Göte Nyman | Author Life Questionnaire

Göte Nyman, the author of Perceptions of the Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, shares some info on what it's like being a new author!

Did you always dream of becoming an author? Strange enough, I never had this dream, but I have always been thinking what it might be to write excellent texts. Hence, I have tried to improve my writing later during my science career with other texts. Earlier I managed to publish my research work in Nature - I wrote the article - it was some kind of a proof that I might have potential.

What was your first job? I have had many jobs before academia. I was there first academic in my family. I learned to work very hard at a farm where I spent every summer 3 months every year until teenage. My first job at 15 was a shipyard warehouse assistant and then painting roofs and chimneys of block houses in Helsinki. Dangerous work.

How did you come about writing your book? Was that your intention or did you start writing for fun? After my auto-bio inspired book Perceptions of a Camino, I felt I’m about to find my personal voice in writing. After that, I just found a story I’d like to tell. It was inspired by Woody Allen’s  movie Midnight in Paris and my own experiences in the academia.

What was your life like before you became an author?                                        I have a peculiar academic career as a professor, still working with high class science but have a decade-long history with famous big firms and their r&d. It was hard, operational and responsible work with little time for extra creative activities.

Did you face any struggles before becoming an author? If so, how did you overcome them? No, it has been a personal journey. Perhaps its about my personal way to focus in anything I love. My wife Kiisa has been an amazing supporter.

Now that you are a published author, how has your life changed, if at all? I have told more about my work to my friends, colleagues and social media than I’ve ever done before. My book has taken a strong role in my everyday life - the excitement of how it will be received. It is also something to share with my closest friends, m ore than I’m used to.

Can you please describe a typical day in your life now? Usually, every day,  I start writing or other work with my projects at about 8 Am and continue till about noon or 2 PM  or so and then later continue on and off. Sometimes I work very long days. I have quite a lot of activities with some start-ups, some academic responsibilities and writing columns and other short texts. After corona I will again start the gym. I enjoy it, see it as a necessary activity but it also relaxes me.  I have a sports history and have been going to the gym since I was 13.

What is your most memorable moment of your life as an author? One of them was there way Harriet S Chessman - a prominent US writer and teacher - coached me in writing. Her supportive, inspiring and critical role was just amazing and exceptional. I will never forget it.

In a few words, how would you review your experience with Pegasus Publishers? I did not know what to expect but every step we took has been satisfying and I have loved the collaboration. I will continue with Pegasus when I have other texts ready.

Why did you choose Pegasus Publishers? I had approached some (about 5) US agents with reasonable reception but there was something that disturbed me - not only the rejections. I thought I must approach a European publisher and the first one I found was Pegasus. I had worked with a Cambridge University lab, and that history had some motivational impact on me. I did some background checks and decided to trust you. It was worthwhile, indeed.