Pump Up Your Book Chats with Mike Manos

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click on the cover to purchase

About Mike Manos

Mike Manos is a professor of Economics and a scholar of History and Archaeology. He is also a poet and a freelance writer.

You can find Mike at twitter; http://twitter.com/faithforgotten

At Facebook; www.facebook.com/mikemanos

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Thank you for this interview, Mike. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later?  Do you remember your first published piece?

A: I started as a poet at a very young age and after many years I still vividly remember my first publishing piece, an anthem.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

A: The most rewarding side is that people recognize you, which also sometimes can be the most frustrating.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life?  Do you have support?

A: I am married to a charming lady and I have two kids. My wife is my fan and supports me a great deal. I never had a problem combining the writing life with my home life.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?  Where do you like to vacation?  Can you tell us briefly about this?

A: I like playing tennis and swimming. I am always cruising towards different destinations when I have the time. It is really wonderful visiting the ports of the world while sailing. If I had enough time for leisure I would cruise around the world frequently. I forgot to mention that before college I worked as a sailor in merchant ships for almost two years.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?

A: At the blue and white village of Oia, at the island Santorini, in Greece. You stand at the caldera, the volcano’s edge, and you feel like you are flying above the sea. The place is purely magical.

Who is your biggest fan?

A: My sweet wife Vicky.

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

A: At the basement’s office with my unfinished work scattered in papers all around the place.

Do you have any pets?

A: I have Mimica, a white cat.

Tell us a secret no one else knows.

A: If I tell you, it is no more a secret. Anyway it is a superstitious secret that I inherited from my father. I always throw water behind me when I return home from a funeral.

What’s on your to do list today?

A: To catch a plane to London for a brief visit.

Now I’ve got a couple of fun questions for you.  If Tom Hanks, in the movie Cast Away, unearthed a copy of your book, how would that help him find a way off the island?

A: He should start by immediately reading it. Before the end of the book, Theophilus, the leader of the old heresy of the God’s Poor, will visit him, and if he believes, he will take him off the island!

You have a chance to appear on the hit talent show for authors, American Book Idol, with judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara Dioguardi and the newest addition, Ellen DeGeneres, to determine whether your book will make it to Hollywood and become a big screenplay where you’d make millions of dollars.  What would impress them more – your book cover, an excerpt or your author photo – and why?

A: An excerpt obviously. They could discover that every vegetarian is in fact a heretic!

You just got word that your book has received the 2010 NY Times Bestselling Book Award and you have to attend the ceremony to give an acceptance speech.  Anyone who’s anyone will be there and it’s your shot for stardom.  What would you say and who would you thank?

A: I would say that some of the old heresies, who survived for almost two thousand years along the Christian faith under continuous persecution, even from the Popes and the Muslims, hide themselves but  never die. I would thank the late Bishop of Corinth, Greece, Panteleimon. Without his expertise on old heresy matters, this book wouldn’t be possible.

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in November via a virtual book tour.  Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

A: I was impressed by the capabilities of their staff. It is like a live tour!

Thank you for this interview, Mike. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

A: Thank you very much.


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