Talking now to JANUS GANGI:
Janus Gangi is a native New Yorker and Native American, so
blood has always been a part of her life. After graduating from Flushing High
School, where she majored in music, she was a professional singer/ songwriter
for a short while. She then went on to medical school and became a Hematology
Technologist. She worked for a major non-profit organization, where she was
involved in distributing the latest AIDS research information to the top
doctors in the United States. She then attended Bible School for six years and
went on to be ordained and founded a ministry in New York City.
In the early nineties, she moved to East Tennessee where she returned to her
roots in the Pagan tradition and went back to school. She now holds degrees in
Religious Studies and Psychology, in addition to the others. She is an avid
amateur Egyptologist, and now enjoys her new found love, writing.
WW: Hello and welcome, Janus, and thank you for giving us your time. You have inspired many of us and we feel honoured to have this opportunity to speak with you! Let's kick off with a somewhat serious question: According to your bio you are proficient in the fields religion, psychology, medical and music (wow!) and I heard a whisper you now study archaeology (more wow). With such a varied background and fields of interest, what sparked your interest in writing? Your proverbial light-bulb moment?
Janus: First of let me say this, when I write it down it looks impressive, but honestly, it is just because I have lived so long. I had three children that needed to be fed and so, I became a jack of all trades. When I needed a job, I went to school. When I am interested in something, I learn all I can about it. I majored in music in High School and so, I developed a love for it there. The most logical next step was to try my hand at singing and playing the guitar. I had dreams of being the next, Joan Baez. But I got married and had to put my dreams to the side.
Haematology was trade school and then an
office job. Although, I worked with people that I will forever admire,
brilliant minds and dedicated people, I was never more than a glorified clerk.
During my run at National Haemophilia I got to have first-hand knowledge about
what it is to struggle in a life that is not always fair.
My
religious studies were the result of keeping a promise. When I married my
husband I promised to raise our children Christian When I make a promise, I
keep it. Otherwise I don’t promise. And so, I went to Bible College for 6
years. I did everything from clean the toilets to lead worship. Although there
are many tenants in the Christian religion that I firmly I do not agree with,
and most pertain to the way women are regarded, I walked away with a profound
belief in a higher power.
Psychology was the just the natural choice to
take in college. I had already taken some courses in counselling and quite
frankly, it was the course I got straight A’s in so, I stuck it out. Besides, I
have always been a people watcher, something that comes in quite handy when you
are a writer.
And then there is Egypt, my first love. Many years ago I walked into the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The King Tut Exhibit was making
its rounds around the country at the time. From that moment on I have been a
sponge soaking up any and everything I could find about Egypt. At one time, it
was impossible to walk in my bedroom because of the piles of books and notes
that littered the floor (I am just a tad bit OCD about Egypt. (Can you tell?
Haha). When I found an online college that teaches archaeology, I didn’t have
to think twice about signing up for the course.
So
as you can see, I am not that different than anyone else that has lived as
long. I could also add that I was a barker in a Flea Market. I sold bubble
jackets and wore a purple suede cowboy jacket and a Stetson. I was also a
teller in a bank and a cashier in a supermarket. I had children and I needed a
job and so, I worked. But all along, the way I gleaned from my experiences.
I never had much time for reading. All of my
reading was textbooks and technical journals. Fiction was something for those
that had time. I was busy working and changing diapers. But, one day on a whim,
I saw the Twilight series in Wal-mart and so, I bought it, read it and said
to myself, “I can do better than that”. And so, now I am on my next exciting
adventure. I am learning how to write and hopefully someday I will master it.
Everything I have ever learned and done in my life adds to what I write about
in the Providence Series.
WW: You certainly are multi-talented! Would you
say you draw most often from your own knowledge base when writing or do you research
for fresh material?
Janus: As I have
already stated, most of the bare bones of the Providence Series is drawn from
my life, but when it comes to historical facts, I still have to research, which
by the way, I happen to love. For example, I researched for six months about
Syria before I ever wrote one word in Elizabeth Rose.
WW: And your research paid off. Having reviewed Elizabeth Rose, I am able to confirm it first hand for our readers! Tell us now a
bit about your work. Why, for instance, did you choose ‘Providence’ as your
series title?
