INTERVIEW
The Stranger's Enigma
by Louis
Villalba
Description
Dr. Daniel Brandon
falls victim of tedious home life and relentless job stress and finds his
nightly dreams his only escape. Convinced that the protagonist of his dreams
holds the secret of eternal youth and joy, he decides to study him and unveil
the enigma. He finds a stranger who resembles him physically, but unlike him,
enjoys sexual freedom and adventures. His dreams steer him into true love and
takes him through a path where reality and dreams merge into a surreal world.
Here his final search for the enigma begins.
This novel engages
readers in a romantic adventure full of fantasies. The main characters' funny
responses to the situations and sense of humor unfold throughout this
thought-provoking story.
Praise for the Book
"Told from
Daniel's perspective, Villalba's novel is a provocative ... character study of
a man facing a personal and professional crisis. The first-person narration
brings immediacy to Daniel's story and allows readers to have the same wonder
and confusion Daniel experiences in his dreams. His romance with Julie adds an
extra layer of emotional depth .... Like his protagonist, Villalba has a vivid
imagination ... " ~ Kirkus Reviews
"It is an
interesting journey on how to find your eternal bliss, if it exists at all. The
author takes you through the labyrinth of emotions, dreams, and mind riddles.
You never know where you would end up until the very end. The story expands
into different dimensions and spaces, from everyday life to philosophical
substances and mind creations, to the world of dreams. I will be looking for
more books from Louis Villalba." ~ Faina
"The Stranger's Enigma is a fascinating
look at the world of dreams. [...] Read this book today to see how Dr. Daniel
Brandon figures out a way to be with Julie forever. Very interesting concept,
and very good book. I highly recommend this book. Happy Reading!" ~ Elizabeth
Interview With the
Author
For what age group
do you recommend your book?
Older than 20 years old.
What sparked the
idea for this book?
The observation we always look young and - most of the time - happy in
our dreams.
Which comes first?
The character's story or the idea for the novel?
The idea.
What was the hardest
part to write in this book?
This is an experimental novel. It was hard to put together a engaging
story in a book which is entirely based on true dreams.
How do you hope this
book affects its readers?
I want them to have fun and enjoy a nice story - and then realize what we
can learn from the person who lives in our dreams.
How long did it take
you to write this book?
Three years.
What is your writing
routine?
Write in the morning and afternoon and read in the evening every day.
How did you get your
book published?
I self-published it.
What advice do you
have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
Work hard, be patient, and have confidence in yourself that someday your
voice will be heard.
Great advice! What
do you like to do when you're not writing?
Walking and swimming. I like music, jazz, flamenco.
What does your
family think of your writing?
They don’t seem interested.
That's too bad. Please
tell us a bit about your childhood.
I grew up in Spain in a family with very limited resources. My father was
a security guard and I had five siblings.
Did you like reading
when you were a child?
Yes, I usually read the Reader’s
Digest. In my school, the teacher did not stimulate reading literary works.
When did you first
realize you wanted to be a writer?
Thirteen years ago.
Did your childhood
experiences influence your writing?
Yes. We always go back to our childhood in our dreams.
Which writers have
influenced you the most?
Ernest Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, William Faulkner, Saul Bellow, Truman Capote, and Joseph Conrad.
That's quite a list!
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I usually get good ratings.
Fantastic. What can
we look forward to from you in the future?
I have just finished a new novel.
Thank you for taking
the time to stop by today, Louis. Best of luck with your upcoming book.
About the Author
Born in Cadiz, Spain, Louis Villalba graduated with a degree in medicine
and surgery from the University of Seville, Spain. He completed his training in
neurology at Chicago Medical School where he taught for over thirty years.
Board certified in neurology and clinical neurophysiology, he has published
seventy-three scientific papers and book chapters over the course of his
career.
Inspired to pursue both fiction and nonfiction writing, Villalba studied
creative writing at Northwestern University. His first book for the public, The Silver Teacup: Tales of Cadiz was published in 2012 and contains short
stories of historical fiction. Villalba left the practice of neurology to write
full time. The Stranger's Enigma is his latest release.
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