Interview with Dieter Besier

Author of Gedichte und Fotografien Band 5

(Poems and Photos Volume 5)

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in Wiesbaden, Germany. Now I live at the coast of the Baltic Sea in Wittenbeck, Germany.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

It was always my dream to live at the seaside. Staying and walking at the Waterfront gives me a feeling of being on the “first morning” of life.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

Since my childhood there were always pictures and words in my mind like an inner world. I often wrote them down like reflections of dreams. Then I choose a profession, in which I could work with the power of words. I became a protestant pastor in Berlin. When I retired in summer year 2011, I had the idea to harvest my experience with the communication through words. As a pastor, I had communicated with the people using word-pictures. Now, living at the seaside, I felt the connection of my mind with the environment, with the wind and the sea, with the sky and the flowers. So I started to put my feelings and thoughts onto paper with the intention to let people participate on my inner world.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books are like an invitation to walk through the landscape of my feelings and thoughts.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

The topics I use in my writing are elements of nature, spiritual associations, themes from the Bible. I use the form of poems. I combine the poems with photos creating a dialogue between word and picture.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

During the process of writing and publishing, I had to make the layout and I had to control the correct typing. This was a surprising experience because it forced me to give my floating ideas a concrete form and structure.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

If I could advise my past self, before embarking the journey of publishing, I would recommend writing a diary keeping the many impressions of life, which otherwise would go through the hands like sand.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

I never thought about number of the readers of my books. When I know, that someone likes my texts, it will be a joy for me. And if the number of my readers increases, I would rejoice.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

The biggest challenges during the process of writing to date were some moments, in which I felt disconnected from the flow of ideas. This was not often the case. But I have learned to be patient and to appreciate the inner silence.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

My biggest strength in self-publishing the books is to hold on, until everything is alright.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

When I think about weakness in the process of writing, publishing and marketing, it may be the moments of doubt, not to be good enough.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’m just now collecting ideas for a new book with stories for children.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I’m self-published.