My name is Marin and I was a child a very long time ago. My father
passed away when I was one year old. My mother remarried and I was
raised by my loving (but strict!) grandparents. After losing their son,
they were terrified by the thought of losing their grandson. For this
reason, they didn’t let me play on the street, swim in the nearby pond
or explore the forest with the rest of the kids. This was also the
reason I learned to read and write long before I went to school. My
grandparents surrounded me with books. Books became my imaginary parents
and my fictional friends. Apart from my genetic building blocks, books
also came to be the main component in my development as a creative,
compassionate and competitive individual.
I studied nuclear physics, art, and literature, but I enjoyed art the
most. As a young artist, I was eager to succeed, winning prizes from
various countries. I later became a partner in an advertising agency and
switched my attention to serving clients. My last award was somewhere
in the early nineties – The Best in the West by Corel Draw Corporation.
Oh, a few more boring things about me: I do not drive, I do not drink
carbonated beverages, I have never consumed food from McDonald’s,
Burger King, KFC or any other fast food restaurant, I do not have a
mobile phone, I have never used legal or illegal drugs (except Gravol
when I fly), and I have never visited my GP (much to the disapproval of
my wife).
I read. I read every day. I am what I am today because of books. This publishing house is my little “thank you” to all of them.
About the Book
‘TWAS THE NIGHT is a wordless book that “tells” a heartwarming and
inspirational Christmas story. The illustrations gift each reader, young
and young at heart, the opportunity to reimagine the Season’s wonder,
and the freedom “to script” (if they choose to) their own lines to go
with the images. Keep dreaming big!
Thanks for this interview, Marin. I’ve always wanted to write children’s
books. When did you determine that
writing for children was for you?
When I finished writing, illustrating, and designing my
first book “The Adventure of Alex and Er,” I was suddenly flooded with ideas. The
final series titled 2GETHER contained five titles, but I was nowhere near
finished. Over the course of two years I created a dozen books. I got totally
hooked! I fell in love with the creative process so much that I craft every
inch of my books, even down to the fonts to make my publications
one-of-a-kind.
What was the inspiration behind your children’s book, ‘TWAS
THE NIGHT?
Believe it or not our crooked world of consumerism lies at
the foundation of the story. I wanted to show a world of compassion, a world of
kindness, a world of Christmas wonder. I also wanted to find a unique way of
manifesting my dream-like story. This is why I made ‘TWAS THE NIGHT a wordless
book. I love knowing that the “reader” will become my creative partner and they
will each develop a unique version using their imagination guided by my
illustrations. I hope the book will become one of the most inspirational
children’s stories ever published.
How do you get into the mind of a child to create a fun
reading experience? Are you around
kids? Are you a kid at heart?
One thing that immediately connects me with kids is that we
share wild imaginations. I fondly remember making up stories at bedtime for my
kids and they just rolled off my tongue. Currently I am not around kids, as all
my children are grown, but am I a kid at heart? Maybe a little…
What was your favorite book as a child?
I loved too many to name a favourite. I grew up with my
grandparents who always gave me books; some of them were far too complicated
for my little mind. Nonetheless, I read them, though many of the words were
strange and meant nothing to me at the time. I thank them for exposing me to a
variety of genres and instilling me with a desire to learn more about the world
I was surrounded with.
What kind of advice would you give writers who would like
to write children’s books?
Do not be in a hurry to publish - perfect the story as much
as you can.
What are your goals for the future? More children’s books?
I would like to create as many as I can, although volume is
something I do not really pay attention to. If a good idea comes to mind, I go
with it… so far the creative fountain is bubbling with ideas.
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