Interview the Writer – Isralike
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name’s Chaya to be pronounced as [Kh], not [Sh], of Israeli-Jewish, Russian-Yemenite origin and living currently in the West of Germany with my mother. I’m a young girl just having passed the 18 mark and my primary business is still school. Having tried at the university for a couple of semesters, I also engage myself in different community, a little of youth work in my Jewish community and love planning or simply taking part in seminars and student weekends. Meanwhile I also love traveling, do this quite often and don’t want to stop since I literally can’t sit still. 🙂
Ah yeah, my wordpress name is Isralike.
When did you first begin writing?
My mother had cared for me to learn writing and reading at age of 3. Since the I write, previously on more regular basis. I think my first short story was published and binded at home at age of 4-5?… On copy shop paper…
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Since the mentioned “publishing” of my short stories to be continued. At age of 9-11 I planned to write a novel but have never finished.
What is your favorite genre for writing? .
Fiction often, or “semi-fiction” when I try to disguise real stories by giving the characters false names or settings. Sometimes I focus on some sort of modern poetry, in different languages from hebrew to German or English. I love commentaries, evaluations and short stories written in “extract” style with no beginning or end. I mainly focus on down-to-earth motives yet would rather choose something with historical background. As far as I can remember, most of my stories were set in the past.
Who has been the greatest influence in your writing.
Can’t decide. Sometimes it were German classical writers of the 20th century, sometimes Hebrew ones, sometimes the last book I’ve read. It depends on what topic and style I am focusing on at the moment. But I believe modern authors rather then ones 200 or more years before because I rather write by choosing more or less contemporary writing style. But there’s no particular person. Perhaps writers like Heinrich Boell, or Duerrenmatt, or songwriters like Bezalel Aloni….
What inspires you to write?
My thoughts. My sorroundings. Special people. Or interesting texts. Or even envy when I see others writing and notice I’m not doing it myself, so I feel the wish to compete with them a little and I start writing. And there are moments in which I say to myself that my descendants have to have some account from me and my time to read…Sounds a little selfish yet it motivates. 😉
Do you read as much as you write?
Unfortunately no. Not in the last time at least. I think this comes from the fact that since age 3 or 4 I’ve been reading and through much material and books of interest, books of different kinds. So all this which I ve read and saved within me so far now wants to come out and so I rather write than read. Yet I suppose I’m gonna need to fill up my reading archives very soon as I don’t want them to become empty one day…
What book are you reading now?
Didier van Cauwelaert, “Un aller simple”, in French for school purposes (great book actually!), Friedrich Duerrenmatt “Zusammenhaenge” (political essays), Yasmina Khadra “Les sirenes du Baghdad” (French, self-learning purposes). I can’t stop at only one book unfortunately.
Is writing a career for you? If not – can you see it as one?
I wish it would be one for me. I have no patience. That’s my main problem so I can’t see such career as a long-lasting option. But occasionally would be grand. I mean, why to waste my abilities?…
Where did your interest in writing originate?
As far as I know, my motehr had always written things and my grandmother is a professor of arts science and has published several books and articles. I bet I’ve inherited this. But except from it…. I just want to express myself and the things that are on my mind. I am also self-conscious enough to assume that others would even like to read or know what I have to say. Sometimes my assumption is right, sometimes less. It’s that I love to share things which make me happy with others. Writing and creating new worlds by it is something which makes me entirely happy so no wonder I want to share them with others. Less for my “fame” but rather because I consider certain things to be important for the public to know or have or consider.
Where can readers find your work online?
Currently at my blog: http://isrealreflection.wordpress.com.
What is the most enjoyable aspect of writing for you?
Being able to express sometimes even the deepest nuances of life, feeling, thought, world. Being creative, being productive. Being active. All this is an aspect of life. I know, I rather focus on the philosophic aspect but it really gives me pleasureto experience it this way.
Are you connected to an online writing community?
At the moment there isn’t much I can be connected to as my internet access has broken down recently and I realise it happens quite often here. I am registered at wordpress.com and from time to time write at your “community” of “Stories without Words” if I may call it so. 🙂
Some random questions here…
What is your favorite color?
Khaki/green, all shades of brown, red
What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast?
Cornflakes with milk….
Who would play you in a movie about yourself?
My future daughter, if I m going to have one…!
What super power would you like to have? Why?
Becoming invisible and therefore being able to watch and discover things one would never allow me to be part of… for example joining expeditions to different places….traveling in planes as much as I want… or simply staying in any special building overnight to climb up the roof and watch the stars….dreamish, I know 🙂
What do you do to relax?
Listen to music, read a newspaper, read a book. Pray.
Stories Without Words 
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