Lily Amis: Writer, Blogger, Lyricist and Multilingual Content Creator sharing stories about books, music, travel, culture and inspiring people around the world.
Dear book and dog lovers, my brand-new release is Lovely, “C’est toujours l’amour”, which means “It’s always love". It is an inspiring story for young and young-at-heart readers.
Lovely is a little spoiled and snobbish Chihuahua living in the heart of
Paris close to Musée du Louvre. She is sharing a lovely apartment with
her owner. Lovely’s life is perfect until Josephine decides to move
permanently to London for love and work. Lovely is devastated and
heartbroken. She is desperately unhappy about the upcoming changes. A
new country means a new language and a new culture. On her train drive
from Paris to London, Lovely’s worries vanish unexpectedly. Instead of
ending up in London with Josephine and her fiancé, James, the little
Chihuahua ends up in a refugee camp in Calais. What happened? Where is
Josephine? Will the two ever be reunited?
My Voice for the Voiceless
Anyone can become a refugee! Anyone from any country, level of education
and income can become a refugee. This is the message of this
educational story for the Lily4Refugees Project. We should never judge
people and their life stories. Instead, we should be understanding and
compassionate towards innocent people who are forced to leave their
homeland for a better life and a hopeful future in dignity. We should
never point our fingers at others; instead, we should look at our own
actions.
Dies ist die Geschichte eines unglücklichen und namenlosen Hundes, der
in einem stinkenden und unfreundlichen Tierheim in Irland festsitzt.
Gerade dann, wenn man glaubt, dass es überhaupt keine Hoffnung auf eine
bessere und bedeutungsvollere Zukunft gibt, überrascht einen das Leben.
Lucky erzählt seine unglaubliche und aufregende Lebensgeschichte und wie
er von einem Niemand zum Helden wurde.
Meine Stimme für die Stimmlosen
Dies ist ein Lehrbuch für das Lily4Refugees-Projekt. Die Geschichte von
Lucky soll jungen Lesern die Bedeutung von Bildung, Schule und Arbeit
vermitteln. Es ist auch eine Antidiskriminierungs- und
Antirassismus-Geschichte. Sie soll ein Weckruf an Regierungen,
Gesetzgeber und unsere selbstsüchtige und herablassende Gesellschaft
sein, Flüchtlinge einzubeziehen und in ihr Flüchtlingsland zu
integrieren, anstatt sie von Bildung auszuschließen und sie von
Ausbildungs- und Arbeitsmöglichkeiten abzuhalten. Jeder einzelne
Flüchtling verdient die Chance, ausgebildet zu werden und auf seinem
Interessengebiet und aufgrund seiner Fähigkeiten zu arbeiten. Jeder
einzelne Flüchtling ist begabt und sollte unterstützt werden! Nur so
kann unsere Gesellschaft Fortschritte machen. Nur so können die Menschen
der nächsten Generation zu unabhängigen, nützlichen, geschätzten und
steuerzahlenden Mitgliedern unserer Gesellschaft werden.
Wenn Menschen in der Lage sind, Tiere zu erziehen und ihnen einen
nützlichen Job zu vermitteln, sollten sie auch in der Lage sein,
Flüchtlinge zu bilden und auch ihnen einen sinnvollen Job mit
Perspektive zu ermöglichen.
This is the story of an unhappy and nameless dog stuck in a smelly and unfriendly animal shelter in Ireland.
Just when you think there is absolutely no hope for a better and meaningful future, life surprises you. Lucky shares his incredible and exciting life story and how he became a hero from zero.
My Voice for the Voiceless
This is an educational book for Lily4Refugees project. Lucky’s story will teach young readers about the importance of education,
school, and work. It is also an anti-discrimination and anti-racism
story. An eye-opening wake-up call for governments, lawmakers,
and our selfish and condescending society to include refugees and integrate them in their refugee country, instead of excluding them from education and holding them back from training and work opportunities. Every single refugee deserves an education and the chance
to
be trained and the chance to work in their field of interest and ability. Every single refugee is gifted and should be supported! Only in this way can our society progress. Only in this way will the next generation be able to become independent, useful, valued, and taxpaying members of our society.
If humans are able to educate animals and give them a useful job, they
should be able to educate refugees and give them a meaningful job as
well.
Meanwhile, Lucky's story is available in English, German, Italian, and Spanish. Find all the links on my website.
Very excited to inform you that my memoir is now also available in
Spanish! For the Spanish version, we chose a different book title. "En
tránsito: del cielo al infierno" which means “Transit: From heaven to hell”. And
this is the book description in Spanish.
