LITERARY DIGNITARY AWARD FOR AUTHOR BRENDA MOHAMMED
I am sharing my Interview with Ven-Lyn Valdez, Founder of Rhythm of the Heart.
"Hava a blessed day everyone.
I am pleased to present to you our most esteemed guest Respected ma'am Brenda Mohammed. On behalf of ROTH family, thank you very much, ma'am."
QUESTION: Kindly introduce yourself, ma'am.
ANSWER: Thank you Ven-Lyn Valdez for this opportunity to share my writing journey.
My name is Brenda C. Mohammed, a former Bank Manager from sunny Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. I am a multi-genre, bestselling, and multi-award-winning author, who published forty-four books on Amazon. Four of the books I published are anthologies, co-authored by members of the How to Write for Success Literary Network, of which I am the Founder.
My genres include memoirs, science fiction, romance, self-help, mystery, children’s books, psychological thrillers, and poetry.
I have won several literary awards in the USA, Peru, Kazakhstan, Seychelles, Nigeria, Argentina, Romania, Philippines, India, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, Morocco, Indonesia, and the UK, and made headlines in several newspapers around the world.
In 2018, I received two awards from Readers Favorite International in Miami for two of my books - Zeeka Chronicles, in the category Young Adult Thriller, and I am Cancer Free: A Memoir, in the category Health and Fitness. Several of my books also received five-star reviews from Readers Favorite International and attained Amazon Bestseller No 1 rank.
I was appointed in 2019 by Executive President and Founder Carlos Hugo Garrido Chalen of the Grupo- Unión Hispanomundial De Escritores –Peru, as National President of UHE- Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2020, I was inducted into the Indie Author's Wall of Fame in the USA.
I am an advocate against Domestic Violence and Suicide, and together with several bestselling authors have published four best-selling anthologies for these causes.
My YouTube Channel received over 141,000 views since its inception. The Channel is for my Video Book Trailers, songs, and travel memories.
QUESTION: How and when did your literary expedition start?
ANSWER: Becoming a writer was not in my plans. I loved my banking career, and later on, my stint in Insurance.
Diagnosed with cancer, and living to tell my story, inspired me to help others afflicted with the disease to cope. With no writing experience, apart from work-related documents, I wrote a book, I am Cancer Free: A Memoir, that tells my true story of a cancer survivor.
I published the book on Amazon, and it won the McGrath House Indie Book Awards 2016 in the non-fiction category. It also earned a five-star review and five-star seal in February 2017 from Readers' Favorite International and won the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards 2018 in the health and fitness category.
I continued writing, loved it, and to date, have published 44 books.
Writing is a mysterious journey of thoughts that can unravel the strangest imaginary plots. Writing for me was exploring a new milestone, and not for fame and fortune.
QUESTION: As a Founder, have you encountered professionals who only want higher positions, asking for rewards, but not about their voluntary services and devotion through their efforts and hard work? How did you handle this kind of literary action?
ANSWER: No. I have never encountered such persons, but if I do, I will test their acumen discreetly before considering such requests.
QUESTION: If we look around the world as of today, we are in a panic about this man-made biological weapon. Did it affect literarily in your society? On what grounds?
ANSWER: Throughout the world, Covid19 has brought about many curses and many blessings. Trinidad and Tobago were not spared. We have cases of illnesses and deaths every day, and it seems as if it will never end.
However, it has brought about many changes in the way we live. Travelling abroad on vacations, and material things no longer matter. The only thriving businesses are funeral homes. Online schooling for children has diminished the need for hustling in crowds to catch buses, trains, or cabs for teachers and kids. The pace of life has slowed down. We focus on what is important to us – family and close friends.
On a personal note, I have written more books in 2020 and 2021 than I did, since I started writing in 2013. My sister, Florabelle, and I wrote a joint poetry book – Chaotic Times: Poetry Vaccine for Covid 19.
QUESTION: In every stroke of life, we beautifully make poetry as our comforter. Do you believe that Literature is a tool used to make a better understanding of world peace? How is that possible?
ANSWER: Writers have the ability to use their pens to write about any subject. They can write about world peace and instill values in the mind of readers. There are many Literary forums that focus on Peace and I have joined some.
QUESTION: Every portrait is a glance of sight from the perception of an artist's mind. It defines a colorful life in both happiness and grief. How would you portray both negative and positive?
ANSWER: I am not an artist, although I dabbled in art for a while after I left Banking. Some of my paintings still grace my walls. I always dwell on the positive and never painted anything that was negative. In poetry, however, I have used negative subjects to convey positive messages.
QUESTION: Please share some motivational messages to inspire the budding poets despite negative criticisms. Thank you, ma'am.
ANSWER: “Be your own critic. You are your biggest critic, your biggest fan, and your biggest source of inspiration. Live your dream. Stop playing a part in someone else’s fantasy.” Brenda Mohammed.
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