|
An Interview with Anna M. Aquino
Q & A's
|
|
Q. How is your last name pronounced?
A. Aquino? I get asked that all the time. "A-Queen with an O".
Q. How did you start writing?
A. I didn’t at first. I was sure I would become a Lutheran pastor or missionary at some point. Years later when I had an encounter with the Holy Ghost, God began to lay on my heart my first book, “Come, They Told Me.” It’s my Dad’s story about his survival in Vietnam. It began stirring inside of me. His story had to be written and I was the one to do it. I actually argued with the Lord about it. I remember saying, “In case you don’t remember I don’t write that good.” It was like Moses arguing with God about speaking before Pharaoh. I did the same thing. I finally quit arguing. It was as if this writing ability appeared “overnight”. I’ve gotten better over the years, but it certainly didn’t come from me. I remember being made fun of for not being able to write a sentence correctly.
Q. You’ve written several books about Vietnam, why do you keep coming back to it?
A. It’s a part of me. The red dirt of Vietnam somehow got into my veins. I grew up listening to my father’s stories. Even my books about WWII somehow do the same thing. We need to remember to honor the Vets. We need to honor all veterans for their service.
Isaiah 53:12 (NLV)“I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.” Go thank a Veteran today.
Q. Where do you get ideas from for your works?
A.When I hear something that hits me, I just can’t let go of it. An idea can just start stirring inside me. It comes from the Lord. It’s like this idea will bug me until I can get it out. So I finally stop fighting it and release it by writing. I never know exactly what twists and turns a story will take until I write it. It’s like opening up a nicely wrapped package. When I begin a project, I know it looks good and sounds good if I shake it a bit. But until I actually start writing and opening it up, I’m never sure what’s exactly in there.
Q. What advise can you give people to help them fulfill destiny in their lives?
A. Go forward and pursue it. Many will tell you that you can’t, or you won’t or you shouldn’t. But you have to answer to God one day for what you did with all the giftings and abilities in your life. Are you going to tell Him that you didn’t because you believed others over Him? Realize that you may not get there overnight. There is a process. But submit yourself to the process and stick with it!
Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Q. What do you want people to take with them when their done reading one of your books, teachings, screenplays, or see you preach?
A. I want people to see that there is a God who loves his children very much. I want people to see that there is a supernatural world out there both good and bad. I want people to identify with the characters in my stories. I hope by seeing the characters struggle that they themselves can heal from their pasts as well. My dad always says that by telling me his Vietnam stories it’s helped him try to go on with his life a bit better. I think that’s true in all of us.
We all have a story to tell. I want people to see a very real Jesus.
|
|
|