Featured Interview With Chris Anama-Green
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. Though I’ve moved a few times and had the good fortune to live in several states, I always return to the Mountains. Nowadays I travel and visit new places as often as I can, but I love knowing that I can come “home.” I now live and teach in Kentucky. I have one dog and two cats.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I started reading “for fun” when I was six. I was very fortunate in that my mom and grandmother read to me every day and thus ignited my love of books early on. I always loved making up creative stories as a child. I wrote my first book in high school and have kept writing ever since. I have lots of drafts and even a few finished manuscripts that just didn’t cut it for me. I don’t consider the time spent wasted, as every project that I work on just clarifies for me what themes I want to write more about (or not write about, as the case may be).
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
As a writer (and teacher) I feel a personal responsibility to tell the truth through the lens of my experiences. I believe I inherited this trait from authors like Ray Bradbury, Margaret Atwood, George Orwell, Madeleine L’Engle and others. It’s safe to say that I really do enjoy dystopian fiction (and banned books in general). At the same time I draw inspiration from a diverse set of writers including Thich Nhat Hanh, David Sedaris, J.K. Rowling, and Judy Blume.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Mikao’s Journey: The Story of Reiki follows the journey of Buddhist monk Mikao Usui as he climbs Mt. Kurama in Japan and discovers the universal healing energy that is Reiki. I wrote the book for children, but it’s an accessible introduction to Reiki for adults, as well. The main character of the book is, of course, Mikao Usui and I tried to stay as true to the history as possible. I wrote the book during a one-week vacation from school (I am also a teacher). It’s safe to say that I wrote with a sense of urgency to finish before school was back in session!
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Chris Anama-Green Facebook Page