Ask the Author: Nik Krasno
Answered Questions (35)
Nik Krasno
Didn't know there was a war in China too
Nik Krasno
Hi Bill, glad to hear from you! Working on the debut should be exciting. Best of luck with finetuning and launching it!
Nik Krasno
Hi Michel, congrats on publishing the book. You can put an announcement about it in the Announcement section. Good luck!
Nik Krasno
Hi Chantelle, thanks for your interest in my writing. The answer would be - both or depends. If regarding the first book I knew pretty much what I wanted in it and how it would end (although my co-author added a lot from his own), the sequels were far less preconceived and a lot has been spontaneous and impromptu. Also, an editor of the 2-nd book, for example, convinced me to change the ending a bit and I agreed with his arguments. That's just my process. You'll find authors that have it all structured in advance and others that rely solely on instantaneous creative imagination. 😎
Nik Krasno
Hi Della, I'm not in the position where my writing generates sufficient cashflow to count as prime occupation. Relatively few are. I'm a practicing lawyer and a smalltime businessman. As opposed to maybe many others, I don't feel like writing is my destiny nor think I'm exceptionally good at it. I thought I had an interesting story, which deserved to be told. With initial enthusiasm as a tailwind, it got expanded beyond the initial scope into 4 books series :) Now that it's done, it might take time if and until another muse pays me a visit :) Meanwhile, I'll try to accomplish a non-fiction project. Thanks for your interest and best of luck with your own writing!
Nik Krasno
Hi Frank, I think I'm more enthusiastic :) I admire how Ukrainians defend their freedom and country against an allegedly superior army. As of the past - almost all the participants of WW2 are dead and I don't hold anything against new generations who live now. I heard of atrocities, but equally or more so about heroism of those who fought nazis in the ranks of the Red Army or those hiding Jews or fighting as partisans. We see how Germany changed and condemned its past. Poland is one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine in the current war, despite their problematic history. It's important to remember what happened in the past, however I argue sins of the previous generations shouldn't project onto contemporary ones.
Nik Krasno
Hi Mariia,
Of course, books evoke emotional response, inspire, if you will. We all want to be a bit like the heroes we read about. Sometimes books miraculously coincide with one's own experiences. I remember reading Grisham's Rainmaker while finishing internship and taking the bar exam myself, deriving additional support from the hero's coping with similar stuff concurrently with me :)
In the context of writing, my story about the Ukrainian Godfather can be loosely paralleled to the original one of Corleone, except there are no similarities in their lifepaths. So, sure, Mario Puzo's masterpiece must've influenced my story. And so did - Tarantino's sometimes absurd, generally "non-aggressive" violence, Guy Ritchie's witty, gritty lowlifes (not exactly books, I know) or Irvine Welsh's "unfiltered" writing style.
Of course, books evoke emotional response, inspire, if you will. We all want to be a bit like the heroes we read about. Sometimes books miraculously coincide with one's own experiences. I remember reading Grisham's Rainmaker while finishing internship and taking the bar exam myself, deriving additional support from the hero's coping with similar stuff concurrently with me :)
In the context of writing, my story about the Ukrainian Godfather can be loosely paralleled to the original one of Corleone, except there are no similarities in their lifepaths. So, sure, Mario Puzo's masterpiece must've influenced my story. And so did - Tarantino's sometimes absurd, generally "non-aggressive" violence, Guy Ritchie's witty, gritty lowlifes (not exactly books, I know) or Irvine Welsh's "unfiltered" writing style.
Nik Krasno
Hi Daniel, I wouldn't know offhandedly, as I rarely pay attention where an author comes from. Probably - a few. As I've enjoyed visiting Australia, like some Australian bands, I'm sure the lit won't disappoint either, therefore I hope to expand my exposure, first grabbing something to read of the Australian authors I met here on GR, like Graeme https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or Leonie https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... and hopefully more
Nik Krasno
Hi Guy, thanks for reaching out and your tip regarding Putingrad. Haven't read it, but sounds like an interesting project to look into, although I don't lack personal experience from those terrains and times, deserving fictionalization. Your profile reminded me of good days in Cancun and Cozumel, which feel now like another life :) Nice to e-meet you!
