I'm thrilled to be introducing you today to one of my favourite online friends. Up until a few months ago, Helle Gade, was an avid reader who dreamed of becoming a published writer. She has now accomplished that dream, by publishing her first collection of poetry, Silent Dreams.

Even though I don't read much poetry and it's not my usual reading choice, and even though I have over 300 unread books on my Kindle, I just knew I had to read Helle's collection. I knew, from getting to know about her online, that this would be a great book, and it is.

Below, you can read an interview with Helle, and she has also generously agreed to give away an e-book copies of "Silent Dreams" to two of my blog followers. To enter, you just need to leave a comment, or 'like' this blog post. Two lucky winners will be chosen on 28th February 2013.



Here's the interview:


Welcome, Helle. Your debut book has recently been released. Congratulations! "Silent Dreams", is a collection of poetry. When did you start writing poetry?

First of all, thank you Maria for interviewing me for your blog. I’m honored to be here.

I started writing poetry in October 2012, so I’m quite new at this. I have never read much poetry, not since I went to school. Most of the poetry I have read I never understood, not until I read some of my indie poet/author friend’s works. That’s when I understood that poetry is what you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be long and complicated to be poetry. I really love that several of the people that have read my book, they don’t normally read poetry and they connected with my words.

I'm so impressed that you only started writing poetry in October! Your collection "Silent Dreams" is so polished, it gives the impression you've been writing for years!

The poems in "Silent Dreams" are divided into four sections: Chaos, Nordic, Darkness, Joy. The poems all seem very personal. Are they all inspired by your own life, or have you also included some fiction?

They are mostly personal. I suffer from Fibromyalgia and most of my poetry is inspired by my life with fib. Some of them are about the pain and confusion, and others are about appreciating the simple pleasures in life. There are also a few that are fiction.

Sorry to hear about the fibromyalgia. I did wonder where the imspiration for the pain expressed in your poetry came from.

One of my favorites in the collection is "Watching". What inspired that particular poem?

Because of the fibromyalgia, I live an isolated life. I simply don’t have the energy to interact with people much outside the Internet. So I often feel like an observer on the sideline. That is what sparked the poem and from there on it got a life on its own. ;)

Do you have a favorite poem in the collection? If so, tell us a bit about it.

It’s hard to choose one favorite since love them all, but I guess that "Victory", and "Warrior", stand out for me.
"Warrior" actually started out as a description for one of the characters in the paranormal romance novel I’m working on, but somehow it turned into a poem. "Victory" is about holding my head high through a rough life.

Did you write all the poems for "Silent Dreams" with a view to publishing them in a collection?

Well, I wrote my first poem ever in October 2012 and three months later I suddenly had a book ready. So no, I didn’t expect to ever publish a poetry collection. It just sort of happened.

Are you working on any other books?

I’m working on a picture book, sort of a Kindle coffee-table e-book. I’m also working on a paranormal romance novel and I might publish another poetry collection this year. I try to just go with the flow, I hate deadlines.

Well, that's one of the great things about indie publishing; deadlines don't exist!

I know that as well as a writer, you are a keen photographer. Have you studied photography, or is this just a hobby?



It’s a hobby/obsession that started when I got my first camera as a teenager. The obsession really took off when I got first digital camera. The ability to see the pictures immediately and delete them was amazing. It gave me the freedom to take 50 pictures of the same scene until I got the perfect picture. That is how I have learned to take good pictures.

If you had to choose between writing and photography, which would you choose?



That is a hard choice. I love to write but I think it would be photography. Everywhere I go and everything I see is a potential picture. You could say that I see the world through an imaginary camera. The possibilities are endless and if I don’t have a camera with me when I go out, then I go nuts. I’m serious; I become really grumpy.

LOL, that's what I'm like if I don't have time to write!

If you could go anywhere in the world to take photographs, where would you go and what would you take photos of?

I would love to go to Japan. They have everything, mountains, amazing nature, artistic gardens, fascinating architecture and history.



I know that you read a lot. Who are your favorite writers?

My absolute all-time favorites are C.S. Lewis, J.R. Tolkien, Barbara Bickmore, Knud Holten, Ilona Andrews and Yasmine Galenorn. I have reread them over and over. I could mention many more, like all the amazing indie authors whose books I have read since December 2011 when I joined Twitter and discovered the indie world.

Were there any writers that inspired you to start writing?

One day I got fed up with all the daydreams and voices in my head, so I sat down and began writing. I was lucky to meet Melissa Craig shortly after on Twitter in December 2011. She was the first to encourage me to write. The fact that she had only been writing a year when she published her first book was a huge inspiration. Amber Jerome~Norrgard, Ben Ditmars, and Robert Zimmermann, are the ones that inspired me to write poetry and I’ll forever be grateful for that.

What is a good book you've read lately that you can recommend to us?

I just finished Gnomes of Coyul: The Crystal Staff by Ben Ditmars. It’s an awesome fantasy book about gnomes.

Do you have any tips for someone who might be thinking of self-publishing a book?

Talk to as many indie authors as you can about their experiences.
Take pride in your work and don’t rush it.
And always use an editor.

Ah, yes, sound advice

Some of the poetry in Silent Dreams is inspired by Norse mythology; is this a subject that you have studied?

Only as a hobby. I grew up reading the award winning comic book series Valhalla by Peter Madsen. It’s so popular that it’s translated into 11 languages. It depicts the Norse gods, especially Thor and Loki and all their crazy adventures in fun way. I have loved Norse mythology ever since I read the series the first time. I always love a good book where the old gods come out to play.

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At the end of your collection there are two poems that are written in Danish. I would personally love to see the English translation of those. Do you have any plans to make those available?

I have translated Danmark for you ;)

Denmark
My home is under the red and white flag
Along the turbulent sea
Beneath the green beech
Amongst the valiant Vikings
Gudenaaen winds around my heart
In the east Jutlandic soil


Gudenaaen is Denmark’s longest stream and it runs through the area where I live.

Thanks, Helle!

From following you on Facebook, I know you love big cats! Do you have a favorite big cat?

My favorite is the tiger, but I love all big cats. They are so powerful and graceful. I find it a bit ironic since I’m a dog person. LOL



As you are a fellow chocolate lover, which is the best in your opinion: white, milk, or dark chocolate?

Milk chocolate! Always and forever!

Ha, ha! I prefer dark chocolate, but only because of my intolerance to cow's milk

Do you prefer e-books or print books?

I love print books, but I mostly buy e-books now. I love that I have a whole library in my smartphone and I love the lit screen, I can read no matter where I am or what the lighting conditions are.

Where are the best places for people to connect with you online?

http://www.facebook.com/authorhellegade
http://twitter.com/helle_gade
http://www.goodreads.com/hellegade

Helle also has a blog, here: http://hellegade.wordpress.com/ where you can view some of her photographs!

Where can people buy your book?

You can by my book on
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Dreams-e...
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-Dreams...

Thank you for answering my questions, Helle! I wish you every success with your future writing and photography. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work.

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If you'd like to enter the giveaway to win a copy of Helle's book, please 'like' this post or leave a comment below. Good luck!