EN TRÁNSITO: DEL CIELO AL INFIERNO
Perdimos todo lo que
teníamos y todo lo que conocíamos: nuestro hogar, nuestra existencia, nuestra
familia, nuestra mentalidad, nuestra identidad, nuestra cultura y nuestro
idioma. Vinimos a un país distinto y nos enfrentamos a un futuro incierto.
Creíamos y esperábamos encontrar un nuevo hogar en libertad que comprendiera
justicia, aceptación, tolerancia, seguridad, independencia, felicidad y un
brillante porvenir. Pero ¿se nos dio verdaderamente una oportunidad justa para
convertirnos en miembros de nuestro nuevo país? ¿Se nos dio en realidad la
oportunidad de vivir una vida digna y de tener esperanzas de futuro?
La sociedad espera mucho de los refugiados. Espera que se integren a la
perfección. Pero integrarse implica siempre dar y recibir. Es recíproco. Yo me
pregunto: ¿Quién se va a responsabilizar de mi infancia robada?
"En tránsito: del cielo al infierno" son unas memorias
sinceras basadas en los sucesos reales que tuvieron lugar entre 1976 y 2002.
Los personajes que aparecen en este libro están basados en personas reales.
Para proteger la privacidad de la autora han sido cambiados algunos de los
nombres.
La
historia es narrada por la autora en tiempo presente. Durante el vuelo de
regreso a su país en el año 2002, Lily echa la vista atrás y recuerda cómo
comenzó su doloroso viaje.
This month
I will share some of my children & YA books with you and your children. The videos I post are
“one-shot videos” without any preparation and repeating.
I hope you like and
enjoy it. And if you do, you can follow my Youtube channel for more "Readings with Lily Amis" and my upcoming brand new book
trailers!
My illustrated print book,
"The Carousel, Trapped in a circle", is out now and available on Amazon!
Book
Description:
The beautiful and antique city carousel in the heart of Florence
in Italy is under a magical spell. Miles away in Barcelona, Spain, a little
girl named Shirzad receives a little carousel from her grandparents on
Christmas Eve 2019. Once she starts to play the music, she is thrown into an
unknown world with her new friend, the white horse, Esperanza, and a Tuscan
girl named Mitra. The future of an entire generation lies in the hands of two
young girls and a horse. Will the three be able to break the spell?
This story shows us that it is okay to be different. We shouldn’t be afraid of
leaving the circle of our daily lives and having new experiences. But we should
always be aware that our actions have consequences. Selfish decisions affect
others around us. So whatever wishes, goals and dreams we have, we should be
prepared and ready to deal with the unforeseeable outcomes!
“Perhaps it may have been stay and face the bombing in
our hometown, rather than endure a permanent fight for acceptance and dignity
in a foreign country. From childhood through to my adult years, my freedom was
stolen from me, just so that I could remain in Switzerland. This was my
emotional suicide.” Lily Amis
In summer 2015, the refugee crises became a global
issue. However, I have already experienced war as a child in the Eighties,
growing up in a war zone and living from one day to another. However, my
exposure to war and daily bombings seemed nothing compared to what I was faced
with, living as a refugee in Switzerland for over two decades! Rejection,
humiliation, discrimination and constant fear of existence were a living
punishment - from the moment we entered the country as a war-refugee until
today, where I am now a Swiss Citizen. A life without human rights, freedom and
dignity is really worth nothing!
The Lily Amis Story includes the two first published books of my memoir
trilogy. Part One: Destination: Freedom and Part Two: Definition of Freedom.
Living in a war zone from one day to another is one of
the most horrifying experiences in Life, whether you’re an adult or a kid. As a
kid you don’t really understand what’s going on because not even the adults
know how to deal with this life-changing situation. I still remember and feel
the uncertainty, insecurity and fear of death. Your daily life and the
behaviour of the adults changes drastically. All of a sudden, people that gave
you comfort and security are helpless too. Every moment can be the last, and
you are totally conscious of that when you clearly hear the bombings day and
night. Despite this experience and a horrible emotional-setback by my father,
who left us when I was just five years old, I had a lovely childhood. I grew up
in a home and neighborhood filled with love and harmony.
Leaving our hometown with only two suitcases and fear,
my mom and I hoped for a safe and happy future in Europe.But the escape was only the start of a new
set of problems. The journey was only the beginning of a lifelong misery. My
childhood was immediately over and I had to grow up fast in a country, where I
felt unwelcomed and rejected from minute one.
