Today we talk about Just be happy, a book by Christian Paglia, published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Christian Paglia, to get to know him better, what prompted him to write his book Just be happy, as well as what he would like to hear from his readers.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What prompted you to write about Monica’s and your family’s story?
Bone cancer osteosarcoma is one of the rarest and most terrible illness for a human being. Very strong chemotherapies, radiotherapies and surgery of the body with amputation of important limbs, such as the knee, changes your life and movement capacity for the rest of your life. Monica faced all these actions during her long-term therapies for over three years, with patience, struggling against daily pain and uncertain future. An impossible task for a 15 years old woman, and for all the humanity as well. She encouraged all our family to go through all this, every day. She showed how to keep hope awake, to look forward, always. With love, by focusing on the small things and passions that keep you alive and happy. Even when the destiny is about to collapse on you. I wrote the book because I wanted to show who are the real heroes of the world: people like Monica.
- What sensations did you feel by ‘reading’ your life on the pages of your book?
I wrote the book in a simple language as Monica and our family look like. We are simple people. I read the book several times for language corrections. I tried to keep the sufficient emotional distance. I looked at the sentences, the letters, the grammar. But sometimes the memories hit me again and again deep into my heart and soul. I will never believe that something like that happened to Monica. It is unacceptable. But we will have to live with this pain. And every time I read or I answer questions like this, the pain rises again. Every time stronger.
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
I would like to teach them the value of Monica. The strength of loving life at all costs. The value of keeping yourself alive the best way you can. I would like they awaken empathy with other people. Something that appears to be disappeared in our society. In spite of all the socials that promote the contacts. I am also aware that it is difficult to learn something from other people experiences. We, as humans, are in trouble to learn. We need to face several times the same problems in order to solve them in a better manner. And sometimes the destiny decides himself. But until the end of life comes, we need to live at our maximum potential, as Monica did.
- How has Writing helped you to manage the life challenges you faced?
Writing this book did not lower at all my pain and the sense of injustice I feel. I was just happy to show the world the positive actions of Monica. Her way of life. On the other hand, when I was writing I felt like talking with myself and again with Monica. This fact helped me somehow. I like to think, although it is not always a relaxing way of life. I struggle with my mind and my intelligence trying to keep them awake. Writing helps me to do that, while the love of Monica, Vanessa and my family keeps me alive.
- Are you planning to write more books?
I wrote some other books. One about the life after Monica’s death that still has to be published. It describes possible ways to face the impossible. As Monica did during her illness. To live day by day. To gather the courage in the morning and keeping it during all day through the conventional actions. In the other two books I gathered some experiences I had during my political period of over ten years. I outlined the emotional aspects of meeting several kind of people and their behaviour with respect to the problems they were facing. In the meantime, I have some other texts I am working on.
Europe Books thanks the author Christian Paglia once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Just be happy. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, I wish that this autobiographical and intense book will help you reflect on the value of life and how precious it is! that it will help you awaken your love for life, and start living every day to the fullest and derive the best possible benefit from it.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy this inspirational reading!
Your editor!