{"id":12251,"date":"2020-03-12T00:55:36","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T19:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.wordpress.com\/?p=12251"},"modified":"2020-08-03T19:14:46","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T13:44:46","slug":"interview-with-s-b-goncarova-author-of-harnessing-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/2020\/03\/12\/interview-with-s-b-goncarova-author-of-harnessing-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with S. B. Goncarova, Author of Harnessing Light"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Hi everyone! I recently read Harnessing Light by S.B. Goncarova. You can read my review of it <a href=\"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.wordpress.com\/2020\/02\/01\/harnessing-light-by-s-b-goncarova-book-review\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration:underline;\">here<\/span><\/a>. The author also did an amazing guest post here- <a href=\"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.wordpress.com\/2020\/02\/08\/when-was-the-last-time-you-wrote-a-letter-guest-post-by-s-b-goncarova-author-of-harnessing-light\/\">When Was The Last Time You Wrote A Letter?<\/a> Today, I had the fortune of interviewing her here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Blurb from Goodreads<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\u201cI SAID GOODNIGHT knowing full well it was goodbye, and then in the dark, you were there, on the bed next to me, only three thousand something miles away, and the quiet sounds of you muddling on your guitar seep into my veins and lull me into that cloudy space between awake and asleep, and in the end I am brought back to the beginning\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Can one create a love so bright, that it crosses distance and time? In this enduring love story, Harnessing Light is the journey of one woman trekking across the world in a search to find home, peace, purpose and love. In a quest that transcends physical limitations, Harnessing Light beckons us to our own, to discover what the true search really is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Please tell us a bit about yourself.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m writer and visual artist; I studied architecture and permaculture in school and am now (in many ways because of what I learned while writing the book) enrolling in classes in humanitarian aid.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>What are your interests besides writing? Anything you would suggest people to take up?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am actively trying to become a better listener and a better friend to my friends. I try to make other people\u2019s lives better in some way, even if it is just checking in with a friend I haven\u2019t heard from in months or buying my roommate some chocolate when I know she\u2019s had a hard week. You never know the ripple effect an act of kindness can create.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Are there any artworks &#8211; books, movies, music, etc that have inspired your writing?<\/em>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Faraway Nearby\u201d by Rebecca Solnitt; \u201cAll The Light We cannot See\u201d by Anthony Doerr, are both some of the most beautiful writing I\u2019ve ever come across. I hope someday to be able to write something as beautiful as Solnitt or Doerr.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some movies that have stuck with me over the years are \u201cThe Red Violin\u201d and \u201cWhat Dreams May Come\u201d just because they are so breathtaking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For music I love the work of Max Richter. His piece \u201cOn the Nature of Daylight\u201d brings tears to my eyes. But I also love soundtracks to movies, especially ones that combine sounds you wouldn\u2019t normally think of as music. I find Hans Zimmer very inspirational.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Have you faced any difficulties in your writing journey?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hardest part I have found in my writing journey is figuring out how to share it with the world. In many ways it seems like feeling my way in the dark, an uphill battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Can you give any advice as to how a writer can develop their own voice\/style?<\/em>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find a mentor who can lead you to books, authors, artists, the work of whom you might not have ever picked up. Allow yourself time to absorb and ferment.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>What are you currently working on and what can we expect from you in the future?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am currently working on a screenplay for a feature-length film about a pair of sisters during the El Salvadoran Civil War, who at extremely young ages choose to become a medic and a covert messenger for the FMLN. Their stories and the stories of the people whom they meet are all based on true stories.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Which has been the most important lesson that you have learned in your writing journey?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Resilience; to not let yourself to be discouraged by rejection, whether it be by people not believing in you or who don\u2019t share or understand your vision. Rejection is so painful it is only natural that we are afraid of it and do what we can to avoid it. But you must remember that pain fades away, and we must not allow fear to guide our actions or lead us into inaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>What are you currently reading?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA Gentleman in Moscow\u201d by Amor Towles, and \u201cThe Kite Runner\u201d by Khaled Hosseini.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>If you had to give one reason to readers for reading Harnessing Light, what would it be?