GREETINGS, BOOKWORMS! I’m Aisha Kandisha, Head Librarian at Kandisha Press. Join me in the dusty stacks of the library I will never leave again as I chat with some of my favorite Women in Horror. Today we feature author Roxana Negut!
Roxana Neguț is a poet, writer, and journalist from Bucharest, Romania, born in 1981. She pursued her education in Philosophy and Journalism at the University and gained experience working as an editor, copywriter, content writer, and journalist for various publications. Roxana Neguț has an impressive portfolio of writing, including children’s literature, short stories, and poetry, and her works have been published in national and international literary magazines and anthologies.
Roxana Neguț has authored several books, such as Dead people don’t want water„ Shadows of Light, a poetic manifesto, Lumen Publishing House – Romania, Fantasticul taram al povestilor fara sfarsit Lumen, Chaos Theory, Up Publishing House), and The Woman, The Old Woman, The Child (Maybeify Publisher, India).
Her writing has earned her several awards, such as the Ambassador of the word, the Friendship Award for a Story in the International Contest Universe XXL, the Short Story Contest – Paranormal Incorporated by 4 Horsemen Publishing SUA, The Iconic Author Award by Maybeify Publisher – India.
Author site: https://roxananegut.com
What do you believe are your strengths in writing? And when you feel you need to improve on a particular writing skill, how do you go about it?
I believe that every writer is defined by a set of unique qualities that make their writing as original as possible. One of mine is versatility—I enjoy writing in as many literary genres as possible: science fiction, fantasy, horror, magical realism, literary fiction and nonfiction, fairy tales or children’s literature, and poetry. Often, I like to mix these genres in my stories, and the result is always interesting and original. I write spontaneously, without a pre-planned outline, allowing the stories to develop as they go, following their own path, and often surprising even me. I also love writing poetry and addressing the reader directly with warmth and friendliness.
When it comes to challenges, I believe that procrastination and not dedicating enough time to writing are two issues I need to work on. However, I hope that as the years pass, I will manage to establish a routine of writing for a few hours every day.
What are your thoughts on the book industry today, or more importantly, about the book community?
Today’s book industry is fantastic, offering opportunities that did not exist decades ago. I am referring to self-publishing, international publishing, and direct contact with readers. Online promotion and many other possibilities have transformed the literary landscape.
Of course, there are also challenges, difficult moments, and disappointments, but with patience, optimism, and perseverance, I believe they can be overcome.
In Romania, the book industry is much smaller, and opportunities are more limited. However, it is a dynamic, continuously developing market, and I believe that, over time, things will improve and expand. Contemporary Romanian authors are appreciated by readers and often manage to build their own communities.
Regarding the book community, I think it is wonderful for an author to receive feedback and support from readers. It is also crucial for writers to collaborate and help one another. This benefits both them and their audience.
Reading is the most wonderful journey in self-discovery and in promoting inner beauty.
Do you feel it is getting harder or easier to make it as an independent author these days?
I believe it is easier to establish a literary career now compared to ten years ago. Challenges may arise, but they can be overcome with time and patience, as a writing career develops in the long run.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
As a writer, as I mentioned earlier, I write in different literary genres—short stories, fairy tales, children’s literature, and poetry. I have published four books in Romania, three of them with Lumen Publishing: *Morții nu vor apă*, *Umbrele Luminii*, and *Fantastic Tărâm al Poveștilor Fără Sfârșit* (a fairy tale collection).
In India, I published a poetry volume, *The Woman, the Old Woman, the Child* (Maybeify Publishing).
On an international level, I have contributed to over 40 anthologies worldwide, both with poetry and short fiction.
Each of these literary projects has brought me joy, but “Fantastic Land of Never Ending Stories”is my dearest project because I wrote it when my children were little, and they were my first readers. I made their childhood more magical by telling them my fairy tales every night.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
I have been working for four years on my short fiction volume in the speculative fiction genre. A large part of these stories has already been published in English in international anthologies, and I hope to publish the complete version in both Romanian and English.
I also have my fairy tale book translated into English, and I hope to publish it in this version as well.
Besides that, I continue to contribute to anthologies and have been writing a cultural column in Famost Magazine for five years, where I cover new book releases in Romania. With great joy, I present literary news from contemporary Romanian and international authors.
These are my main plans for the future, but I remain open to new literary collaboration opportunities.
KANDISHA PRESS 
Leave a comment