INTERVIEW & REVIEW - TOMASZ CHRUSCIEL

INTERVIEW WITH TOMASZ CHRUSCIEL

Welcome to Roxana’s Blog!

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

My name is Tomasz Chrusciel, and I’m a Polish-born fiction writer. Since 2004, I’ve been living in Dublin, Ireland. A few years ago, I decided to leave my corporate career and started to write. From the day I made that decision, I’ve never looked back. Now, my world revolves around creating new stories that I hope readers find enjoyable and benefit from in many ways.

Q: So, would you mind telling us what you have written so far?

I’ve written two full-length novels. My debut novel, Illusive Intrusion was released for the first time in 2014. However, since January this year, the second, revised edition has been available on Amazon.
My second novel, Fast Track to Glory was published last year. The story gathered a great number of positive reviews. What’s more, Fast Track to Glory became a finalist in the 2016 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest. Also, IndieReader named the novel the Best Indie Book of 2016 in the action/adventure category.

Q: Where can we buy or see them?

My novels are available to buy on Amazon:
Illusive Intrusion: Amazon US, Amazon UK
Fast Track to Glory: Amazon US, Amazon UK

Q: What are you working on at the minute?

At the moment, I’m working on a prequel to the Nina Monte books (the first book in this series is Fast Track to Glory). This will be a captivating short story introducing Nina and her work. Later, I intend to write another full-length novel in this series.

Q: What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre?

I write in a few genres—action/adventure, woman’s adventure, mystery, and thriller—but I think that I’m starting to feel the most comfortable in the historical thriller genre because it perfectly combines my interest in history with my passion for writing fast-paced novels.


Q: What was the name of your last book? Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? What’s it about?

Fast Track to Glory is my latest book. I made Nina Monte my protagonist. Nina is Head of the Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World at the University of Padua. One day, she receives an unexpected invitation to a confidential meeting at Heidelberg Castle in Germany. Of course, she is too intrigued to refuse. What is expected of her doesn’t seem to be extraordinary until she examines a mysterious artifact found on a forgotten galley that sank in the fifteenth century in Lake Garda, Italy. Soon, her life is turned upside down as she is whisked around the world following the discovery. From that moment, not only is Nina’s life in danger, but the freedom of all humankind is at stake.

Q: Do you write full-time or part-time? Do you have a special time to write or do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when?

I try to write every day except Sundays. My aim is to start typing around 8:30 am. I don’t keep a strict word count. That would cause unnecessary pressure on me and lower the quality of my work. Typically, my workday ends at 5 pm, although there are days when the right words flow effortlessly, so I shut down my laptop around 9 pm.

Q: Where do your ideas come from? Or is it just the spur of the moment, a special feeling you experience or a specific conjuncture that offers you inspiration?

Most of the time, my ideas come from my travels. I love to go to new faraway locations in search of new story ideas. With a few exceptions, all the settings in my novels are the exact places I traveled to, so their influence is quite significant. It also happens that before a new book idea starts to grow, I will first know the locations where that story takes place.

Q: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

I work in the most efficient way if I have an outline in front of me. Of course, there are always new ideas popping out somewhere on the way, but I need to know where my story goes. Only then I’m confident that the storyline evolves according to what I have in mind.

Q: Do you ever get writer’s Block and if so do you have any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

I don’t believe in writer’s block. When I’m stuck—and it does happen—I just lower my expectations towards myself and just write. Everything can be revised later. This method is the best way to beat those less productive days. As well, having a good outline and the folder full of research material makes it almost impossible to spend a day staring at the blank computer screen.

Q: What book/s are you reading at present?

