She is
a former diplomat, turned political writer, and with age and wisdom - now
spiritual writer.Her stories, articles and essays have been published in numerous newspapers and magazines, and first collection of short stories, titled 'The Year Spring Turned into Winter' was out in December 2008. Crossing Qalandiya - Exchanges Across the Israeli Palestinian Divide, co-authored with Shireen Anabtawi, was published in the UK in May 2010. Her upcoming book, On Dragonfly Wings - a skeptic's journey to mediumship , is due out in April 2014 from Axis Mundi Books and a short story collection titled Angel Feather: Ten Tales from the Other Side, in November 2014 from Soul Rocks Books.
A very warm welcome to Daniela!
Your real name and pen name?
One and the same - Daniela Norris. I used to write under a pen name when I worked as a diplomat, because much of my writing had political undertones. These days, I am delighted to be able to write under my real name.
Please share some of the best memories of your childhood
I always knew I wanted to become a writer, but I also knew I had to accumulate some life experience before I did. Even as a child, as soon as I could write, I had notebooks in which I've written things that I wanted to remember later in life.
About your education
I studied political science and international relations, because I thought I could change the world through understanding how it worked and wanted to be able to see the 'big picture'. Today I understand I was visiting the wrong gallery.
What career did you plan during your education days?
I thought I'd try to go into diplomacy - which I did. But it was always a temporary choice, until I accumulated enough life experience to write.
What languages you can speak and write?
I speak English, French, Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese and a little Romanian. I write in English and Hebrew - and I am taking my first steps in French writing these days.
What is your biggest source of inspiration in life
that's easy - people. People inspire some of the best and some of the worst situations and characters, but that is what life is all about - experimenting and finding the right path, making mistakes and learning from them.
What hurts you most in this world
Hatred, judgment and prejudice - I just don't understand these human behaviours, and they bother me on a deep level. I know they always comes from fear and ignorance. But I still find them hurtful.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it?
I suppose it was the sudden death of my younger brother in 2010. He died in a drowning accident, and my world came to a halt. But it is also the event that has put me on the spiritual path on which I walk today, and it inspired my latest book, On Dragonfly Wings.
If you had to live a day of your life as one of the living or dead personality, who would it be and why?
Allan Kardec (pen name of the French teacher and educator Hyppolyte Leon Denizard Rivail, the systemiser of mediumship). He dedicated much of his life to understanding mediumistic phenomena, and I would love to be able to understand share some of his knowledge, even if for one day!
What is your favorite genre and why?
I love reading everything, and it really depends on the time in my life, but at the moment it is spiritual writing. Generally speaking, I love reading both fiction and non-fiction, as long as I can learn something from the book I read.
Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share a synopsis of your work?
So far I had one collection of short stories (2008) one political non-fiction book (2010) - and one spiritual non-fiction book coming out on April 25, 2014
What are your forthcoming writings?
Another collection of short stories, this time with a spiritual theme - due out before the end of the year. It is titled: Angel Feathers: Tales from the Other Side.
What are your future plans? I am currently working on a novel with the themes of reincarnation, past lives and the lessons we come here to learn.
What four top most things you take care of while writing a book?
1) School or childcare for my three young boys, so I can have some writing space. 2) Good coffee 3) Good chocolate 4) A great critiquing group to read the few first drafts.
Your dream destination on Earth?
Nepal. I've never been but I would love to go there one day.
Your favorite time of the day?
four in the morning - that is when fresh ideas wake me up, and I try to grasp them and put them on paper before they disappear with the first morning light.
Your zodiac/ sunsign?
Virgo
Your favorite color and why?
Purple and turquoise - colors that I connect to these days. And also, black - which is the color I love to wear.
Your favorite book and why?
Dr. Michael Newton's Journey of Souls - it has opened a whole new world to me.
Your favorite celebrity and why?
I am not into celebrities - although if I had to chose a film star, I would choose Matt Damon, for his talent and choice of scripts. He's done several fantastic movies with spiritual themes recently.
Your favorite food?
Good vegetarian Indian food wins every time. But I also love Thai food!
Some quickies: Sun or Moon, Laughter or Smile, Morning or Evening, Coffee or Tea, Mountain or Sea, Long Drive or Short Drive, Silence or Conversation, Water or Fire, Air or Earth, Mars or Jupiter, Moon or Sun, Tulip or Rose, Red or Blue, Left or Right, Glance or Stare
State your signature line/ tagline/ best quote –
Allan Kardec (Book on Mediums and Evokers, 1861) - “Elementary logic requires that, in order to discuss an issue, one should be familiar with it. The opinion of a critic has no
value unless they talk about something they know perfectly well.”
The last line of your autobiography would be…
she was not afraid to explore life, and death.
Twitter handle: @DanielaINorris and @TFTAfterlife Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniela-I-Norris/179238064930?ref=hland https://www.facebook.com/ondragonflywingsthebook?ref=hl Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3328991.Daniela_Norris Amazon link: US http://www.amazon.com/Dragonfly-Wings-Skeptics-Journey-Mediumship/dp/178279512X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396895290&sr=1-1 or UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragonfly-Wings-skeptics-journey-mediumship/dp/178279512X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396895327&sr=1-1