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <em>Harnessing Light<\/em>, I sought to create the most authentic work I could make, and I realized that to do so I would also have to be at my most vulnerable. So for any other reason I would hope that this book would show that it is completely okay to allow yourself to become vulnerable in your writing and in your daily life. That it\u2019s okay to love without any expectations of being loved in return; that just to be able to love is a blessing in of itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Huge thanks to the author for telling us a bit about her writing journey and sharing some precious tips for aspiring writers!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Connect with me on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tavleen_words\/\">Instagram<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tavleensoni\">Twitter<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/user\/show\/32793447-tavleen-kaur\">Goodreads<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/2020\/03\/12\/interview-with-s-b-goncarova-author-of-harnessing-light\/#more-12251\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading &#10142; <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Interview with S. B. Goncarova, Author of Harnessing Light<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[43,63,66,99,205,281,504],"class_list":["post-12251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous","tag-author-interview","tag-book-blog","tag-book-blogger","tag-books","tag-harnessing-light","tag-literature","tag-writing"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/48739402._SY475_.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12230,"url":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/01\/harnessing-light-by-s-b-goncarova-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":12251,"position":0},"title":"Harnessing Light by S.B. Goncarova (Book Review)","date":"February 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Goodreads\u00a0|\u00a0Amazon Source: Review CopyPages:\u00a0172Publisher: Clay Grouse PressPublication Date:\u00a0October 2019 \u00a0My Rating:\u00a04 stars Blurb from Goodreads \u201cI SAID GOODNIGHT knowing full well it was goodbye, and then in the dark, you were there, on the bed next to me, only three thousand something miles away, and the quiet sounds of you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12237,"url":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/08\/when-was-the-last-time-you-wrote-a-letter-guest-post-by-s-b-goncarova-author-of-harnessing-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":12251,"position":1},"title":"When Was The Last Time You Wrote A Letter? Guest Post by S. B. Goncarova, Author of Harnessing Light","date":"February 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I often feel a desire to stop, or at least slow down. And I know I am not alone in this. So many friends are taking themselves off of social media, even those who a year ago, were totally addicted, measuring their self-worth by the number of likes or comments\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Miscellaneous&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/travellingthroughwords.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/pexels-photo-356407-scaled.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12343,"url":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/2020\/03\/31\/what-i-read-in-january-and-february-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":12251,"position":2},"title":"What I Read In January and February 2020","date":"March 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi everyone! How are you all? I really hope you all are safe and staying in. If you get too anxious, just breathe and pray. Let's hope this too shall pass. Was there ever a time I used to post monthly wrap-ups on time? I certainly can't recall. As far\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Lists&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/travellingthroughwords.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/image-4.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13342,"url":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/11\/all-115-books-i-read-in-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":12251,"position":3},"title":"All 115 Books I Read In 2020","date":"January 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi everyone! 2020 was a good reading year for me. In this post, I have listed every book I read in 2020, its Goodreads page, and my review if there is one. Click on the book name to go to its Goodreads page. Please note that not every \"Goodreads review\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Lists&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/travellingthroughwords.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/all-115-books.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10757,"url":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/2017\/10\/14\/adventures-in-farland-by-moshank-relia-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":12251,"position":4},"title":"Adventures In Farland by Moshank Relia (Book Review)","date":"October 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Add this book on Goodreads Genre:\u00a0Children's Fantasy Publisher:\u00a0Rumour Books India Release Date: October 19th 2017 Pages:\u00a070 Format:\u00a0Paperback My Rating: 4\u00a0stars Mira and her friends Bira and Vira are on their way to Gunhill when they are meet Bushy, a funny man with ladybugs in his hair. He tells Mira that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/images.gr-assets.com\/books\/1506875661l\/36335839.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8053,"url":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/2017\/06\/07\/sick-of-being-healthy-by-monisha-k-gumber-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":12251,"position":5},"title":"Sick of Being Healthy by Monisha K. Gumber (Book Review)","date":"June 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Add this book Goodreads Buy this book on Amazon Genre:\u00a0Young Adult, Teen Fiction Publisher: \u00a0Leadstart Publishing Release Date: August 11th, 2016 Pages:\u00a0170 My Rating:\u00a04 stars Sick of Being Healthy by Monisha K. Gumber follows the story of 14 year old Tara who is a little on the heavier side. She\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/images.gr-assets.com\/books\/1471471795l\/31548320.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12251\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellingthroughwords.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}