Janus: The
majority of my stories come to me in a dream or after meditation. I did not actively
seek out the name of Providence. One day, it just came to me. But it is a
perfect fit. The definition of Providence in the Merriam – Webster dictionary
is:
A) Divine guidance or care
B)
God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny.
It
is the name of the Goddess of the Universe and the name for the fictional
Heaven in the series. In my mind, they are one and the same. To be in Heaven is
to be with the Goddess.
WW: Who do you
identify with most in your work? And why?
Janus: Can I tell
you a secret? Promise not to tell? I am
Elizabeth Rose.
WW: Love that! We won't tell! ;)
If you
could choose who would play Elizabeth Rose in the movie or
series made from your work, who would it be?
Janus: By far,
there is only one actress that I would like to play Elizabeth Rose, its
Christina Hendricks.
 |
| Christina Hendricks |
WW: Now some
more about Janus: do you still write songs? Would you consider publishing them
in a poetry format?
Janus: Most of
the songs I wrote were destroyed in a flood. I have very few that I remember
now. I do still write some poetry they are incorporated into the books as
prophecies and spells.
WW: For many,
the word ‘pagan’ is a curse word, although here on Writing World we do not in any way judge beliefs, whether of religion, politics or sex. How do you refute that, if you find it
necessary to do so?
Janus: I don’t.
Everyone has their own path. I have chosen mine. What others perceive about my
beliefs has nothing to do with me. That is their walk and their problem. The
only thing I can do is to concentrate on what I am doing.
WW: Well said! You are
exceptional at networking and you share friends’ work selflessly. Those who
know you call you caring, generous, positive and unselfish. Which four words
would you use to describe yourself?
Janus: Learning,
learning, learning, learning.
WW and Janus: I
have to throw this in! That list of favourites we’re all interested in!
Favourite
book: The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt
Favourite
movie: Ever After
Favourite
TV series: Ancient Aliens
Favourite
colour: Green
Favourite
food: Roast loin of pork, sauerkraut, and mash potatoes with applesauce.
Favourite
drink: Coffee
Favourite
pet: All of my fur babies are my favourite.
Favourite
season: Autumn
Favourite
place: My desk
WW: Tell us
about your next book (we love to know what to look forward to!).
Janus: Each one
of my books has a sub-genre besides Fantasy, Stolen Moments is Romance, and The
Christmas Star is Humour. Right now, I am working on the rewrites and editing
of Stolen Moments. But, I am also working on the next book in the series White
Magick. White Magick is a Dark Fantasy it explores the world of drug addiction.
WW: What comes
next for Janus, besides a new book project?
Janus: I have
learned to take one day at a time. You never know what surprises are around the
next bend.
WW: And
finally, if you could choose one person, living or dead, you would like to
meet, who would it be and what would you ask of that person?
Janus: It would
have to be Mark Twain and the question is simple: Why those smelly cigars???
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WW: Ha ha! Thank you again, Janus, for spending time with us! We look forward to hearing more from you and we look forward to great reading experiences with the Providence Series!
Those Links:
Elizabeth Rose
The Christmas Star
Connect with Janus Gangi on Facebook and keep up to date with other readers and writers on Stolen Moments Readers and Authors Group and discover the latest about her work on her Stolen Moments Page
Writing World will update you with the links to Stolen Moments and White Magick as they become available.
Have a good day, everyone!
xx
5 comments:
What a great interview. I enjoyed learning all about Janus. Well done.
What an inspiring interview Janus. I've had the pleasure in reading Elizabeth Rose and The Christmas star.Janus is a wonderful storyteller with remarkable descriptive ability. I never tire of learning new things about this wonder author. Thank you.
Janus inspires so many of us- she deserves to be in the spotlight for a change, and so does her work! Janus, hon, thank you xx
Lovely interview. I read a few of Janus books and enjoyed them very much. In them I was transported to another world and another culture. I also want to add that I know Janus now for a while and she is an extremely amazing person. always wanting to help. You deserve all the best janus!
Thank you so much for having me. And thank you for all the kind words. All I want to do is share my work with others and have them enjoy it. And if along the way I can help another fellow writer out, it is always my pleasure.
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