Interview With Author Nitki’s Dad
1. What inspired you to write this book?
I was inspired to write The Warrior Within
after a series of events involving Molly Sandén renewed a sense of life within
me, something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I watched an interview she
gave about owning her own story. I don’t speak Swedish and it didn’t have
subtitles but I could easily sense her strength and courage. Feeling compelled,
I wrote and then mailed her a letter. That letter would become the
roadmap I would used to write my own story and it allowed me to put pen to
paper, affirming who I am and who I would continue striving to be. In
writing Dear Molly, the other events that happened in 2021 also inspired me and
I wanted to share that so others might be encouraged to open their eyes, hearts
and minds to things they may not have considered
before.
2. What exactly is it about and who
is it written for?
The Warrior Within is my story, my affirmation
to the universe that it won’t change me, even though I may fall short on
occasion, it’s a journey, not a destination. Initially it was only going
to be for a potential significant other so I wouldn’t need to revisit the
emotional aspects that helped me define who I am, or why I would strive to
continue to be. Connecting with others along my path and sharing some of
these stories with them, a connection was made even if it was briefly that
appeared to help them on their journey, so publishing it seemed to be logical
next step. Life is a struggle for most but it only within that struggle
where we find out who we really are or who we are meant to be to fulfill our
purpose while living this spiritual life as a human being. Dear
Molly is all about the people, places and things that happened during 2021 that
also inspired me, even those things I looked back on, which allowed me to see
them again from a different perspective. It’s about the inspiration which
can come from anyone, anywhere and at any time, moving us in a way that once
seemed unimaginable so we shouldn’t dismiss a gift because it isn’t packaged
the way you think it should be.
3. What do you hope readers will get out
of reading your book?
I hope readers will be able to connect with
the healing and inspiration elements within these books. To rise above
anything that might be holding them back from living their best life and then
pass on what they have learned so that another might avoid the same or similar
mistake or situation. There are 2 places everyone should go. The
first is a place that heals you. The second is a place that inspires
you. Neither of these places has to be a physical location but could be
an emotional, mental or spiritual state of being. We need to be brutally
honest with ourselves about the reflection we see in the mirror so that we can
figure out if there is something in our past or present that is preventing us
from living today or from fulfilling our dreams of tomorrow. In order to
do that, we typically need to be inspired in some way that gives us the
strength, courage and resolve to take a step in our heart’s direction.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and
cover design?
The Warrior Within title was to emphasize that
the warrior spirit and purpose, which lies within each of us. Warriors
are not always the fastest or strongest people. Warriors are those who
choose to stand between their enemy and all that they love and hold
sacred. The cover design was to show that we have the strength to rise
above the storms of life, we need only the courage and resolve to do so and
then take the necessary steps to do so. A phoenix rising from the ashes
to overcome the storms of life. Dear Molly is how my writing truly began
and I wanted to encourage the reader to discover whatever it takes to motivate
them to take a step in their heart’s direction, find it, reach for it, embrace
it, and then share it with others. The silhouette is of Molly from her
performance from the Oscars pre-show in 2021 in Húsavík Iceland, enhanced
northern lights and the church in the town.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have
for fellow writers – other than run!?
The best advice or words of wisdom for anyone
and everyone is to discover and define who you are, do not allow anyone else to
hold the pen as you write your own story. Most know what they want but
fewer probably know what they need, so strive to live your life, not merely
exist in it. Don’t be afraid of the storms of life, the only way to
get through something is to get through it. What you deny or ignore you
delay; what you accept and face, you conquer.
6. What trends in the book world do you see --
and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?
I don’t know of any trends in the book world
and have no idea where the book publishing industry is heading.
7. Were there experiences in your
personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?
The experiences in my personal and
professional life all came into play as I wrote these books. Primarily
the project management skills that confront the problem or issue, determine the
root causes and then develop solutions to solve. The best will take the
lessons learned from the projects and share so other might avoid the same or
similar situations. It’s a cycle that we need to repeat in our lives in
order to improve.
8. How would you describe your writing style?
Which writers or books is your writing similar to?
I write how I typically speak. Most of
the areas in the chapters where I may seem to jump off topic, is really a side
note to the main points. In reviewing The Warrior Within, I had those
sections begin with “On a side note….” But removed them at some point during my
reviews. I don’t think my style is similar to anyone else, which may be a
blessing or it may be a curse.
9. What challenges did you overcome in the
writing of this book?
The challenge I most faced was going in depth
on some of the emotional aspects that probably boarded on abuse. The pain
of losing Nitki and reading what I wrote when it comes to him and what he means
to me, still gets me choked up.
10. If people can buy or read one book this
week or month, why should it be yours?
So much in the country and perhaps the world
is at odds, sometimes intentionally by those so-called elected leaders who are
only interested in grifting off the fear and division. If we can see it
for what it is and not how they like us to emotionally react to it then we can
overcome anything. We have so many ways to connect with each other but
seem to be less connected than ever before and that is the desired intention by
those elected leaders who are only interested in obtaining power or keeping it,
regardless of what it does to this country or the world.
Nitki’s Dad grew up in a large family in
Northwest Ohio, active in sports, a friend to all he met and aware of a
spiritual path in his teens but it would be decades later when he discovered
its name, he was “Walking the Red Road”. As a US marine, his spiritual
growth took off with a set of principles and values that would strengthen his
foundation, and see him through a few dark times, including some that were long
after he no longer wore the uniform. With his warped sense of humor, he
acknowledges he is not perfect but jokes that he is better than most. He
owns his story--from hellish to heavenly and all points in between. Life
is not the same for everyone but it isn’t meant to be a spectator sport
either. He strives to live it, not merely exist in it. He does not
compare his path to another and is only trying to be better than who he was
yesterday. His spiritual journey as a human being continues and in sharing
his experiences and lessons learned, others have found a connection that helped
them find strength, courage, and resolve to rise like a phoenix, overcoming
whatever it may be that was holding them back so they could pursue living their
best life. for more information, please see: https://nitkisdad.com/
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