Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My Name is Vered Neta. I am a 13th-generation Israeli, but for the last 28 years, I’ve lived all over the world. Today, I live with my husband in Tenerife in the Canary Islands on an off-the-grid farm, creating a sustainable life through permaculture agriculture and a food forest we are building here on our farm. We live in the middle of a pine forest, and the nearest village to us is 3.5 miles up the mountain, so it’s basically me, my husband and our chickens, dogs and birds here. We also have a grown-up daughter who lives in London.
I’ve always been drawn to books. I was a “book nerd” even before that expression existed. However, I started writing only at the ripe age of 57 after having, as I call it, 3 Past Lives in this lifetime.
I’ve been an archaeologist, a top manager in high-tech companies and health institutions and, for nearly 30 years, a personal coach, trainer, and motivational speaker while owning and running the fastest-growing training centre for entrepreneurs in The Netherlands.
But after doing all that, I came to realise that I’m not growing anymore. I still had more things I wanted to learn and develop, which is how I came to challenge myself with a new career as a writer. Being heavily dyslexic, as a non-native English speaker, writing novels or scripts seemed like a Mission Impossible for me. Add to it years of non-supportive beliefs that I’m bad at writing and that I am not creative enough, and that sounded like a good challenge to tackle and grow through.
Since I started on this journey in 2017, I’ve written 4 movies, TV scripts, and 2 novels, and I am now developing a TV series and writing my 3rd novel.
The main reason I am writing is that I want to use this medium of stories, whether novels or movie scripts, to inspire people to live a full life. I believe we all deserve to live up to our potential. I believe that when humankind focuses on fulfilling their potential, we can create a better world. My main purpose in writing is to bring kindness and harmony into the world.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called “Things We Do For Love”, and it is based on my own family experience of having to deal with Alzheimer’s. I wanted to write a book that would show that even though this disease is a devastating one, we can all use this period of a loved one who lives with it as a grace period. I believe that if we realise that what this disease does is strip off the person’s personality, but then we are left with the essence of a human being, which is so pure and so gentle it is impossible not to love that person.
I also wanted to debunk that famous sentence of Tolstoy: “All happy families are the same.” No, they are not. Each one is happy in its own special and unique way. Therefore, it is a story about the Bach sisters who have to take care of their elderly parents.
Daisy Bach, a therapist, has always been confident that she did not want to have children. Her childhood experiences with an overbearing and controlling mother, Verity, who tore the family apart, further cemented this decision. However, at the age of forty-five, Daisy finds herself reconsidering this choice. Unfortunately, her decision to try and conceive is complicated by her mother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. With strained family relationships, Daisy faces the daunting task of caring for her elderly parents while also attempting to conceive. As she navigates this challenging time, Daisy is forced to confront her deep-seated resentment towards Verity. This journey leads her to re-evaluate her beliefs about motherhood, forgiveness, and the true meaning of a “happy” family. Will Daisy find a way to reconcile with her past and make peace with her present? Only time will tell.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
In the battle between “Plotters” and “Pantsers”, I am definitely on the side of the “Plotters”. I can’t think of starting to write without a structure or a goal for that specific writing period. The thought of staring at the blank page is so scary for me. I have to start by having a clear idea, structure and goal in front of me before even sitting to write the poetic part of the writing.
I start with a huge Whiteboard that I have on the wall in my office, and from there, I use the Beat sheet option in Final Draft Software, whether it would be for scripts or novels, I MUST have a beat sheet before I start writing.
As part of my “Plotter”, I create what is called “Bible”, where I describe the characters in general, but not to too many details as otherwise I will get lost. That way, I know where I am going, but I leave space for the creative part to appear once I start writing and the characters take off the page and lead me.
I’m a very auditory person, so when I finally sit to write, it’s a dangerous period at home as I keep on talking as I write. Therefore, there is always a sign outside my office on the door: “If you hear any loud talking from this room, it’s only me talking to myself, so there is no need to take it to heart or respond.”
What authors, or books have influenced you?
This is an unfair question. I have so many of them. I used to be a lonely child, and books were my haven. I used to say that people can disappoint and betray you, but books are always there for you, so I surrounded myself with books.
I would go through periods of reading the Classics like Dickens and Jane Austin and the Bronte Sisters, and then expand to Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy and Kafka and, on the other side of the world, authors like Gabriel García Márquez and Paulo Coelho.
Today, my favourite genres are historical fiction, fantasy and women’s literature, but I also read many non-fiction books about philosophy, personal development, spirituality and, of course, the craft of writing.
So, as you can see, I have an eclectic influence. What they all inspired me to write about was human nature and human relationships. They inspired me to write stories that would bring light into the world, even during hard and dark times, stories of hope, kindness and love.
What are you working on now?
I’m now ready to launch a historical novel set during the Prague Spring of 1968 and in the middle of writing a TV series about middle-aged women who are dragged into cleaning crime scenes.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s a combination of several things – Social Media, a long preparation of a Marketing campaign and, in my opinion, the best is cultivating a mailing list, that is responsive and active
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think my best advice would be – NEVER GIVE UP. This one goes together with keep learning, keep experimenting and most of all, make sure you learn and grow through the process of writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writing is not a Sprint it’s a Marathon, so having the right mindset is the most powerful tool you can have
What are you reading now?
I always read several books at the same time. So I just finished Lessons in Chemistry, which I LOVED!
What’s next for you as a writer?
As I said, I’m now writing a Pilot for a TV series and I’m outlining my next historical novel, which has been too long on the back burner, so I’m excited to dive into it.
What is your favorite book of all time?
That’s not a fair question, it’s like asking a kid: “Who do you love more, Daddy or Mommy”
Author Websites and Profiles
Vered Neta Website
Vered Neta Amazon Profile
Vered Neta’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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