Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.
This week’s guest is Izolda Trakhtenberg
Born in Moldova in the former Soviet Union, Izolda Trakhtenberg grew up steeped in the rich heritage of Eastern Europe. After her family immigrated to the USA, she graduated from the University of Michigan with an English degree. Izolda followed her love of travel and education and worked for the National Geographic Society’s Educational Media division. She then worked as an environmental educator for NASA. While at NASA she traveled all over the world to conduct environmental education workshops.
Izolda released her first book, “Life Elements: Transform Your Life with Earth, Air, Fire, and Water,” in 2008. The first book in the Fairy Godmother Diaries series, “The Fiddler’s Talisman,” was released in 2011. “The Piano’s Key,” book two in the series, came out in 2016.
She teaches classes and facilitates workshops on writing, public speaking (for authors and others), and singing. She practices and teaches yoga, Tai Chi, and has a first-degree black belt in aikido. In her free time, she sings, spends time with her dear friends and husband, and travels.
Wolf: Welcome to Wolf Notes, Izolda. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?
Izolda: I let my character who had lost her music, and therefore her confidence and spirit, find it again.
Wolf: What is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to your characters?
Izolda: My fairy godmother character, who had just learned how to love like a human loves, had to walk away from the human man she loved because he could no longer remember her.
Wolf: That had to hurt. Do you consider yourself a cat person, or a dog person?
Izolda: I love both, but I am more a cat person.
Wolf: You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.
Izolda: I have a sturdy stem and extensive root system, and I am a sinuous, willowy, and fuzzy teal color with luscious purple and magenta flowers.
Wolf: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Izolda: I would have the power of tossing whatever trash a person had just chucked out their car window right back into their lap.
Wolf: I like that power. What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?
Izolda:
Shovel
Swiss army knife
Water purifier
Salt
Field guide on edible plants
Wolf: What story are you working on now?
Izolda: I’m working on my non-fiction book right now. It’s called “Own Your Talk,” and it’s a workbook on how to build the confidence to communicate effectively and creatively. My next fiction book will be book three in my Fairy Godmother Diaries series. This book will finish up the trilogy and will give the readers a satisfying if perhaps cataclysmic ending to the Evie Songbottom story. Stay tuned.
Wolf: I’ll keep my eye out for that so I can finish reading the trilogy. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Izolda: I sing, play music, perform with my various musical groups, facilitate workshops on communication and team-building, take photographs, do yoga, practice aikido, play with my cats and dog, and travel to at least one different country every year.
Facebook.com/izoldatspeaker
Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube: @IzoldaT
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