Ask the Author: Scott Stambach
Answered Questions (6)
Scott Stambach
Hi Teri,
I'm so sorry for the delay! I'm not on here super often, but tonight I'm glad I did because this question made my night. I wish I could be more precise, but all I can say is that two books are currently being worked on, and I hope to publish again reasonably soon. I'll keep you posted!
Thanks again for the kind words. I'm flattered by your post-it :)
warmly,
Scott
I'm so sorry for the delay! I'm not on here super often, but tonight I'm glad I did because this question made my night. I wish I could be more precise, but all I can say is that two books are currently being worked on, and I hope to publish again reasonably soon. I'll keep you posted!
Thanks again for the kind words. I'm flattered by your post-it :)
warmly,
Scott
Scott Stambach
Hi Jodell, thanks for your question. What you see in the book is an artistic rendition of something that is sadly very true to life. My research began here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiP6K...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiP6K...
Scott Stambach
Hi Yuri,
Thanks for reaching out about this! Please contact me through my website and we can discuss over email.
all my best,
Scott
Thanks for reaching out about this! Please contact me through my website and we can discuss over email.
all my best,
Scott
Scott Stambach
Jamie,
Thank you so much for your rosy predictions about Ivan and for sharing the fact that you connected with the book. After spending the last two years with Ivan in my head, it means so much to hear that other's love him too.
I very well may attend book conventions in the future. As opportunities arise, my publishers let's me know. I'm still very much getting used to this whole new world!
Also kudos on visiting Belarus! It's been big year for the Belarus and literature with Svetlana Alexievich winning the nobel prize :)
Warmly,
Scott
Thank you so much for your rosy predictions about Ivan and for sharing the fact that you connected with the book. After spending the last two years with Ivan in my head, it means so much to hear that other's love him too.
I very well may attend book conventions in the future. As opportunities arise, my publishers let's me know. I'm still very much getting used to this whole new world!
Also kudos on visiting Belarus! It's been big year for the Belarus and literature with Svetlana Alexievich winning the nobel prize :)
Warmly,
Scott
Scott Stambach
Dear Dorie,
(Have you ever noticed how much that sounds like "Dear Diary?")
I can't tell you how thrilling it is to hear that you don't give many 5 star reviews, but would give mine 10! I read your review and I adored it.
I have a couple of answers to your question. First, on some level Ivan sort of fell off my fingers. There was a certain magic to it. Sometimes you simply don't know where a voice comes from exactly. It almost feels channeled, as if there really is an Ivan living out in another dimension who made himself known through my MacBook.
That said, I approached Ivan like a method actor approaches one of their roles. Every morning before I started writing, I would literally "put Ivan on." As if I were wearing him. I inhabited him. Or let him inhabit me. And when I wrote those lines it was as if he were the one doing the writing. As you can imagine this took a little snapping out of before going on with my day :)
Lastly, I often tell people that Ivan is about 60% me. To a large extent, he is an expression to how I would cope with his circumstances, i.e. my defense mechanisms, and my insecurities. And over the years I've had the solemn experience of watching several loved ones go through the whole spectrum of the cancer fight. At an age when I was just old enough to understand, but not yet old enough to fully process, I watched my grandmother take her last breath after her long fight. There's no way this story could've been told without her. So the fact that his voice and reactions were coming from an authentic place I believe makes him feel more real and authentic.
I hope this helps! Thanks again for your lovely review and helping to share Ivan with the community of readers.
all my best,
Scott
(Have you ever noticed how much that sounds like "Dear Diary?")
I can't tell you how thrilling it is to hear that you don't give many 5 star reviews, but would give mine 10! I read your review and I adored it.
I have a couple of answers to your question. First, on some level Ivan sort of fell off my fingers. There was a certain magic to it. Sometimes you simply don't know where a voice comes from exactly. It almost feels channeled, as if there really is an Ivan living out in another dimension who made himself known through my MacBook.
That said, I approached Ivan like a method actor approaches one of their roles. Every morning before I started writing, I would literally "put Ivan on." As if I were wearing him. I inhabited him. Or let him inhabit me. And when I wrote those lines it was as if he were the one doing the writing. As you can imagine this took a little snapping out of before going on with my day :)
Lastly, I often tell people that Ivan is about 60% me. To a large extent, he is an expression to how I would cope with his circumstances, i.e. my defense mechanisms, and my insecurities. And over the years I've had the solemn experience of watching several loved ones go through the whole spectrum of the cancer fight. At an age when I was just old enough to understand, but not yet old enough to fully process, I watched my grandmother take her last breath after her long fight. There's no way this story could've been told without her. So the fact that his voice and reactions were coming from an authentic place I believe makes him feel more real and authentic.
I hope this helps! Thanks again for your lovely review and helping to share Ivan with the community of readers.
all my best,
Scott
Scott Stambach
Hey there! It made my day to read this! I'm so glad you adored it.
My next venture? I'm deep within my second novel about a hotel in Rio that holds all of time. Besides that, I'm enjoying the lovely ride of publishing my first novel and connecting with readers like you.
My next venture? I'm deep within my second novel about a hotel in Rio that holds all of time. Besides that, I'm enjoying the lovely ride of publishing my first novel and connecting with readers like you.
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