Nik Krasno
Hi John and thanks for reaching out. Yes, I do use travel time to write down ideas and sometimes scenes, although currently grounded by corona. Unfortunately, I can rarely reach the desired level of concentration and detachment during flights, so time dedicated to writing in the study is usually more productive. How's your writing -while-travelling going?
Nik Krasno
Hi Rebecca, my opinion - reviews are nice, but secondary, tertiary. Discoverability is the main problem and I don't think reviews solve it. No, I wouldn't pay for various reasons. Besides, here on GR you have different authors-readers-reviewers groups, where interested readers every once in a while solicit books' offerings to read and review. You can try with them maybe. Best of luck with your first book and more to follow! :)
Nik Krasno
Hi Sam, busy comes from business, which we welcome -:) You can join whenever you like, if at all. It should be fun, not burden. Have an excellent weekend too!
Nik Krasno
Hi Sam & glad to meet you! World, Writing, Wealth group is open to everyone, observing its rules, and welcomes new members regardless of their status, occupation or anything else :) Come join and enjoy!
Nik Krasno
Dear Judith, thank you very much for your kind words and your interest in the Oligarch series. The 1-st book - Rise of an Oligarch is more historical fiction, encompassing the period preceding the Big Bang of the USSR and its aftermath, than other genres. The 2-nd - Mortal Showdown develops against the backdrop of events surrounding the ousting of the former president of Ukraine in 2014, however it's more of an action thriller. And finally the 3-d - Be First or Be Dead is purely fictional and doesn't rest on specific historical events, while dealing with global conspiracy, big biz, high finance and low morals.
Nik Krasno
Good luck with Twisted Fates and the new place! I cannot commit to a time frame at the moment, but hope to be able to read it soon...
Nik Krasno
Hi Eric, and thanks for your interest.
All my books are on Amazon and you can find them all under Nik Krasno : https://www.amazon.com/Nik-Krasno/e/B... .
Additionally, 'Mortal Showdown' is offered through most other platforms via Smashwords
All my books are on Amazon and you can find them all under Nik Krasno : https://www.amazon.com/Nik-Krasno/e/B... .
Additionally, 'Mortal Showdown' is offered through most other platforms via Smashwords
Nik Krasno
Hi Geza, nice to meet you here. I don't exchange reviews, but I looked at your books and they do sound very interesting. I hope to get reading them one day, and if I do, I'd gladly leave a review.
Nik Krasno
Little Rocket Man left Don no choice.. There is one blue planet less in the galaxy...
Nik Krasno
Hi Jennifer, thanks for your interest! Be First has an independent plot and can be read as a standalone. If you do, I hope you enjoy -:)
Nik Krasno
Hi Anthony,
There are a few groups on Goodreads dealing with reviewing or connecting readers and writers, where you can pitch your book and someone might want to grab it for reviewing. A couple of postings might just not be enough -:)
Also, every once in a while if you follow the feed, people announce opening a new blog or willing to read and review books, so you might want them to consider yours..
Some authors report that giveaways sometimes result in reviews from the winners...
Not an easy task, but not a hopeless enterprise either.
Good luck with Sorry Times!
There are a few groups on Goodreads dealing with reviewing or connecting readers and writers, where you can pitch your book and someone might want to grab it for reviewing. A couple of postings might just not be enough -:)
Also, every once in a while if you follow the feed, people announce opening a new blog or willing to read and review books, so you might want them to consider yours..
Some authors report that giveaways sometimes result in reviews from the winners...
Not an easy task, but not a hopeless enterprise either.
Good luck with Sorry Times!
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