Meet Anthony Colonna, Author of Mystery of the Emerald Isle
What inspired you to become an author?
Mainly my children. I used to create stories featuring my Children as the heroes and share it with them before we went on a vacation as a way to introduce them to foreign cultures, cities, etc. By combining the reality with a bit of fantasy, their eyes were opened to so many wonderful places in a way that our educational system seems to completely miss.
How did you come up with the idea for Mystery of the Emerald Isle?
I decided that for true happiness in life, I needed to take all the things I enjoy and somehow combine them into one thing that I would like to do for the rest of my life. (I spent 25 years in the advertising business and wanted to do something different) I took my Kids, Illustration, Video Effects, 3d, Retouching, Graphic Design, Geography, History and Travel and integrated them all with Writing to create my first Interactive online E-Book which takes place in Ireland. I did this after I took my Mother there for her 70th birthday and decided that this would be the site my first Mystery would take place in.
What do you think readers will enjoy most about your books?
The Interactivity, the suspense and the art. In The Mystery of the Emerald Isle, it is the reader that solves the Mystery and no one else, something they have never experienced before. A cross between a traditional book and an interactive scavenger hunt, both entertaining and educating.
What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
My advice is to be as creative with your marketing and promotions as you are with writing your book. What I have come to find is that thanks to the digital world, we have new opportunities to take our creativity and expand it in ways never before possible, and this includes publishing.
Are you currently working on other books?
I'm in the beginning stages of promoting Mystery of the Emerald Isle, so I haven't had time to start my next one. (Although I have been thinking about an Italian setting for my next interactive adventure).
You can find out more about Anthony Colonna and Mystery of the Emerald Isle by visiting www.eventurebooks.com.
Mainly my children. I used to create stories featuring my Children as the heroes and share it with them before we went on a vacation as a way to introduce them to foreign cultures, cities, etc. By combining the reality with a bit of fantasy, their eyes were opened to so many wonderful places in a way that our educational system seems to completely miss.
How did you come up with the idea for Mystery of the Emerald Isle?
I decided that for true happiness in life, I needed to take all the things I enjoy and somehow combine them into one thing that I would like to do for the rest of my life. (I spent 25 years in the advertising business and wanted to do something different) I took my Kids, Illustration, Video Effects, 3d, Retouching, Graphic Design, Geography, History and Travel and integrated them all with Writing to create my first Interactive online E-Book which takes place in Ireland. I did this after I took my Mother there for her 70th birthday and decided that this would be the site my first Mystery would take place in.
What do you think readers will enjoy most about your books?
The Interactivity, the suspense and the art. In The Mystery of the Emerald Isle, it is the reader that solves the Mystery and no one else, something they have never experienced before. A cross between a traditional book and an interactive scavenger hunt, both entertaining and educating.
What advice would you give to a new author trying to get their book published?
My advice is to be as creative with your marketing and promotions as you are with writing your book. What I have come to find is that thanks to the digital world, we have new opportunities to take our creativity and expand it in ways never before possible, and this includes publishing.
Are you currently working on other books?
I'm in the beginning stages of promoting Mystery of the Emerald Isle, so I haven't had time to start my next one. (Although I have been thinking about an Italian setting for my next interactive adventure).
You can find out more about Anthony Colonna and Mystery of the Emerald Isle by visiting www.eventurebooks.com.
Stacie Theis / beachboundbooks@yahoo.com / copyright 2012