Author Profile – Skylar Pharaon: Constellation Libra
Q: Why did you decide to write this book?
Author: In 2009, I was visiting the City of Oslo in Norway. I was sitting by the waterfront, observing the people, the boats and it was by the waterfront where I saw a labyrinth of large picture displays of various galaxies. Then I remembered that it was the International Year of Astronomy. There were numerous celebrations back in Washington DC, but I was amazed that the celebration reached all the way to Scandinavia. Prior to my arrival in Norway, I had read an article about a team of Swiss Astronomers who discovered Earth – like planets back in 2007 and then the idea of people from all cultures migrating to a new planet dawned on me. I started to wonder what the world would be like if forced to move to a new planetary system. Would we get along, or declare war over territorial space. The burning curiosity inspired me to write Constellation Libra.
Q: Do you have any secret writing tips you’d like to share?
Author: Travel as often as you can and always try to remember that the destination is not the only element that inspires your writing, it’s the journey, challenges and unforeseen encounters along the way, which catalyzes brilliant writing.
Q: Tell us a quirky or funny story about you!
Author: I am quadrilingual and often have a challenging time speaking in English without an accent. When people ask me, which languages I speak, my normal response is that I speak baby Italian, adolescent Tagalog, Spanish and adult English. When engaged in a conversation, I am often translating the English words from the other three. It’s a miracle I was able to write this book in proper English!
Q: Have you ever battled writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
Author: Absolutely, whenever I feel a mental block, I take it as a sign to walk away from my work. My usual remedy for writer’s block is to be out in nature. I allow my creative juices to simmer until the next vision arises or a new idea unfolds. By then, I’m scrambling for a piece of napkin to write on or running back to my laptop to write it all down before it disappears.
Q: What’s your favorite quote?
Author: It’s never too late to be what you might have been. ~George Eliot
Q: Who inspires you the most?
Author: My Mother