At the moment, I’m reading The Red Book by C.G. Jung. I believe that every writer should constantly work on honing their skills as well as on their spiritual development. Also, I’ve recently finished reading The Einstein Prophecy, a magnificent historical thriller by Robert Masello.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein

Q: How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Website: http://www.tomaszchrusciel.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomaszchruscielbooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomaszChru
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Tomasz-Chrusciel/e/B00KYWQJ36/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Book Links: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A75N0X6/; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fast-Track-Glory-International-Thriller-ebook/dp/B01A75N0X6/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR36W35, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Illusive-Intrusion-Tomasz-Chrusciel-ebook/dp/B01MR36W35/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8319222.Tomasz_Chrusciel

Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.

                                                         Character Interview 
 

1. Character Name: Nina Monte.
2. Role in your story: Protagonist. 
3. Age: 36.
4. Description: She is one meter sixty (five feet, three inches), with a curvy build and straight black hair, olive skin tone, and green eyes.
5. Nickname: --
6. Occupation: Professor of History of Religions at the Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World at the University of Padua.
7. Location: Milan, Lake Garda, Innsbruck, Jaipur, Varanasi.
8. Goal in life: Excel at her work.
9. Motto: She believes that good things come to those who are honest and work hard.
10. Family: mother, stepfather, grandma.
11. Best friend: She’s too busy with her work to make friends, but her grandma has a special place in her heart.
12. Current conflict: She must fight her scientific perception of the world, become a more spiritual person and trust her intuition.
13. Favorite Food: Seafood, fruits
14. Addictions: Her work at the University.
15. Pet Peeve: Nina hates dishonest people and those who hurt others.
16. Favorite Hobby: Reading.
17. What do you do for fun? --
18. Favorite childhood memory: She loved to listen to her grandma’s stories.
19. Dream job: She’s doing what she loves.
20. Favorite part of your day: A hot bath with a glass of wine.
21. Pessimist, Optimist, or Realist: Realist.
22. Beverage of choice: Coffee.
23. Most annoying person in your life: --
24. Taken or single? Any love interests? Nina is single at the beginning of the story. Later she falls for Alessandro, but it happens very slowly because they’re very different.
25. Pets: --
26. Biggest Fear: She fears that the artifact she helped to discover will fall into the wrong hands and the world will never be the same again.
27. Guilty Pleasure: Red Wine.
28. Most embarrassing moment: --
29. Greatest Strength: Nina is self-confident, independent, has a successful career and is passionate about her work.
30. Greatest Weakness: Addiction to her work is also her weakness because she’s too academic in her perception of life and she feels lonely.
31. Who do you most admire? Strong, honest people who look after their loved ones.
32. Are you keeping any secrets? --
33. Where do you see yourself in ten years? On top of her study field, but also surrounded by a thoughtful, responsible husband and family.
34. Advice for the reader as they follow you through your journey? No matter what you believe now, remember that there’s infinite wisdom in you, and the world is full of wonderful things that cannot be rationally explained.

 
 

Fast Track To Glory: An International Thriller by Tomasz Chrusciel
4 stars out of 5
 

This is Tomasz Chrusciel’s first novel I have read and I must admit that once I started reading, I found it quite difficult to put it down, even though, at times, the action is not very fast-paced and the tone is somehow nostalgic. I think Mr. Chrusciel succeeded in bringing together an interesting plot, full of twists, and a romance slowly blooming between two unexpected partners.
The author is very attentive to details, be it related to a place or to a character. It was like I had the sites before my eyes. Now, I do long to see all those places. Mr. Chrusciel seems to master the art of combining careful research and real aspects with fiction, thus building a good novel. There were a few instances when the story was too stretched and made it difficult to believe in it (fictionally speaking, of course) and there were also instances when the dialogue lacked some fluidity. That is why I couldn’t go with five stars.
The main characters are well-fleshed and the author offers a good glimpse even in the woven of the secondary or tertiary ones. I’ve noticed the rare change in the point of view, something most people can’t accept but which I enjoy as it gives me more perspective upon the action or the people involved.
I would recommend this book. It represents a good read for the people seeking adventure, as well as an intriguing connection between presence and past.