ILLUMINATION Writers

Interview with Conny Manero

Featuring creative writers of ILLUMINATION

In this story, I want to share with you an interview that I conducted with conny manero. Conny is a published author with multiple books and regularly submits fascinating articles to ILLUMINATION. I like the style and humor in Conny’s stories. Topics in Conny’s articles are interesting, informative, and engaging. Let’s explore amazing world of conny manero.

Tell us a bit about your background, Conny!

I was born and raised in Belgium. Shortly after I got married, my husband and I moved to South Africa. Unemployment in Belgium was at an all time high and we figured we could make a better future if we immigrated. We were wrong. I don’t know about now, but back then women were treated as second rate citizens in South Africa, they weren’t even allowed to have their own bank account, and that clashed with my personality. Still, we had burned our bridges in Belgium and there was no way back.

I thought myself English by watching movies and series on TV and learned to read and write the language with the help of newspapers and magazines. While we had some good times in South Africa, life became more and more dangerous with each passing year. We witnessed a bomb attack in a fast food restaurant, our house was burgled, I witnessed a car jacking with AK-47s and suffered a personal attack. While the personal attack wasn’t very dramatic, I decided there and then to leave South Africa.

After my husband and I divorced, the first thing I did was to lay plans to move to another country. My parents strongly advised not returning to Belgium. The country had a high unemployment rate and the chances that I would find work were minimal. To make matters worse, my son was in his last year of high school and didn’t speak a word of Flemish. How would he cope with university and later on find a job?

So, I looked at English speaking countries. I considered Australia and New Zealand, but they were too far away from the mainland. I looked at the United Kingdom but learned that my pets would have to go into quarantine for six months. I thought of the United States, but the immigration agency I visited told me not to bother. With no job, no sponsor and no healthy bank account, I didn’t stand a chance of being accepted. The consultant recommended Canada, and that seemed like a good choice.

For the past twenty-two years we’ve lived in Toronto and while life hasn’t been easy, we are happy and most importantly, we are safe here.

Why do you write on Medium?

It gives my work a chance to be seen by a variety of people. I like to make readers smile, laugh even, but I also like to help. If I can share a few tips or a story with a message that someone find helpful, I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

What are your values as a writer?

I don’t walk with the masses. My opinions often clash with those of others and I’m not afraid to defend my point of view. As it turns out, quite a few people agree with what I’m saying, but they are afraid to speak up. I’m not.

What are the top three books affected your life?

None of them really. I read on average a book a week, but none of them have affected my life as such. I read them, I enjoy them, but then I’m done with them. However, if I had read the books I’m reading now, I never would have married. As a young girl I read romantic books, where everything was roses and moonshine, that every obstacle could be overcome, and the couple lived happily ever after. It was only later that I learned about domestic violence, drugs, alcoholism, and how cruel some men (and women) can be. Now I don’t read romantic novels anymore because they are a misinterpretation of life.

What are your hobbies?

Other than reading and writing, I enjoy ten-pin bowling. At first it was just a fun way to spend a Saturday evening, but I soon joined a league, started taking part in tournaments, and eventually was included in the national team for three consecutive years.

Not really a hobby put something I’m passionate about are animals and their welfare. Once a year I become one of a team of fundraisers for the Toronto Cat Rescue and the subsequent Bowl-a-thon. To relax I like to play card games. My favorites being Spades and Gin Rummy.

How do you connect with your readers?

I share my stories on a daily basis in various Facebook groups. When someone makes a comment, I respond. This often leads to a conversation or a discussion. Sometimes I share on Twitter, LinkedIn, Alignable, and send friend links to friends.

Why did you join ILLUMINATION and how do you find it so far?

I joined Illumination after two of my stories were rejected by another publication because they were a bit too outspoken. When I received the invite to write for Illumination, I checked out the publication and thought … this is a little more like it. I loved the diversity of stories and that writers could speak their mind. Illumination is by far my favorite publication. I love it that stories are accepted quickly and without prejudice. It allows me freedom of speech and that is high on my list. One of the stories the other publication rejected has since been curated.

Who are the top ten writers you follow on ILLUMINATION?

I hesitate to answer that because I follow a number of writers, and I cannot possible narrow them down to ten. Naming only ten would count as favoritism and hurt a number of writers I value equally much but had to leave out because I could only name ten.

What are your top five stories that you want to share with your audience and why?

My top story is ‘I survived breast cancer’. I never wanted much to do with the cancer subject, but ever since I had a brush with it myself, I try to create awareness. With early detection, for many people cancer is no longer a death sentence. I have to admit, when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I thought of suicide, but as it turned out, I’m alive and well. So, it is very important to me that I get hope across.

I hate it when writers, and people in general are taken advantage of. That’s why I wrote this as a warning.

Lots of women decide to donate their hair to help cancer patients. Unfortunately, non of those patients ever sees one strand of that hair. This is an expose of Locks of Love. Beautiful Lengths operates on a similar basis and can’t be trusted either.

Medium states in their guidelines that they discourage clickbait stories, yet they keep curating them. Every day there are at least two stories that scream clickbait.

On a lighter note. This was my most embarrassing moment at work.

What are the success factors for you as a writer on Medium?

I feel that readers are getting fed up with educational stories. They’ve had it with ‘how to’ articles. So, instead I concentrate on stories to make readers laugh. Everyone likes to laugh, right? That’s not to say that I avoid ‘how to’ stories completely. If I can impart a small bit of wisdom, why not. Other than that, I try to present readers with stories that make them think, put the cat among the pigeons so to speak.

What do you recommend to the new writers on ILLUMINATION?

Don’t write for the sake of writing. Let inspiration come to you and when it does, set to work. Next, let your work simmer for an hour or so and come back to it later. Read and re-read what you’ve written, edit where needed. Don’t write for the money, because the chances that you’ll earn a living on Medium are slim to none. Don’t try to please others, write about what you know, about what you’re good at, or what pleases you.

What are your future plans as a writer?

To finish the manuscript I’m currently working on and finding a mainstream publisher for it. I’ve written three novels and two children’s books and self-published them. This latest story is unlike anything I’ve ever written before, it’s a mixture of fact with fiction and I feel I have a winner on my hands. I just need to finish it.

Thank you for your valuable time conny manero. I enjoy your inspiring, insightful, and engaging stories on ILLUMINATION. Your humorous stories are full of lessons learned for us. One of your recent story on ILLUMINATION attracted my attention. You really hit the mark with your astute observations in this story.

I look forward to reading more stories from your creative pen. You are a popular writer on ILLUMINATION followed by our other writers and readers. We appreciate your valuable contribution to our publication.

You can check Conny’s books from this link.

If you are a writer on ILLUMINATION and would like to be interviewed, please send a request via this link with title of “Interview Request”.

Other Interviews

You may also check other interviews I conducted with inspiring writers of ILLUMINATION recently. These stories can provide a great opportunity to know more about our creative writers and connect with them.

Timothy Key

Desiree Driesenaar

Holly Jahangiri

Dr John Rose

Ming Qian

P.G. Barnett

Jill Ebstein

Bill Abbate

Terry Mansfield

Ann K Frailey

Woei T

Charles Roast

Julia E Hubbel

Aric D Mayer

Chris Hedges

Paroma Sen

Jeff Hanlon

Besom & Bletherskite

Sherry McGuinn

Maïa Belart

Henery X (long)

Chowa Sekai

Kevin Buddaeus

You can find inspiring profiles of ILLUMINATION writers from this story.

You can find inspiring interviews with ILLUMINATION writers from this story.