I awoke squinting and blurry-eyed, my vision impaired by the bright light streaming through the window on my left. It took me a few seconds to assimilate my surroundings and for the disorientation to pass. I was on an aeroplane bound for Miami and based on the plane’s position on the in-flight map on the screen in front of me, the three-hour-long trip was only halfway complete. From my window seat, I could hear the whirr of the engine on my left. The white fluffy clouds appeared in patches against the crisp blue sky and I began to feel calm. For a few seconds, I sat there watching, captivated by the clouds as they appeared before the aeroplane’s wing sliced through them. The tiny aerosols consisting of minute liquid droplets were in seemingly limitless supply at the 35 000 feet altitude at which we were flying. Seated on my right were two young ladies who looked to be in their twenties. They were wearing the same bleached-blonde hair and colourful summer dresses. They were engrossed in the activity on their iPhone screens, not noticing me stir until I apologetically asked for an excuse. I needed to use the bathroom and I knew a splash of cold water on my face would do the trick of awakening me fully. “I hate using these lavatories,” I mumbled as I trudged down the aisle. “There is barely enough room to manoeuvre,” I continued to complain bitterly. It was the norm every time I took a flight. As I reached the bathroom located a few rows away from my seat, I was thankful there was no queue and instantly pulled the door open, grudgingly cramming my large frame into the woefully inadequate cubicle. As the water splashed across my face, the startle reflex kicked in and I immediately felt alert and refreshed.
Today we talk about Schizophrenia, a book by Alfred Sparman, published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Alfred Sparman, to get to know him better, where he found the inspiration to write of his book Schizophrenia, as well as what are the authors he takes as a model.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where did you find the inspiration to write this story?
Medicine has always intrigued me as a kid growing up. While my friends were playing with marbles and other toys, I was busy dissecting frogs with my little knife to see what was going on inside. I always thought that whoever put the organs and system together in animals including humans was a great master mind. I found out later his name was GOD. Now Music, Romance and Art are interrelated. I am a lover of all three entities. I always have soft music playing in the background with I am fixing my patients’ hearts in the Operating Room. I’ve been in love multiple times and have seen the strong force it can have on someone’s life. Some people believe Doctors are different human beings, but we are basically just like everyone else. We love, have intimacy and hurt like other people do. So, I wrote the two sequel “1.58 seconds” followed by “Switched”. I was the protagonist in these two books. However, I wanted to exit and create a serious character to take over the sequel. First 1.58 seconds then Switched and now Schizophrenia. In “Schizophrenia” Rex Scotland was invented to replace me. Dr Alfred Sparman may be gone but the written word stays around forever. Thence my inspiration to tell my story the way I see the world.
- What is the message you wanted to send out with your book?
People interpret the world from different pair of eyes. Therefore, the world is not the same for everyone. Rex Scotland was schizophrenic. The rampage he carried out was appalling. But a man’s way always appears right in his own eyes. When someone does something against the norm, we should be open minded in our assessment not tunnel visioned. Rex should have been institutionalized and kept from society many years ago by his Psychiatrist. There are many people walking around like Rex in our society unknown to John Public. So, when someone offends you, think a few times before you react. He/she may be waiting to explode.
- Which authors of the present and / or the past do you take as a model?
Stephen King has always impressed me as an author. However, most of my reading were text books and scientific literature. So, my writing comes from life experiences, movies and creativity. But I can safely say that I am my best model. I like being original and I like being Alfred Sparman.
- How did it feel to see your book published?
I was very excited when my first book “1.58 seconds” was published. But then the level of excitement decreased slowly as “Switched” and “ The Life Pill” were published. These books were all self-published. Now “Schizophrenia“ is different. I hope that the Traditional Publisher EUROPE BOOKS would give me a break through.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
Well, I have left Schizophrenia open to continue Rex Scotland’s Journey. I think he should pay for his crimes. But I’m writing a book named “Bed number one”. This is a story about evil presence on a certain bed in the Hospital. Every patient that lay in that bed died. The mystery of finding out the devil’s advocate responsible for this took some exciting twist and turns. But this is a true story.
Europe Books thanks the author Alfred Sparman 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 Schizophrenia. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, I wish that this book captures your interest and curiosity page after page and that at the same time it is a food for thought in order to see people who live in our society with different eyes, paying attention to those around us, making weighted assessments before acting or reacting.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!