Today we talk about ILSE, a book by Eva Van Baar published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Eva Van Baar, to get to know her better, if there has been a particular moment in her life that led her to the writing of her book ILSE, as well as the characteristics the audience should have to appreciate her book.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Is there a particular moment in your life that led you to the writing of your book? What was that?
Yes, there was a publisher who invited me to write a book on esotericism because there was not much for young adults on that topic. I wrote part one, and I could not say goodbye to Ilse, so I also wrote part 2 and 3. It is partly based on my own experience, and the rest is fantasy. It is one of my most favorite books. The first book I wrote was ‘doolhof of labyrint.’ Columns on life, my children, about being a mother, sister, daughter, being a woman. I like the combination of working on a novel and at the same time working on columns. On my website you can see all the titles. Also a few in English www.evavanbaar.nl
- What characteristics your audience should have to appreciate your book?
They should be interested in esoterie, and for young adults it is interesting anyway because it ‘s also about friendship, your years as a student, finding your way in life and choosing your profession. Being insecure, and be more mature at the end of that yourney. They say my books are easy to read. I like them to be relaxing. I like it when they give you a feeling of satisfaction when you have finished them.
- What is the message you wanted to convey with your story?
I want to give more information on esotericism, It is not humbug, and not abacadabra, it is quite normal. I wanted to do so in a novel for Young adults. Esotericism is international it exists in every culture. It enriches your life when you get to know more about it.
- What is the first book you read and what did it teach you?
I was seven years old and I read everything they had available in the classroom, we had a little library there. And the library in my hometown. I think the first books were the ‘golden booklets’, a series of small books with a lot of pictures and not much text. They were simple books, I learned a lot more from the books they read aloud to us. Books by Annie M.G. Schmidt.
- Are you working on a new writing project?
I am always working on a new project. I am writing a novel, or maybe it will only be a novella, I have to see where the story brings me. And I always have a document open on my laptop, for columns. When I have enough pages, I check what I will use and what columns I will erase. I have a synopsis for a thriller, I have never done that before so I don’t know if I will be able to finish it. I write feelgood books, mostly with a message. My columns are about daily life, my cats, my books, everything that happens. My struggle with internet, with official forms, with counters and organizations. It can be quite chalenging to get things done in The Netherlands. With Ilse my editor has nominated me for the Nobel Prize of Literature 2015.
Europe Books thanks the author, Eva Van Baar, once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book ILSE. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my readers, I hope the book provides you with interest information on esotericism that may capture your interest and curiosity! At the same time it will offer you food for thoughts to reflect upon.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!