Anna Liachenko - Adventure, Unexpected turns and Ancient Customs

Anna is an award-winning writer, entrepreneur, and author of The Adventures of Mat Rufs series which has won the Fiction Book of the Year award from the Corporate Live Wire. Alongside her writing, Anna leads Montreal-based marketing agency ZZINC health marketing inc. as its Chief Executive Officer. She is also a real estate investor, a mother of two wonderful boys, and an enthusiastic world traveler, having explored more than 30 countries with her partner, alone or with her family. As our Author of the Day, she tells us about her book, The Adventures of Mat Rufs: Mexican "Jewel"

Please give us a short introduction to what The Adventures of Mat Rufs: Mexican 'Jewel' is about.

The book is a suspenseful travel adventure story, but it is also much more. It’s about ancient customs and different views that transcended history. We are often exposed to historical facts, but we do not realize how differently people thought in those other times. We can use this knowledge to understand other cultures and people around us who come from other heritages. So many problems in the world stem from the lack of perspective and sensitivity to others.

The Adventures of Mat Rus is also about family and love: love between siblings, parents and children, masters and pets. It is also about romantic love and how it begins.

Finally, the series is about inventing one’s life path. Several heroes and heroines are trying to find their missions in life. They try what is available to them in their circumstances, take risks, and go through a great deal of turmoil before arriving at what they truly are meant to do in life. The search is about trial and error, adjustment, intuition, and ultimately (hopefully) a triumph.

What inspired you to write this story? Was there anything in particular that made you want to tackle this?

I have always enjoyed writing. I have written multiple short stories and hundreds of articles for periodical publications. In the past, I owned and operated a health magazine. I always wanted to write novels. So, finally, about a year ago, I found the time and space to mentally immerse myself into the world of fantasy and writing. The Adventures of Mat Rufs was born as a result.

Why did you pick a Mexican cave as the backdrop for your story?

Mat will visit many countries throughout the series. Readers will learn a great deal about different cultures, all the while being entertained with dramatic action, powerful suspense, and light romance. Mexico was the first destination in the book. I fell in love with the nature and people of Mexico during my travels.

Your The Adventures of Mat Rufs series has won a Fiction Book o the Year award. What have reader reactions been like so far?

The novel was published one month ago on Amazon, and the response is overwhelmingly positive. The overall rating is 4.9 on 5.0.

This is book one of a series. Can it be read as a standalone? How do the other books in the series tie in with this one?

Absolutely. The Mexican ‘Jewel’ can be read as a standalone. It is the first in The Adventures of Mat Rufs. Mat is a young man -- curious, outdoorsy, and intellectual -- looking to find himself through travel. The next book’s setting is several years later when Mat becomes a doctor and opens his clinic. His sister gets kidnapped right at the start of the story. I will have the second novel published next spring.

Do any of your characters ever take off on their own tangent, refusing to do what you had planned for them?

Haha. You could say that, yes. A plot is only a guideline. The story must unfold naturally. What is natural at each moment is very much contained in the details of that moment.

Ancient civilizations play an important role in the story. How much research did this require from you, and what was the most interesting aspect of your research?

I did thorough research on the setting. At no time was I in a hurry to complete it. So, I did not skip any steps. I strived to be as accurate as possible in my descriptions even though I had the leeway to simply invent everything.

What are you working on right now?

The second book in The Adventures of Mat Rufs and another (comic) series called Aunt Shirley Loves You.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

I welcome and appreciate all comments and feedback. I love to hear people’s personal stories and their experiences in life. Readers are welcome to post reviews on Amazon, subscribe and post comments to my YouTube channel, and write to me through Goodreads.

Here are some links:

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Mat-Rufs-Mexican-Jewel-ebook/dp/B0BBF…

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oplYFTGlk4o

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62346758-the-adventures-of-mat-rufs…