The author will promote his new novel, ‘The Spy,’ on the social media platform.
Read on to find out moreand be sure to tune in toCoelhos Facebook Pagefor more information aboutThe Spy.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Why did this opportunity with Facebook interest you?
Credit: David Brabyn
PAULO COELHO:Facebook has opened up a new world for writers.
For me, it is this interaction with readers that I value.
Readers ask me questions about my work, and sometimes they see things in it that I do not.
What are the benefits of being able to connect with so many of your fans at once?
Do language barriers pose a problem?
I am glad you ask about language, because I take a stab at communicate with all my readers.
What inspired you to writeThe Spy?
It was the main character, it was Mata Hari, her rebellion.
She was a politically incorrect person in the politically correct world at the beginning of the 20th century.
Whats the most interesting thing you learned in your research?
I never thought she was innocent.
I saw her like everyone else did, as a spy.
She lived surrounded by men, and they were using her.
When she had no more youth, she was discarded in the worst possible way.
She was a distraction from the real problem, which was the war.
My German publisher helped me translate the German files, and I read the MI5 files online.
And this happened with Mata Hari.
I started writing a letter as if I were Mata Hari, just to understand her better.
And then that turned into a book.
Do readers from different countries tend to respond differently to your work?
My challenging moment forThe Spywill be France, for that is where the book takes place.
So we will see.
Her death was a cost of the war.
And the cost of war is always extreme.
