Stella Art | Author Life

Stella Art, author of The Temple of Heaven released their book recently! We wanted to catch up with them and see what their life is like as a new author!

Did you always dream of becoming an author?

I have always recorded various impressionable experiences that I thought worthwhile registering. When my son was born, I penned daily dairies for the first five years of his life, detailing his every change and crossing of miles stones, and the ways in which his existence has altered mine.

I have, however, never thought that I would write a novel; despite many of my acquaintances and friends had urged me to do so over the years, because they had found my life ‘stranger than fiction’, in a manner of speaking. I have always dismissed the idea as English is not my mother tongue and I feel inadequate to this day of my command of the language.

The genesis of The Temple of Heaven was inspired by the most vivid and emotionally stirring dream I have experienced, which with a force of its own, compelled me to pen a story. The fact that I had achieved what I believed to be unattainable myself was a feat that I would forever, thank the ‘Heaven’ for.

2. What was your first job?

My first job was working as a nanny over the end of high school summer holiday. It lasted all of one day because I turned up to a strange house and realized that I was petrified of the family’s pet cat. I became so hysterical that I managed to lock the front door behind me with two young children trapped inside the apartment where I couldn’t return without another set of keys.

My first ‘proper’ job, which has remained my only occupation for the last thirty odd years, was qualifying as a Medical doctor, and went on to specialising in anaesthesia.

3. How did you come about writing your book? Was that your intention or did you start writing for fun?

As above, I was inspired to write this book after having had a spectacular dream some four years ago. The truth be said, I didn’t really know what I was doing except that I was compelled to write ‘something’ down. The rest of the work just kept rolling into my head as time went on.

4. What was your life like before you became an author?

I was going through possibly the most challenging period of my entire existence when my life on all fronts; be it professional, social, financial, or personal; were all shattering into irrevocable tesserae.

I often wondered if that was the subconscious drive that created my dream which inspired the heroine of my story to ultimately find a way to escape, or otherwise to exist in ‘plain sight’.

5. Did you face any struggles before becoming an author? If so, how did you overcome them?

I had been a very successful and financially secured doctor for most of my adult life, until I left Australia seven years ago in order to move to Hong Kong, quit my career, and salvage a crumbling marriage. After tolerating unspeakable events during my time there, I had to ‘escape’ back to Australia with my then seven year old son with two suitcases and one hundred dollars in my purse.

On returning I attempted to return to my previous profession but was met with a hostile reception from my colleagues who, out of fear and envy, did every dirty trick in the book to try to drive me out of town. Many of my friends walked away as they thought that I have become the ‘untouchable’, and I had only my little brother left on which to rely.

It had taken me seven years of dogged refusal to fail that I eventually regained my reputation, career, and some sense of pride.

As always, people who I don’t even know had sneered at the notion that I was bold enough to aspire to become an author. I hope my book should become a success so that I can, Once again, prove my detractors wrong.

6. Now that you are a published author, how has your life changed, if at all?

 

My book was released a mere couple of weeks ago and so I am still awaiting feedback from reviewers and readers. A few of my close friends who had read the manuscript had been most supportive and all had told me that my book read like a big-budget Hollywood film production.

My beautiful fourteen-year-old son, who has always been an advanced and ferocious reader of literature, once told me that ‘I was the best author he had ever come across’. When I asked him to explain his observation, without bias; his response was: ‘Good authors always manage to acquaint the reader, himself included, with the characters and develop a longing to take the journey with the protagonists. For him, he felt as if he “became the characters” himself and actually living and breathing my story from the beginning to the end.’

I suppose my son’s precious comment has so far been my greatest achievement from writing this book.

7. Can you please describe a typical day in your life now?

When I’m working as a doctor, which is roughly three of the five weekdays, the days are often long and I can afford to do nothing except to focus on my job at hand.

When I do not have medical work, I fill my days with being a regular mother who is a bit of a nutter when it comes to cooking. With the rest of my spare time, I write as often as I can, as ‘The Temple of Heaven’ is the first of a trilogy and I have begun the second, with a working title ‘The Two Borned Kings’; plus working on a second trilogy titled ‘Once Upon a China Girl’ with the first book is about one third completed. When I feel lazy I am usually found in front of the television watching either the news channels or the cooking shows.

Just a regular woman.

8. What is your most memorable moment of your life as an author? 

When I was offered publishing opportunity by Pegasus and another large American publisher in the same week, defying everyone’s gloomy prediction of failure.

9. In a few words, how would you review your experience with Pegasus Publishers?

I have no comparison with any prior experience. That said, I am grateful that both the production team and now the publicity team had been patient in their guidance.

10.  Why did you choose Pegasus Publishers?

   I know of Pegasus’ reputation and feel honoured that they were willing to take a chance on me.

Get yourself a copy of Stella's book, here!