About Anastasia Pash:
I grew up on a small Mediterranean island, Cyprus. By the time I turned seventeen, I had already explored much of the Middle East and Europe. Later, I pursued my studies in the UK and completed an Erasmus exchange year at the University of Bordeaux, nestled in the enchanting heart of wine country in Southwest France. Living in the UK and France exposed me to new cultures, styles, and manners of expression. I encountered two strikingly distinct realms of style: one eclectic, scruffy, and edgy, and the other steeped in old-money aesthetics and effortless chic. This striking contrast expanded my appreciation for beauty and fashion and added depth to my own style.
After my studies, I embarked on a new chapter in bustling London, where I forged a career that offered me the privilege of travelling the world. The companies I worked for maintained a global presence, with offices scattered across Europe, Asia, and the United States. I frequently flew to fabulous destinations like New York, Paris, or Milan. I made the most of every vacation day and bank holiday, steadily accumulating stamps in my passport. I started channelling my love for travel, writing, and photography into a travel blog. What started as a hobby soon blossomed into a platform that enabled collaborations with renowned brands and granted me access to some of the world's most exclusive locations.
In 2017, I took a leap of faith, bidding farewell to the corporate world and pursuing my dreams of a more creative life. I moved to Mozambique to volunteer at a marine conservation foundation and hone my creative skills in a serene seaside village along the Indian Ocean. The three months I spent living in Africa transformed me entirely. My values shifted and so did my relationship to clothes. I began to see the absurdity of fast fashion and appreciate the value of luxury items. I commonly stumbled upon pre-loved branded pieces at local street markets in Inhambane. They landed there amongst other hand-me-downs, packed and sold by the kilo to local vendors by charitable organisations from the West. Shopping was a real treasure hunt. You never knew what you would find.
Following my stint in Africa, I moved back to Cyprus, which I used as a home base for several years. I kept travelling, blogging, and launched several businesses, all focused on travel. In late 2019, I travelled to Barcelona and didn't return to Cyprus until July 2020 because of the pandemic. Living in Barcelona during the lockdowns was an unforgettable experience that left me with many cherished friendships, photo albums full of culinary masterpieces, and enough loungewear to last a decade. During the lockdowns, we launched Globetrotter VR: a virtual travel platform that enabled grounded globetrotters to keep exploring the world from the comfort of their homes with the help of professional tour guides and virtual reality. This venture garnered international press attention, catered to thousands of virtual travellers, and got accepted into the Emirate's incubator for travel start-ups in Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates has become my new home. My husband and adopted furry child, Bono, moved here in 2022.
What inspires you to write?
Writing has always been a fundamental part of my life. From my earliest memories, I was jotting down stories about my pets, using those little notebooks as a canvas for my imagination. As a teenager, poetry became my outlet, a way to navigate through the rollercoaster of emotions and drama of high school.
Writing took on a new form in my twenties when I started a travel blog. It became a platform for sharing the experiences and insights I gathered while travelling. Writing has always been my go-to method for processing my life – it's how I make sense of what happens to me, reflect on my experiences, and understand my emotions.
Writing is a form of liberation. It's like downloading all my knowledge and experiences, clearing out mental space for new ideas and perspectives. It's not just about recording thoughts; it's about evolving through them. Whenever I write, I make room for new perspectives and understandings.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Growing up, I was utterly absorbed in fantasy novels. The Harry Potter series was my go-to. I also had a soft spot for poetry. I'm a big fan of T.S. Eliot and Seamus Heaney.
As I entered the working world, my reading tastes shifted towards non-fiction. I dove into books on psychology, self-development, and esoteric subjects, finding in them a source of knowledge and empowerment.
Elizabeth Gilbert has been a monumental influence in my life. Her book "Big Magic" was a game-changer, inspiring me to launch my travel blog and ultimately leave a career in finance for a life of creativity.
