nothing I can do to rectify this misinformation, my only recourse is to use this questionnaire to set the record straight.
More than anything, "The Feral Girl" is a survival tale set in the jungle. Books sharing a similar plot include "The Jungle Book" and "Tarzan of the Apes."
But I was more heavily inspired by Charles Frazier's brilliantly told Civil War epic, "Cold Mountain." In Cold Mountain, a Confederate soldier, Inman, deserts his post to return to his hometown and lover. Inman struggles through the harsh American frontier without food, money, and dwindling supplies. He suffers from extreme weather conditions, malnutrition, homesickness, and loneliness --- all themes I explore in "The Feral Girl."
"The Land of Naked People" by Madhusree Mukerjee, an anthropological study of the tribes of the Andaman Islands, is an excellent reference for understanding and writing about primitive indigenous cultures similar to the Ilmar, the fictional race I created for "The Feral Girl."
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer is another brilliant source exploring real-world wilderness survival, isolation, and loneliness. I was fascinated by the main character's Luddite tendencies and rejection of modern, capitalist society.
"Lord of the Flies" by William Golding is a dark look into human nature and what people can do when basic necessities become scarce.
These are just some of the books that inspired me to write "The Feral Girl." Contrary to what the algorithm may lead you to believe, Thelana's tale is NOT smut, nor is it meant to titillate. I hope readers who enjoy the types of stories mentioned here will find my most recent novel worthy of their consideration.
More than anything, "The Feral Girl" is a survival tale set in the jungle. Books sharing a similar plot include "The Jungle Book" and "Tarzan of the Apes."
But I was more heavily inspired by Charles Frazier's brilliantly told Civil War epic, "Cold Mountain." In Cold Mountain, a Confederate soldier, Inman, deserts his post to return to his hometown and lover. Inman struggles through the harsh American frontier without food, money, and dwindling supplies. He suffers from extreme weather conditions, malnutrition, homesickness, and loneliness --- all themes I explore in "The Feral Girl."
"The Land of Naked People" by Madhusree Mukerjee, an anthropological study of the tribes of the Andaman Islands, is an excellent reference for understanding and writing about primitive indigenous cultures similar to the Ilmar, the fictional race I created for "The Feral Girl."
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer is another brilliant source exploring real-world wilderness survival, isolation, and loneliness. I was fascinated by the main character's Luddite tendencies and rejection of modern, capitalist society.
"Lord of the Flies" by William Golding is a dark look into human nature and what people can do when basic necessities become scarce.
These are just some of the books that inspired me to write "The Feral Girl." Contrary to what the algorithm may lead you to believe, Thelana's tale is NOT smut, nor is it meant to titillate. I hope readers who enjoy the types of stories mentioned here will find my most recent novel worthy of their consideration.
Nick Alimonos
Typically, no single idea gets turned into a story. Rather, The Princess of Aenya was born out of an amalgam of influences. Among those: a Dungeons & Dragons campaign I played with my wife and nephews, early Disney films like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, Miyazaki movies like Kiki's Delivery Service, the work of Ursula K. Leguin, and high-fantasy epics like The Last Unicorn, The Neverending Story, and The Once and Future King.
Nick Alimonos
Inspiration can come from anywhere, from books, TV or movies, but the best inspiration always comes from life. So my suggestion is to remember to live life, and to draw from your own experience.
Nick Alimonos
My next book will be a survival novella starring my naturist heroine, Thelana. After that, I will be working on a YA adventure, the third Aenya spin-off, tentatively titled, "The Children of Aenya."
Nick Alimonos
Writing is an art form. Like painting or playing a musical instrument, to be truly great takes time and dedication. This means that the first story you write isn't going to be very good, and if you can't write a decent short story, your first novel will be even worse. If you truly, sincerely want your book to sit on the shelf with Rowling and Martin and King, you will need to do what they did. You will need to shelve that first novel and write another, and then a second, and then a third.
Nick Alimonos
Being a writer is a lot of hard work, especially if you're trying to get recognized, but it gives me the opportunity to live more than one life.
Nick Alimonos
I never have writer's block. I am always thinking about stories, 24/7, been doing so since I was six. It may be a mental disorder, not sure, but I've gathered enough ideas for a lifetime.
Nick Alimonos
Hmm ... probably Ilmarinen, from my book, Ages of Aenya. Barring that, I suppose I'd love to visit Rivendell.
Nick Alimonos
Grendel, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Girl Called Wolf, among others.
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