Welcome to the blog tour starring Adem Besim and his debut novel My Unforgettable Year. Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Adem. Thank you, Adem, for answering my questions, and all the best with My Unforgettable Year.
Now a question on the tips of many tongues...
Q. How did you become a writer?
A. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an author. I wrote some stories in my teens (but only finished one). When I was 17, I got the idea for My Unforgettable Year and planned the story over a period of years. Then I enrolled into Professional Writing & Editing course in 2013 and started to learn everything I needed to know about writing and the industry. It gave me the skill and motivation I required to continue working on this novel.
Q. Did you have to do much research for this book?
A. I didn't need to do much research, except for making sure the positions and rules for the footy match scenes were accurate. I also received some advice on medical matters concerned with the deaths and other medical issues in the novel.
Q. Can you tell me about the main character and what you like/dislike about him/her?
A. I like how Nathan thinks a lot and tries to understand things. I was an over-thinker as a teen (and still am). I also like the way he matures as the novel progresses. He has weaknesses (like a short temper and impatience) and I feel that he has worked on them by the end. I like how the book ends with him scared about the future, but also grateful for what he has learnt and the importance of life.
Q. Is there something that sets this book apart from others?
A. Because it is a fiction story set in a real town, and has important messages for teenagers and parents within it, I believe that people in Kyabram and neighboring towns will be eager to read the book, and that they will find something that they can relate to.
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Adem Besim was born, raised and still lives in Kyabram, Victoria. He is presently studying for a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing at Bendigo TAFE.
Adem started his writing journey at 14 years of age.
He says, "I started writing because I'd always had a passion for it from when I was a small child. Visits to bookshops with my father and author visits at school inspired me. I always felt at my happiest listening to authors speaking about their books. Writing gives me that same feeling. That's how I knew that this was what I was born to do; there was nothing else I felt more certain about."
BOOK INFORMATION:
This is a deeply emotive story told in the first person voice of a seventeen-year-old boy. The themes are many: bullying, friendships, dealing with death, and falling in love. This book will be loved by male and female.
SYNOPSIS:
This is a coming-of-age story about triumph and tragedy, love and loss, acceptance and letting go.
Life's looking pretty awesome for 17-year-old, Nathan Thompson. He's the goal-kicking superstar from the small town of Kyabram. Nathan's in his final year of school and has big plans set for the future; like winning the Thirds’ premiership cup, acing his Year Twelve exams, and finally graduating. One problem – his tough and over-bearing father, Mark, has other plans for him. He desperately wants Nathan to be the next AFL player to come out of Kyabram.
He seems set to stop Nathan from following his dreams of studying architecture at university. But a thirty-year-old secret of Mark's that resurfaces on Nathan's 18th birthday changes everything. Will it force Nathan and his father further apart or help them reconcile their fragile relationship?
On top of that problem, Nathan’s year gets worse as he deals with death, bullying and first love.
Blog Tour schedule:
Nov-14 - Interview
Nov-14 - Interview
http://clancytucker.blogspot.com.au
Nov-15 - Interview
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com
Nov-16 - Profile /publisher's notes
http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/news-update-blog
Nov-19 - Interview
http://www.kids-bookreview.com
Nov-20 - Interview
http://elaineoustonauthor.com
Nov-23 - Review
http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com
Nov 27 - Review
http://christinemareebell.wordpress.com
Dec-01 - Review
http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com
Dec-04 - Review
http://www.sherfordbear.co.uk
Nov-15 - Interview
http://www.robynopie.blogspot.com
Nov-16 - Profile /publisher's notes
http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/news-update-blog
Nov-19 - Interview
http://www.kids-bookreview.com
Nov-20 - Interview
http://elaineoustonauthor.com
Nov-23 - Review
http://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com
Nov 27 - Review
http://christinemareebell.wordpress.com
Dec-01 - Review
http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com
Dec-04 - Review
http://www.sherfordbear.co.uk
BOOK INFORMATION:
TITLE: My Unforgettable Year
Author: Adem Besim
ISBN: 978-0-9925052-7-1
FORMATS: Paperback and eBook
EXTENT: 258 pages
AU RRP: eBook: $4.95
Paperback: $22.95
PUBLISHER: Morris Publishing Australia
PUB DATE: November 2014
CATEGORY: Coming of age story
AUDIENCE: Young Adult
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL ORDERS:
Morris Publishing Australia - http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com
Dennis Jones and Associates: http://www.dennisjones.com.au
James Bennett library suppliers: http://www.bennett.com.au
The Nile Bookshop: http://www.thenile.com.au
Paperback and eBook available on Amazon and many online stores.