In my late twenties, as I ventured into entrepreneurship, I gravitated towards self-development and business books. Audiobooks became my new best friends. Titles like "Creativity Inc.," "The Design of Everyday Things," "Start with Why," "Lean In," "Never Split the Difference," and "Atomic Habits" have been instrumental in shaping my approach as a leader and entrepreneur.
I'm also deeply fascinated by human potential and the power of the mind. Authors like Joe Dispenza and Deepak Chopra are favourites of mine. Their insights and practical tools have been invaluable in harnessing my own potential and understanding the incredible capabilities of the human mind.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process varies depending on what I'm working on. For poems or short stories, I lean heavily on inspiration. These are usually bursts of creativity that come naturally and flow almost effortlessly.
However, writing my book "Travel With Style" was a different ballgame. I quickly learned that I would need more than inspiration to cut it. Sure, it helped me draft the book's initial outline, but to get it done, I needed a more structured approach. I went through phases where I'd write a lot, followed by periods where I wouldn't write a word.
Realizing that I needed to be more disciplined if I wanted to get the book published this year, I started treating writing more like a regular job. Every morning, I'd get dressed, grab my laptop, and either settle at my desk at home or head to a local cafe. This routine created a space for inspiration to find me rather than waiting for it to strike. This disciplined approach enabled me to complete the 246-page manuscript and publish "Travel With Style" in December 2023.
What advice would you give other writers?
First, be aware of the timelines involved in publishing a book. The editing process can be lengthy; for "Travel With Style," we went through two rounds of edits that took about two months. This extended the timeline, shifting my initial publication date from October to December.
One of the things I'd do differently was launch the book website earlier. I wanted a website with sections for previews and reviews, but waiting for these elements delayed the launch significantly. As a result, I only had the website up a week before the book was published. I advise starting with a simple landing page where interested readers can leave their contact details. This way, you have a reference point for everyone interested in your book long before it's published.
Another vital aspect is PR and media coverage. I waited until the book was finished before contacting publicists and arranging media reviews. In hindsight, I recommend starting this process earlier. For my next book, I plan to have an advanced copy review team in place well ahead of the publication date. This approach can create buzz and anticipation, which is crucial for a successful launch.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Choosing to self-publish my book was a decision that felt instinctive and aligned with my journey as a writer. In my twenties, I had an epiphany that I didn't need anybody's permission to pursue my dream of being a travel writer – a dream I've had since childhood. I taught myself how to build a website and start a blog and just went for it.
This experience shaped my perspective on the traditional gatekeeping in publishing. I believe in forging your own path, especially if there's an opportunity to do it independently. Why wait for someone else's green light when you can turn it on yourself? Self-publishing gave me that freedom and control over my work, allowing me to share my stories and insights on my own terms.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
The future of book publishing is on the cusp of a major transformation, primarily due to the advancements in AI technology. The rise of AI in the creative sector is not just a possibility; it's already happening. I recently came across an advertisement about someone who used AI to write a book in just 15 minutes. This kind of development indicates a significant shift in how books are written and produced.
With AI's growing capabilities, I foresee a surge in self-published works. The ease and speed at which books can be written with AI assistance will likely lead to a proliferation of titles in the market. This raises important questions about the role of AI in book publishing, especially regarding authorship and intellectual property rights. How will we define authorship in an AI-assisted world? What rules might be needed to regulate the use of AI in creating literary works?
Moreover, AI is not just changing the writing process; it's also set to revolutionize other aspects like book covers and marketing strategies. The traditional publishing model may need to adapt to these changes, finding new ways to incorporate AI while preserving the unique value of human creativity.
In the next decade, I expect we'll see a radically different landscape in book publishing, where AI plays a significant role in reshaping how we write, publish and market books. It's an exciting, if somewhat unpredictable, future.
What genres do you write?: non-fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Anastasia Pash Home Page Link
Link To Anastasia Pash Page On Amazon
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
