Today we talk about THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS, a book by Dr. Linda J. Stillman published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Dr. Linda J. Stillman, to get to know her better, what prompted her to the writing of her personal story in her book THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS, as well as the sensations she felt by ‘reading’ her life experience on the pages of her book.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- When did you decide to write about your personal experience?
Candidly, for years colleagues, students, and confidants urged that I write my unusual memories to share worldwide. Bantering back, I evasively responded, perhaps one day, with no serious intent and rarely thought about such a monument project, steeped in my then present-day, pulsating life. Meanwhile, life happened while making grandiose plans to shift life direction yet again, toward the end of the last decade. The cruel manifestation became known as Covid-19 in the USA and Corona in Europe, both continents I called home. Collectively and individually, the world experienced extreme disruption through the vicious viral explosion and ensuing lock-down. From its onset Winter 2020, I too was deeply impacted, directly following a professionally dynamic decade and mostly content. At the onset of the global pandemic and general panic, I painfully lost close family members that eerie first chapter of covid control that swiftly became reality, as billions were drastically affected. The unthinkable circumstances led to discussions with closest friend/confidant, Dr. Patrik of many years as we continued, in tandem, to traverse the globe to advance our parallel social development realms. Suddenly, life stood still with everybody’s compass upside down while seeking directional help at that paralyzing intersection. As a seasoned medical doctor of wisdom, he strongly encouraged to write my life story”, primarily for private purposes, to put my unusual journey into perspective and what better opportunity than in the serenity and security of the Swabian Alps with, for once, time on my side. Yes, he calmly convinced me to leave the repressive Manhattan conditions to return to my village in Southern Germany. In the soothing countryside, one could still walk outdoors to covet the beauty of the natural and safe surroundings, also to assuage the choking imprisonment, as restrictions rapidly tightened, worldwide. Alas, one serene mid-spring morning, I affectionately stared at my computer companion, knew intuitively it was THE time and simply started to write, a personal passion a lifetime. In the early script versions, I examined life’s highlights steeped in reflection and adaptation entering. Through Unknown Doors. The second year, I sought to connect the narrative to guide aspiring young adult leaders to address their challenges and to achieve their goals; whereby, the manuscript ultimately manifested into a book for inter-generational readers, too. The third year, I sought to incorporate a philosophical outlook by adhering to my own coined Young Global Leadership Foundation motto: “Learn from the Past ~ Live in the Present ~ Look to the Future”.
- What particularly significant experiences in your life find expression in your book?
Having applied a chronological approach to the journey, I wrote the chapters to illuminate the most important experiences of each unique era, from adventures, mishaps, successes to lessons learned. Then, I sought to connect each chapter to the ensuing one, also to create a congenial flow for the reader. Regarding, particularly significant experiences in my life, I candidly reply that several transpired that continue into the present. In short, they first revolved around a steadfast upbringing in traditional New England values that kept me grounded during numerous, pulsating episodes throughout my adulthood around the globe. Next, the realm of professional diplomacy, as a young married woman to a daring German diplomat, certainly catapulted life to transition, then to transform my academic background in culture and communication into constant use to cope with daily unpredictable realities. The two-decade diplomatic era resulted in being involved with history-in-the-making, including the Sarajevo Olympics -1984, the Reykjavik Summit -1986 and the Collapse of the Berlin Wall 1989, all encompassing far-reaching manifestations that changed history. Then the audacious entrance into the United Nations, 1994, denoted a hallmark moment that spawned a 30-year venturesome journey in various capacities till the present. Adjacently, to earn my PhD in philosophy, with its dissertation on the UN, proved to be a rather unique experience that integrated my educational and experiential spheres. It led to my role as the Global Mentor and the ethereal seven-year chapter of “The Prince and I” and its 1001 true tale Arabian adventures. It also fostered the creation of my Young Global Leadership Foundation, both formidable and floundering, finally flourishing after 20 years. Its mission is designed to guide aspiring young adult global leaders towards furthering peaceful ~ productive~ positive global relations in the 2st C. In closing, life in recent years has been, in the vernacular, replete with revolving personal surprises, leading to an ultimately happy ending.
