**INTERVIEW with CHRIS M. TATEVOSIAN**

It is a great pleasure, and an honor to interview author Chris M. Tatevosian! To get the opportunity to work with someone so Special is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am indeed Grateful! author of: "LIFE INTERRUPTED" Subtitle: IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME" Genre: a candid and humble memoir http://weblog.xanga.com/cce613/681173471/book-promo-life-interrupted-its-not-all-about-me.html http://margayleahjustice.com/p=223 www.myspace.com/460667286 http://twitter.com/Margay http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home http://secondwindpub.wordpress.com/ http://www.msmaze.com/links/chris-tatevosian-on-the-monteloprah-ms-misfire/ http://www.adaptiveblue.com/demo/Authors/christatevosian.html Chris Tatevosian grew up in Holliston, Massachusetts. During 1980, while a freshman attending Johnson State College in Vermont, Chris was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After graduating from Johnson State College in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, and a minor in Chemistry, he received his degree in human resourses, specializing in adult education from Trinity College. Then, Chris moved on to find employment as an occupational safety coordinator. His career was cut short in 1993, when MS forced him to stop working, and go on disability. Divorced in 2002, Chris has a twenty-three year old stepson, Jesse, from his first marriage. Chris now resides in Massachusetts after remarrying in April 2007. He lives with his wife Jane, and Jane's two children in suburban Massachusetts. AUTHOR INTERVIEW Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer? Chris: Writing is something I've discovered by accident. Whether I'm writing a book, an article for a magazine, or an E-Zine, I just find the process to be rewarding and life enriching. Especially, when I can write something that makes life more understandable, less burdensome! I like to write something rejuvenating that provides hope, purpose, and direction to one's life. Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing? Chris: I'm finding that if I can help someone feel better about themself, appreciate others, and enjoy life more by putting pen to paper, then that is what I'm going to do for as long as I am able! Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to write? Chris: It was not a person, but a situation that inspired me to write my first book. You see, when I started writing the book, it was my intention to help myself by clearing my name to speak. My divorce was bitter, and my ex-wife's lawyer embellished so much that I wanted friends, and family to know the truth. That's when God intervened, and helped me to realize that He was allowing me to write a book to help not one, but perhaps thousands of people around the world who may be undergoing a similar situation. Geri: Have you written any books based on a true life story? Chris: LIFE INTERRUPTED: IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT ME is my true life self-help memoir. My "poor me attitude" a manifestation of depression, how self worth and diminishing self-esteem resulted in the demise of my first marriage. I wanted to help others dealing with chronic illness or disability, their caregivers, friends, and family avoid the same relationship destroying mistakes that I once did. Geri: Who is your favorite author? Chris: As a kid, I enjoyed Eugene O'Neill, and Charles Dickens. More recently, I have enjoyed Mary Higgins Clark, and Dean Koontz. Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life? Chris: The characters in my book LIFE INTERRUPTED are all individuals who are mostly friends, and family that have played a role in the process of making me the person I am today. Geri: How many books have you written? Chris: LIFE INTERRUPTED is my only published book. However, my second book is in the works. A book titled THE SNIFFLES is my first children's book, designed to help youngsters understand what is going on within the family unit when a parent is suffering from MS. Geri: Where can your book be purchased? Chris: www.Tatepublishing.com www.amazon.com www.borders.com www.barnesandnoble.com www.Target.com Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published? Chris: I was a bit surreal. I mean, you first think of all the famous novelists over the ages, and then you see your own face on the back cover of your book online, or in a bookstore! You have to laugh! It's like, I'm not worthy, LOL! Geri: Do you have any current work in progress? Chris: I do! My second book is in the works! The title for this book is THE SNIFFLES! My second publication will demonstrate what children may experience within their home as a result of the stress introduced to the relationship of life being interrupted by chronic illness, in this case, multiple sclerosis. Geri: Do you have goals set for the future? Chris: It is my desire to help those individuals, their caregivers, family members, and friends who must deal daily with the stress put on one's relationship as a result of life being interrupted by chronic illness, or disability. As a disabled individual who has dealth with MS for over twenty-nine years, it has become my God-given passion to provide those individuals having to deal with similar situations as my own with compassion, knowledge, awareness and guidance. My passion is through my writing, public speaking, and facilitation of group discussions whenever possible. Geri: Are you exactly where you want to be with your writing? Chris: To have the life and frame of mind that I do today is truly a blessing, a miracle, and a gift from God! Approximately ten years ago, dealing with progressing disability due to MS, the announcement that my ex-wife wanted a divorce, and not having a place to live wasn't all I had to face. In addition, I had to face the prospective of having to support myself on a meager disability income, I had no future! None for which I wanted to be a part, anyway! So what has changed? One must read LIFE INTERRUPTED to find out! Geri: What can help authors reach their dream? Chris: Never give up! Most importantly, live your life for God! Geri: Have you experienced writer's block? Chris: I have never really experienced it! However, there are certain times when the writing juices so to speak, flow more readily. I can be more productive after midnight. I wrote three-quarters of my book between the hours of midnight, and 4AM. Geri: What can prevent writer's block? Chris: Write when the writing juices are flowing! If it happens to be in the middle of the night, go with it! I also found that keeping a small handheld tape recorder at my bedside was helpful. My creative mind began working during the middle of the night, for many nights! Geri: As a child, did you have favorite books? Chris: During my preteen and teen years, I enjoyed reading paperbacks, a whodunit of something involving a natural disaster, or something hauntingly scary off the shelves of any department store. Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading a lot? Chris: I grew up in a cul-de-sac within a suburban neighborhood in Massachusetts. During the 1970's, there must have been twenty kids outside looking to play street hockey, baseball, or football. Also, hide-and-seek, and more at any one time, I don't remember reading being a priority. As kids, rarely were we in the house, but a rainy day was a good day to cozy up, and read. Geri: If you had the opportunity to live one day the life of a famous author, who would it be? Chris: Everyone of us who has their name in print on a book jacket has the opportunity to one day live the life of a famous author. Geri: How do you balance occupation with writing? Chris: Because of my disability as of 1993, I am unable to work. My book LIFE INTERRUPTED was written with the help of assistive technology provided by the Easter Seals foundation. Because there were no time constraints, I was able to write my book over a five year period, using voice recognition software. My utilization of voice recognition software, while a blessing affording me the opportunity to "write" my book was truly a painstakingly arduous process, because of the numerous and diverse symptoms of my disability. Geri: How did you feel at your first book-signing? Chris: Truly, another surreal experience. On a much smaller scale, the experience allows an individual like myself who is not famous, to feel famous, like a movie star or a sports idle. Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would change? Chris: Writing has become somewhat of a hobby for me, one that provides me with a sense of purpose. Whether I'm able to to write another book, I know that it was God speaking through me who allowed this self-help memoir to come to fruition. Geri: As writers, we begin with a manuscript, and end in promotions. what was your most difficult task? Chris: I'm learning now that writing the book is the easy step in the process of becoming a successful author. The real work involves the marketing, and promotion. Geri: Some writer's listen to music, or look at a particular scenery while writing, can you relate? Chris: For me, it's always been as soon as I want to go to sleep, my mind wants to write! Geri: If you were to write in a different genre, what would it be? Chris: A children's book! Geri: Thank you very much for your time, and devotion to this interview! Chris: You're welcome!