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Interview:
1. What inspired you to write Vienna Calling?
-Vienna Calling is based on a true story that happened to me when I lived in Vienna a long time ago. It is a story that I had buried deep inside of me. Had it not been for the pandemic and the death of my father thrown at me in the middle of it, I would not have written the story. When my father passed away, and I couldn't even attend his funeral, I suffered a period of depression, and it opened a scar, an old wound that I could never get over, even after all these years. And that was it. I started writing about my encounter with a mysterious young artist I had met in Vienna and how it had positively changed and influenced my life.
2. Given that your father’s death influenced you to write this, what connection was there? How did his death open that wound for you? (You do NOT have to answer this. I will omit it if you want!)
-There is no direct connection between the two. I believe it has to do with certain circumstances that came upon me that drowned me into tremendous pain. And those two circumstances were probably similar in terms of its density. The feeling of loss. Loss of someone you love. And when I reached a point that it was beyond my power to overcome the grievances, very curiously, a new door opened in front of me. That’s when I realised that I could express the overwhelming experience in another way, than whining and self-pity. Express it in another way. Yes, and I started writing. Maybe it was how Axel started painting and found his inner peace after his childhood trauma. By expressing himself in canvas, he found a way out from his incredible pain.
We all have our own way to deal with hardship. This is one of the positive ways out, in my opinion.
3. Was it difficult to write Vienna Calling, or was it more of a nostalgic process?
-It was certainly nostalgic, but at the same time therapeutic. When I met Axel, I was young and naïve. I never knew how this unusual encounter would have influenced my life at that time. Now, thinking back, I realise that he was “Amor vitae meae (love of my life).” And I made the biggest mistake of my life by leaving Vienna, and leaving him behind. The story continues to book 2, which I’m working on at the moment. There are many things I wish I would have done differently. But alas, you cannot go back in time…
4. Fair enough! In the book, you mention Axel speaks several languages, but so do you! Just how many languages do you speak?
In Vienna Calling, there are quite a few and I was thoroughly in love with them! Linguistics has always been fascinating to me.-I speak fluently French, Korean, and English. I understand and speak reasonably Italian, and German, but I understand mostly Hoch Deutsch (High German).
5. Very impressive! Aside from learning to navigate a new, fleeting love, what did you learn while pursuing this endeavor?
-That Life is precious. Every day of your life is a gift. Every moment, especially if you have an opportunity to appreciate a piece of art, do it with gratitude, and with your whole heart. What is Art? How does one become an Artist? These are eternal questions I keep asking myself…And this was Not a fleeting love or fling. Thinking back, Axel was love of my life. The one and only. I still dream about him. It was far from exciting fling that you enjoy and forget in your younger days. This encounter with him left me a scar, never to be healed…I thought I could find this kind of heart pounding emotion with someone else. It never happened. You will see what happened in the book 2.
6. What would you like readers to take away from this?
-Remember, no matter what happens in your life, and how tricky and difficult life could be sometimes, “things happen for a reason.” My dear father passed away in Korea, while I was confined in France from Covid. I couldn’t even attend his funeral. I went through heavy depression. Then one day I got up and started writing this story that I’m sharing with you.
7. Any tips for new writers?-I’m a novice writer myself. I am not sure if I am in the position to give any tips, but if you insist…
-Never give up. If you think your destiny is to write and share and move others with your story, keep it up. And keep on dreaming. The dreams can come true only for those who dream.
8. I genuinely love that last sentence! Moving along, what was your favorite part(s) to write?
-The first encounter with Axel in chapter 1. And the last chapter, love scene in the rain.
9. Why did you love those the most? I personally loved the first the best, haha!
-It’s interesting, you asked this…haha. I tend to agree with you actually. The first chapter is my very favorite. Also the most important and key to our relationship. The unusual circumstances on how we first met. How I reluctantly agreed to ride with him on his Ducati, and the dreadful imagination in my head during the ride…and how it had turned out to be the most dramatic and romantic experience in the end…and all that was true event. I didn’t invent this part. How an artist work in his mind…how impulsive and imprevisible he was…I still don’t understand to this day…why did he decide to take me to see a sunrise, at that time who was a complete stranger he had just met? Life is full of surprise, right? Why did I love the last chapter? Throughout the whole story, while I wrote it, I have been impatient to arrive at the last chapter. I kept my secret resource for this part, and in describing the love scene in the rain, I had to go back and forth to see if it felt right. All those tensions, misunderstandings and turmoils all melted together here to be ended in a heart warming closure for the two characters, and for the readers, and myself. And it had to done in a delicate manner, in style and in good taste, I really had to choose the right set and words…quite a challenging path.
10. Least favorite?
-Let’s say most difficult. That makes it probably least favorite? Chapter 13, Adventure of the stolen painting. The vivid memory of anger against Anthony and violence still eats me up.
11. Oh, yes. I could feel the anger while reading it for sure and see why you didn’t like that! You’ve already answered this, but could you elaborate on what book 2 may include?
-Yes, book 2 is coming sometime this year. I will not give too much spoiler alert, otherwise it won’t be much fun, but as I said, the story continues…in an unexpected way. I narrated my story, of how it kept on influencing my path after the end of chapter 15.
12. Is there anyone you wish to thank in this interview?
-My dear father. A celebrated author of several best selling novels, loving father, and spiritual leader for many lost souls. And you, Nicole, my dear, for giving me this opportunity for an interview!
It was no problem! I loved learning about your story and working with you, too! : I’m just a novice writer who just began my career, and you made me feel like I was already an established author, which I’m definitely not. But it felt good to be appreciated…thank you. I’m so grateful.
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