Tell us about yourself.:
Writing is actually my fifth "career".
The first one was in the Israeli Intelligence. I retired as a colonel. The second was leading R&D in Hitech, the third was Venture Capital, the fourth was managing an institute for biomedical development and now I see writing books as my mission in life to share all I learned during these years.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was born in Poland and immigrated to Israel when I was 17. I loved books from which I could learn something significant for life and this is how I write; sharing experiences & understandings, which may be valuable for others.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes! I write one book per year, and I manage it like a project; beginning with the plan & the table of contents, and then progressing according to the plan.
What authors have influenced you?
I was born in Poland and immigrated to Israel when I was 17. I loved books from which I could learn something significant for life and this is how I write; sharing experiences & understandings, which may be valuable for others.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
yes! writing can be sometimes challenging, even frustrating, but it's worth the effort!
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
"Accept yourself where you are". Actually, I heard it the first time in a yoga class. But since then I found it applicable to almost everything, the career, sport activities and more. In a way it’s similar to the term “satisficer”, coined by the Nobel Price Laureate in Economics, Herbert Simon. The word is a portmanteau of the words satisfy and suffice, meaning satisfied with sufficient.
What are you reading now?
THE RUNNER'S GUIDE TO THE MEANING OF LIFE, by Amby Burfoot
What’s your biggest weakness?
Despite understanding very well the idea of accepting myself where I'm, I still seek new challenges; this summer it was a free diving course, and now I'm training for my first marathon…
What is your favorite book of all time?
BORN TO RUN, Christopher McDougall
It changed my life!
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
Outdoors: running, swimming, cycling, surfing
@home; studying neuroscience, playing chess or bridge online
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Nice question. Yes, it was King Matt the First book by Janusz Korczak.
Matt is crowned king when his father, Stephen the Wise, passes away, but when Matt tries to reform his kingdom and help its children, he is dethroned and sent into exile.
One of the key teaching of this book is how tough it is to lead reforms.
During my long career I succeed to make some “revolutions”. Maybe this early reading helped:)
What has inspired you and your writing style?
Once I attended a lecture about happiness.
The lecturer talked about how a happy person can become even happier.
Someone from the audience asked: “what will he do with so much happiness?”
The answer also came from the audience: “in Cabbala there is a saying that the happier a person is, the more he or she wants to share with others”.
Since my recovery from an advanced stage cancer, I am healthy and happy, even happier than before, and have decided that now it’s my duty to share.
In one of the reviews someone wrote that I write in a very friendly manner & a conversational style.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the middle of my fourth book, a continuation of running Back in Time, and plan to submit it for editing in March next year, so it takes a significant chunk of my time.
My observations and conclusions about what happens in our brain will be the subject of my fifth book. It will be in a “popular science” language.
BTW, I touch some of these issues in Unlock Bliss.
And I maintain a diary, so much happens in my life… recommend very much to everybody. Not necessary on a daily basis. I usually summarize a week or so. Including photos.
What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
free or 0.99 promotions.
What’s next for you as a writer?
after the series "YOUNGER THAN EVER", I plan to switch to popular science and writing about the brain & memory.
How well do you work under pressure?
It causes me to be even more efficient, but I prefer to avoid stress by good planning.
How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
It’s actually automatic – the content sets the tone.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
The message is that physical activity is for everyone at any age. It can be almost effortless, becoming a source of joy and satisfaction, while dramatically improving the quality of life and physical health.
It's also the best remedy to prevent any mental health issues in the future.
The activity doesn't have to be intensive and the motto is that "even a little is a lot!" The idea is, that it is much easier to persist when we do a little, and what is important is to be physically active in the long run. Actually, as long as we live.
The beginning can be 10 min/day.
All in all, the best investment in health, in our quality of life and in our future – to grow old with health and vitality.
Zeev Gilkis’s Author Websites and Profiles
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Amazon Profile
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