Interview with Christopher Conroy, author of 'Anzard'



Author Christopher Conroy currently lives in Los Angeles, California, but was born in Ireland and raised in Canada.  He grew up in a large family consisting of seven children, and a mother and father who by his own description were “loving, moral, fun and pure magic.”  Conroy says he was heavily influenced by John Steinbeck growing up, and also likes Jack London and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but that the “main influence for ANZARD came from that magical place in my mind where I write.” 

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About the Book:

Author Christopher Conroy has just released a book for kids aged 8-12 called ANZARD. Teachers, parents, producers...take note!  This appealing and well-written book would give Lewis Carroll (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) reason to worry.  As a matter of fact if you mixed in one part Harry Potter, with one part Pinocchio then added a generous helping of Alice in Wonderland…you’d get Anzard! 

ANZARD tells the story of how a young boy named Justin Cavell learns to listen to that voice inside him and trust his instincts.  He also learns how his dreams and wishes can come true:  Justin becomes more aware of himself and his potential to turn his dreams and wishes into reality. 

One dark and stormy night, as Justin is anxiously awaiting the return of his parents and praying for their safe return from a long overdue plane trip, he is visited by Poofy, a tiny, magical pixie who comes from the faraway planet, Spiritainia.  Justin is escorted to this wonderful world of Spiritainia by the Anzard pixie, Poofy.  Aside from Poofy, Justin is joined by his own Tribe of Truth – that include such memorable characters as Regal the Eagle, Turner the Turtle, Chumpah the Chipmunk and Billy the Goat – define Justin’s inner voice and help him in his quest of self-discovery.

Justin also learns to resolve conflict, which arrives in the form of an evil witch named Nosefeen, and captures Poofy as Poofy is guiding Justin to the Path of Possibilities. Through these adventures, Justin grows stronger and develops self-esteem, enabling him to return to Earth, find his parents, and guide them home safely.

ANZARD opens up a world of rewards for kids who learn to develop and trust their inner voice. The book helps them to become more aware and enlightened. 

The ANZARD book cover is beautifully illustrated by Peter Green Design of Glendale, California who also designs for film companies, sporting teams and many other businesses including DreamWorks, McDonald’s, The Walt Disney Company, LEGOLAND, The NBA, HBO, FOX Kids Networks, and the “Game of Thrones” fantasy drama television series, to name a few.

“A timeless, yet very modern story of a young boy’s journey to a magical new world, filled with enchanting characters and thrilling adventure.  You owe yourself a trip to Spiritania.”
            -           Victoria Lucas, Producer

“My nephew loved ANZARD so much I had to see what got him so excited.  After the first chapter I was hooked.  I normally don’t read this kind of fiction (fantasy) but the storyline was compelling enough to make me locate the author’s website and post this review. 
Can’t wait to read Mr. Conroy’s next novel!”
            -           D. Butler, Amazon Post

Justin’s story can even appeal to adults.  Says Mr. Conroy, “I want my readers to come away happier, more aware and enlightened…as a child I was aware of many things but I constantly invalidated that awareness.  I shouldn’t have.  Those gifts are precious.  Our inner awareness should be nurtured and cultivated, especially by parents and the child who has those gifts.  Maybe some part of Anzard will awaken those powers.”

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CHILDREN’S FICTION IS AN INTERESTING GENRE TO CHOOSE.  WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS BOOK?
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I wrote Anzard for several reasons, besides the love of writing, but the main one was to try to make ‘awareness’ of one’s own instincts more visible to everyone, especially children.

Not only from my own realizations, but as I went through my daily routines I oftentimes heard people speak about regrets they had about things they already knew, but ignored.
I would hear them say things like;  “I knew I shouldn’t have turned off on that street” or “I knew that was bad restaurant” or “I knew that person was a creep”.

Well once while walking in the mountains I told myself I’m going to give that term “I knew” a name (ANZARD) and a character (POOFY) to make that awareness fun and recognizable and maybe, just maybe, assist others in being more aware of their own awareness.

DO YOU BASE YOUR CHARACTERS ON REAL PEOPLE OR ARE THEY TOTALLY FROM YOUR IMAGINATION?

The answer to that is both.  The characters come from my imagination but they oftentimes have ‘characteristics’ of people I’ve known in my life.

ARE YOU CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF YOUR PLOT OR DO YOU DISCOVER IT AS YOU WRITE?
Again the answer is both.  Writing a sturdy story is like building a house.  It’s wise to work with and architect (yourself when writing) to lie out a structure for the story so there is a proper symmetry and it flows clearly.

But once I have that structure I jump in and let the story come to me as if I’m surfing on a wave.  Once I’m in it, that story surrounds me and I just perceive and write.  It’s a lot of fun.

HAVE YOU EVER SUFFERED FROM WRITERS BLOCK AND WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET BACK ON TRACK
I have never suffered from writer’s block ever.  Writing is like going on vacation for me … it’s a constant joy and delight.  If I did have writer’s block I’m not sure what I would do … probably kick that block out of my way … J

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH AN EXTRA HOUR A DAY IF YOU COULD DO ANYTHING YOU WANTED?
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My mind would automatically either go to the plot of the existing book I was writing or my mind would seek out a new creation to work on.  I just don’t have an ‘Off Switch’ when it come so writing.  Even my own reading tends to be research.


WHAT DO LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING AN AUTHOR?
Someone once said “Find out what you love to do in life and you’ll never have to work a day in your life,”

What I like most is I’m doing what I absolutely love.

WHAT IS THE MOST PIVOTAL POINT IN WRITER’S LIFE?
I once told a friend that I really wasn’t thrilled about any vocation before me.  Soon after that I helped another friend finish a book.  That time spent writing was all I needed.  I was hooked and that was my pivotal moment.  I was thrilled about a vocation this time and it’s never left me.

WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHER FICTION WRITERS?
That’s an easy answer.  Never, never, never quit or give up for any reason.  Like all successes in life, the people involved learned to persist in spite of all odds.  If writing is in your blood you will succeed.   I wish you the best.