iLiana:   Tell us about yourself first. 

Helga: For as long as I can remember, my life was guided by dreams. I was a highly intuitive and sensitive child and as such, the real world felt too loud and abrasive. So I lived in my imagination and my inner world was my sanctuary. I could feel people’s emotions and read their energy fields and know them on an inner level more than I could ever explain.  

Born and raised in a small German town, I grew up speaking several languages and enjoyed mingling with people from different backgrounds. European travels began at age three and with it came exposure to a variety of languages, people and places. Different cultures fascinated me. I became a translator and after moving to California began working in the corporate legal field.  

Liana: When did you start writing?

Helga: I loved to paint as a child and it was my way of writing before I could spell words. I wrote in a journal during my school years and my father loved to write poetry, so I gained an appreciation for expressing emotions in the written word early in life. I wrote stories for family members and friends, putting their own qualities into my characters and they loved it. My first novel was written for young teens but never published.  

Liana: What genres have you written?

Helga: So far a young teen novel, short stories, articles, and inspirational.  

Liana: Is Sacred Wisdom your first book?

Helga: It is my first published book, yes.  

Liana: Tell us about your book.  What is it about?

Helga: Sacred Wisdom is an inspiring journey of the mind and soul. It reflects a young man’s journey to fulfill a promise to help the earth, the elderly and the children – much different from his personal goal of becoming successful in his career. He has no conscious recollection of ever having made this promise but it becomes clear that there is no way out. The book pinpoints his inner struggles, his nightmares, and transformation. The book’s characters include a Brazilian padre, a Tibetan lama, and the Novemvirat. It touches on divine law, inner peace and the joy of true love.  

Liana: What inspired you to write this book?

Helga: Several years ago, I had a stirring dream. I woke up in the middle of the night and roamed the house. When I returned to bed, the dream continued. That’s when it caught my attention. In the semi-darkness, I went in and out of the dream state taking notes. When I awoke in the morning, I realized I had written 18 pages. That dream became the basis of Sacred Wisdom.  

Liana: How long did it take you to write it?

Helga: It took me approximately two years.  

Liana: Who is the publisher of your book? 

Helga: The book was published by Suka Press, a small independent publisher.  

Liana: Where is it on sale?

Helga: It can be bought in independent bookstores throughout the U.S. and of course on Amazon.  

Liana: Tell us about your other books/work.

Helga: I am currently working on a book on meditation and stress management which will contain simple and easy guidelines for everyday living. It will be a short factual book.  After that, I will focus on my next novel which I have actually started. It will be on immigration. Being an immigrant, I have many personal experiences to convey, but of course I will invent different characters and a fun plot.  

Liana: What are the major challenges that you have faced in your career?

Helga: The greatest challenge in my writing career has been the marketing aspect. Becoming known as a new writer is not easy but I feel that if the work is good, it will happen in time.  

Liana: Has the Internet helped you in your writing career? How?

Helga: It most certainly has. Google search engines are fantastic in helping with research and any topic one would like to know about. Access is quick, easy and up-to-date, compared to going to a public or university library, having to order research papers, or researching volumes of books and journals. And of course, due to the internet, my book has its own website with summary, media kit and excerpts that are accessible all over the world at www.sukapress.com.  

Liana: What do you advise new writers to do?

Helga: This is a very broad question as there are so many different genres. Very generally speaking, I would say write what is in your heart, follow your intuition and trust your instincts. Advice I have received in the past is to make a detailed outline and this may be helpful to some but it is not how my mind works. I write intuitively, based on feelings, in a slightly meditative state of mind. That is when my creativity flows. I believe each writer finds their own style. My advice is: Follow your heart.  

Thank you!   Liana Metal Reviewer/Writer http://LianaMetal.tripod.com