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
Respectfully, the reader’s role is equally important to engage and enjoy a book for their own individual reasons. It is surely quite helpful that they share their reactionary and reflective responses to the writers, for the author’s intent is usually to impact and inspire the reader. To begin, I never planned to focus on a particular audience, for I viewed the writing as a healing process during a needed life “pause” to reflect and reconnect to the positive aspects of my life journey. Only the second year did I start to consider, seriously, an audience and gravitated to my aspiring young adult leaders of the millennial and gen z generations, before it became an intergenerational phenomenon through the encouragement of Dr. Patrik and Europe Books. Adjacently, I firmly believe in candid and compassionate exchanges to establish understanding through a meaningful discourse, applying effective and ethical communication styles and strategies. Concurrently, the art of relational interaction is directly connected to culture, gender and generation values, and thereby, vital to present, listen and discern messages with openness and flexibility. More specifically, I would encourage the readers to: Present their perspectives and opinions about the book as a literary work through helpful comments and assessments Relay how the book hopefully motivates/d them to walk THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS of their own to expand and elevate their own lives. Express their understanding of the key themes outlined in the foreword, in conjunction with their own lives and/or others. Connect to the adventures and episodes with all their positive and negative results and ramifications, through relating to the human dimension of life. Share their own challenges, mishaps and successes that we all experience in life as the WORK constantly underscores that lead to lessons learned. Feel free to ask for direction/advice to guide their own life journeys through the support of peers, educators, mentors, etc. to reach their own full potential and to live their passions.
- What sensations did you feel by ‘reading’ your life experience on the pages of your book?
The completion of THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS denoted its own dramatic journey across the spectrum of powerful sensations from elation to develop and organize book content in context, to numerous frustrating, on occasion exasperation, when the manuscript refused to flow in my chosen direction. In short, life continued to happen throughout the four-year writing journey that caused repeated consternation while relentlessly seeking a happy-ending that kept changing. After three focused years, a pause transpired for a few months until I returned to write, in fall 2023, the sixth version of the book. During that interim, I determined that precise, incision revision was warranted. Upon reading the WORK once again, I concluded that the explicit content proved a little too candid at intersections, while the realization induced a shocking ripple gripping my head and heart. That potent sensation resulted in one more major revision before submitting the manuscript to Europe Books fall 2023, not realizing EB had indeed received it already in May. To be immediately welcomed by Europe Books rekindled my energy and enthusiasm to complete the WORK. In cheerfully collaborating with the highly professional Europe Book editors, I had a renewed opportunity to consider the WORK from their perspective. Their encouragement fostered further commitment to become a global reality. It enabled me to reread poignant passages through different lens while a sense of contentment descended to calm my intensive lifestyle for decades. Most important, a mission to forward my education, experiences and expertise to ensuing generations has transformed into reality. In retrospect. THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS is not an ending, rather a beginning to share my journey across the spectrum of society through the human dimension and social media networks. If directly asked what emotionally resonated the most upon reading my own pages, the answer is both relational and two-fold: Diplomat Lothar and the Good Doctor Patrik are the two men who influenced my life most through their unwavering support – occasionally a strong nudge Nike style: Just go for it! Their life-long belief in Dr. Linda the mentor or simply Linda the woman has made the ultimate difference.
- Are you planning to write more books you can tell us about?
Thank you for this fielding this provocative question that I have intermittently considered since my connection and collaboration with Europe Books, December 2023. First and foremost, I concentrate on THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS to be a resounding success story; however, potentially to write a second manuscript is ruminating in my inner thoughts as well. Respectfully, I plan no sequel that seldom resonates with the fervour of the first, albeit, book, movie, etc. In addition, I have already shared my life journey as its own unique entity and a fait de complete. Still, never say never, and clearly, several factors would need to be carefully considered before making such an important decision: the success of THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS from start to finish as the primary focus 2024-2025; the sustainable energy and enthusiasm necessary to produce a second unique entity; the time factor involved; the financial remuneration; etc. Nevertheless, writing is clearly a lifelong passion that has positively culminated with our WORK, equally exciting and rewarding. Concurrently, I write best exemplifying my perception of truth from a combined intellectual, emotional and philosophical, integrated perspective. Therefore, I have actually been contemplating a second book, a cyber-crime thriller based on a true story, candidly — mine, that erupted in the midst of intently writing THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS. A befitting title could possibly resonate: The Manuscript Mystery that remains an open-ended, international cyber-crime case until the present. It would also require experts in the field for authenticity that I do happen to know and much more – to date there is NO ending – and do not believe in fabricating one, although an open-ended approach would resonate in Europe better than in the USA. In closing, I also very much enjoy writing poetry with relational meaning, especially when highly inspired, to express the secrets of the soul. This genre is potentially another consideration to choose perhaps The Road Not Taken, once again, transcending THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS.
Europe Books thanks the author, Dr. Linda J. Stillman, 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 THROUGH UNKNOWN DOORS. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my readers, I really wish that this book engages you; it allows you to reflect on your own points of view compared to those presented by the author; it connects you and resonates with your positive life experiences and not. Last but not least, learn to feel free to live your own life path even by asking for help from external people who can be significantly supportive for the growth of yourself as a person and as expression of your potential.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!