TEN WORDS OR FEWER INTERVIEW: Marina Vantara, author of Mission Homo Liberatus: The Beginning

Marina Vantara, author of Mission Homo Liberatus: The Beginning, has been invited to take part in TriumphOfTheNow.com‘s “Ten Words or Fewer” interview format!

Read on below!

Q: What is the title of your book?
A: Mission Homo Liberatus: The Beginning.

Q: Why did you choose this title?
A: It reflects the main point of the novel.

Q: What’s the book about?
A: It is about true freedom and those who block it for us.

Q: Why did you write this book?
A: It is my search for an alternative way of life.

Q: And why now?
A: To call everybody to search for the alternative way. We need it as never before.

Q: Why do you write, generally?
A: This is how I communicate best. I don’t like talking much.

Q: Where do you write?
A: In parks, woods or gardens.

Q: Are you working on any new projects?
A: I just started Mission Homo Liberatus: The Rise of Indigo. It’s the second book of the trilogy.

Q: What/who do you read?
A: A lot of history-related non-fiction. And my favourite fiction writer is Mikhail
Bulghakov.

Q: Why do you read?
A:Reading is my job as a literature teacher. I love my job.

Q: What are your politics/values?
A: I am against manipulation and coercion, regardless of where and for what reason it is done.

Q: Why might someone with oppositional politics/values enjoy your book? If they wouldn’t, do you regret that?
A: They would probably agree with the oppositional ideas in my book. If not, well, point of view is a product of one’s background, I guess.

Q: Describe the ideal reader of your book.
A: An inquiring mind with vivid imagination.

Q: Are we alone in the universe?
A: My novel says we are not!

Q: Do you listen to music?
A: Yes, I play and teach it too.

Q: What differentiates us from the animals?
A: It’s reason, of course. Although we often forget about it.

Q: Where is somewhere you’ve been to that you will never return to? Why?
A: Egypt. I cannot stand the heat and bargaining.

Q: How often do you swim?
A: Three times a week.

Q: What happened the last time you went on a first date?
A: I felt bored to death.

Q: What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?
A: Leaving my school job to become self-employed. Now, I can write.

Q: Would you relive your life as a spectator if you could?
A: No. But I value the lessons I learned from life.

Q: What is “cool”?
A: “Cool” means no pressure.

Q: Do you like routine or spontaneity?
A: A bit of both.

Q: What do you need to thrive?
A: I need my own space.

Q: What do you need to survive?
A: I need the freedom of choice.

Q: How do you nourish yourself on a psychological level?
A: I write.

Q: What makes you laugh?
A: Children and animals. And a good pun, of course.

Q: What makes you cry?
A: Stories about children’s suffering.

Q: Do you have a favourite place? Where is it?
A: Bergen, Norway.

Q: How did your oldest friendship begin?
A: I lost most of my old friends because of relocation and my political views,
unfortunately.

Q: What is a soul?
A: It is the better part of a human being. Supposedly.

Q: Are you trained in first aid?
A: Yes, although a long time ago.

Q: What’s the biggest thing you’ve personally destroyed?
A: My first marriage.

Q: Describe your hairstyle.
A: It’s called messy layers, I believe.

Q: What’s your favourite item of clothing?
A: It’s a tunic, like in Homo Liberatus.

Q: If you could meet a historical figure for a chat over a beverage, who would it be and why? And what would the beverage be?
A: I would throw a glass of vodka in Yeltsin’s face.

Q: What is the scariest thing?
A: Being pushed to the corner with no choice.

Q: How many close friends do you have?
A: I have none.

Q: What makes a “close friend” close?
A: Kinship of souls.

Q: What’s the most popular thing that you don’t enjoy?
A: Carnivals and festivals. Anything noisy and crowded, really.

Q: What’s the most unpopular thing that you do enjoy?
A: I enjoy writing, the most unpopular thing with my students.

Q: What’s one skill you wish was taught in schools that isn’t?
A: Independent thinking.

Q: What’s the best museum, gallery or historical monument you’ve ever visited?
A: Khatyn Memorial in Belarus.

Q: Would you like to suggest a new question for future interviewees?
A: Ask writers, which character in their book is their favourite and why?

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BIO:

Marina Vantara was born in Belarus, raised in Russia, and lived in Ukraine for over a decade before settling in London in 2006. A trained musician and literature graduate, she now teaches piano and Russian literature freelance while writing full-time. Her academic and personal journey through post-Soviet cultures has deeply informed her creative work, including her debut English-language novel, Mission Homo Liberatus: The Beginning.

Vantara previously released the popular educational book 7000 English Words in the Russian Language, helping language learners bridge linguistic and cultural gaps.

LINKS:

Purchase link for Mission Homo Liberatus: The Beginning:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mission-Homo-Liberatus-Marina-Vantara-ebook/dp/B0FBMBCZT3

Homo Liberatus official website:
https://www.russian-marina-vantara.com/homo-liberatus

Official book trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZg-Psbwdk

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“Ten Words or Fewer” gives writers (novelists, poets, essayists, playwrights, screenwriters, anyone writing anything else) the opportunity to introduce themselves and their work. If interested in taking part, email triumphofthenow@gmail.com for more details.

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