Interview with Alfred Quinsay
What inspired you to revisit your passion for writing novels after a 20-year hiatus, and how did your experiences in various industries influence your writing?
Alfred Quinsay: The passion for writing has always been there although it laid dormant during that 20-year hiatus since I kept myself busy with so many things particularly my work as a CPA. But somewhere along the way, in my early 40’s I returned into writing because deep down, I always knew I have the passion for writing and I’m not going to deny myself this time of doing what I love to do. The experiences I had with various industries particularly in gold mining, logistics, and BPO among others had also helped and influenced me to go back to writing with more zeal as it gave me a first hand experience which later on, I was able to use it as part of my ethnographic research in the academia. This lead me to a more in-depth exploration into writing that developed into writing contemporary novels which served as an eye-opener.
Your latest book, “Love is War, War is Love.” offers a fresh perspective on romance, politics, and business. Can you elaborate on the themes and inspirations behind this work?
Alfred Quinsay: Love is War, War is Love is a contemporary novel which deals with social, cultural, political and business situation in a certain geographic location in the Philippines. The backdrop of the story is the conflict between two neighboring countries in Asia, China and Philippines. China wants to extend its rule over a small archipelago which is the Philippines through its spy, former PLA air force officer, Tony Hua, who amassed great wealth through arms trade and dealership. His wife, Lily, was a Filipina Chinese who became an accomplice to his devious plan. Enter Emil, a spy for the Philippine Army disguised as an Engineer for a Billionaire Taipan and the former lover of Lily, Tony Hua’s wife. Here, we see a complex game of deception, betrayal and outwitting the enemy until its final climax. It was inspired by the book, The Art of War, which is an ancient Chinese military treatise in light of the present situation which is the conflict between China and the Philippines over the South China / West Philippines Sea.
As a CPA, MBA, and Certified Management Consultant, how do you balance your corporate expertise with your creative pursuits?
Alfred Quinsay: Discipline is essential and non-negotiable. There are times when I just don’t feel like writing after an exhausting day at work and would simply slouch and become a potato couch eating doritos and drinking beer (laughs). But I learned to redirect these emotions whenever I feel unmotivated. I do some physical exercises like calisthenics until it gives me a good sweat. It also clears my mind and I become more receptive to ideas which is essential to my creative pursuits like writing. Finally, I learned to integrate my technical expertise with my writing and it has given me endless possibilities in crafting and creating the plot .
Your upcoming book, “Lies of Influence,” explores the complexities of human nature. What drew you to this theme, and how do you hope readers will respond to it?
Alfred Quinsay: As a student of business, it is imperative to learn and understand about human psychology on a societal as well as on an individual level. The nature of the game is you deal a lot with different types of people from the shrewd and cunning to the gullible, scheming and to the passive aggressive. There are also striking similarities between business and politics. They both complement each other when applied to serve the interest of one another. A politician in a legislature may create laws to serve the interests of a business or an industry which in turn, supports the politician. This pervasive evil that obliterates society’s gain through corruption, tax evasion and underground economy is what the book’s theme is all about and depicted in a contemporary setting. It drew me to write this in a contemporary novel form because the best way to relate your message to your readers is through story telling, not in a preachy manner of presenting through diagrams or templates but in such a way that will challenge the mind, touch the hearts and tickle the funny bones of readers.
How did your Christian faith guide you in finding your purpose as a writer, and what role does spirituality play in your creative process?
Alfred Quinsay: My journey towards finding my life’s work was anything but smooth. It didn’t came out naturally when I was growing up. It wasn’t like from day one I wanted to become a writer and voila! It was a long, bumpy process into refining my character and temperament which lead me to the recognition of my Christian faith and as follower of Christ. I used to be very worldly and materialistic, thinking that life’s purpose was all about accumulating wealth even at the expense of others. Now, it doesn’t mean that I don’t desire for material things, like most everyone else, I desire abundance and material wealth too. But after becoming immersed in my Christian faith, I have a better perspective of what is truly significant and this flows to my writing and creative process.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who, like you, have put their passion on hold due to other pursuits?
Alfred Quinsay: Its all right to be practical and pursue other endeavors that will put food on your table and roof above your head. To be candid about it, writing does not guarantee those things. But it would come as a result of your dedication, discipline, consistency and knowing when to take calculated risks. It is also important to ask yourself a question, “Would I still write even if there is no monetary compensation or rewards guaranteed?” It’s not a sexy job like a pilot or a lawyer. But it could impact and inspire the lives of many better than what most professions can do. And if you happened to have penned a compelling idea or plot that evoked attention and admiration in an irresistible way, it could impact generations way after the you’re gone.
Can you share a notable experience or challenge you faced while transitioning from a corporate career to a writing career?
Alfred Quinsay: Transitioning from a corporate career to a writing career wasn’t an easy jump to undertake. The corporate world demands not just your time but all your talents and skills. It requires your best thinking and mental faculties. The price you have to pay is your freedom. It sort of limit your mobility and it came to a point that I was simply making a living but I wasn’t alive. This was when I decided to quit the so called ‘rat race’ and decided to embark in the academia as a university professor. In here, professional growth such as research other than teaching was encouraged. The environment was conducive and had trained me and rekindled my passion for writing. It didn’t took long before I wrote my first published novel after 20 years of hiatus from writing.
How do you envision your writing evolving in the future, and what themes and genres would you like to explore next?
Alfred Quinsay: Writing has a lot of parallelism with business, one needs to strategize and explore or develop markets in order to expand your territory. Fluidity is essential in crafting your brand as a writer. There should always be something new in your next book, not just a rehash of past stories, but a dynamic, fresh ideas encapsulated in your next theme to keep your readers enthralled. This is what I always aim to achieve in every project I endeavor as a writer.