We see the images of the refugee’s journey these days,
thanks to the media coverage, which is heart-breaking. But the actual tragedy
begins from day one when you officially register as refugees in your new
country. Dealing with bureaucracy is a nightmare. I wish the governments would
stop treating refugees like numbers of annoying folders on their desk. Behind
every number is a destiny. And, for the love of God, Life is too short and
precious to make it miserable for others.
I started with writing about ten
years ago because of long-term Unemployment. Writing Destination: Freedom and Definition
of Freedom were both kind of a self-therapy during extremely difficult
and challenging times in my life. When you feel lonely and totally helpless the
only person you can rely on is you and no one else. Writing really helps
healing and I always felt that it is my duty to share my story. Not only to
help myself but also to help others with the same or similar Life struggles. Until
then painting and drawing were my way of self-help. But writing my two memoirs made
me realize that I have to write. There is so much that I want to share or as I
call it entertain and educate readers about.
So therefore in Definition of Freedom, the follow-up
story, I openly shared my experiences as a foreigner in Switzerland, where my
life was constantly overshadowed by discrimination and social isolation. My mom
and I lived in fear of deportation for the following years. We had to fight for
acceptance and pure survival for almost two decades. So we missed out on Life. We
really did. I feel as my whole childhood, teenager hood and adult hood was
stolen only in order to be allowed to stay in Switzerland.I was so busy with the bureaucracy nonsense
that I have neglected the really essential and valuable things in life. When
the government tells you to your face, after a decade, to either marry or leave
the country, and you marry the wrong guy for the wrong reasons, your whole
future is screwed. During the twenty-seven-year period waiting for my
naturalization I experiences set-backs, betrayal and depression caused by
unemployment and bullying. Despite everything, my mom and I emerged stronger
from every defeat and always fought for our rights!
The Lily Amis Story is brutally honest and I seek acceptance and
tolerance for all refugees entering Europe. This is my message to the world.
“The war-refugees didn’t choose
to become refugees. None of them created war. They are only helpless and
innocent victims of people in power, who make a fortune selling weapons and
destroying countries and families. Instead of toying, support these refugees
and include them, rather than isolate them. Refugees are not a disease; they
are human beings with the same desires as everyone else. Give them a life; give
them the chance to build independence with dignity. Give them a future. Treat
them the way you’d like to be treated in desperate times! Respect, acceptance
and tolerance are the magic words of kindness!”
Each one of us has a story to tell and everyone we meet is fighting a battle we know nothing
about. This section “The Q & A Interview with inspiring people” is dedicated to exceptional personalities, who either have something to
educate us or to inspire us.
Today I want you to meet Guy Potter, a young British
actor and Film production company owner from London. Despite his young age Guy is
without a doubt an inspirational personality with a mature attitude towards
Life and his work in the film industrie. Also not many actors in his age have names of Hollywood Stars like Tom Cruise or Robert Downey Jr. on their Vita.
"Experiencing people like Tom Cruise &
Christoph Waltz do their thing left a
huge impression on me." Guy Potter
Guy the reason why I asked you
for a “Q&A interview” is because I feel that you are an old soul trapped in
a young body. :-) I read one of your recent interviews and I could easily pick a
dozen of inspiring quotes. Quotes that not only inspire artistic people, but everyone
about your admirable attitude towards Life and work in general. I quote one
example: “Have absolute faith in your
ability and set no limits” is one of my favourite.So how come that you are such a
wise soul? Any explanations? :-)
Well… I’m not too sure, maybe they caught me on a good
day…! I think it’s probably something to do with clarity of purpose. With
something like acting its essential you get how there and experience as much as
possible, you also meet a lot of people who all have different reasons for
being in the acting world and different
motivations, - that sense of mixed purpose is great, but it also gets balanced
out by a lot of extra noise. You sometimes encounter people doubting themselves
and setting limits, and by its nature that will restrict what they achieve.
Too many plan b’s or c’s, “what if this fails” or “what if that doesn’t work
out” and suddenly you’re not focused on the plan A, and then it’ll never work
out. The more I hear of that kind of thing, the more it makes you assess your
core values and really focus.
Nicely said! :-) Guy there are
not many young actors in your age, who can actually say that they recently worked
on Film productions with Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise, Samuel L. Jackson,
Christoph Waltz and Robert Downey Jr. So how did you feel, when you knew you
would be on the film set like Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation? Was it as
great and exciting as it sounds?
It absolutely is, if not even more so, as sometimes
you wont know what the film is until you’re there, they use working title’s
which can be confusing but that’s why they exist. For instance Avengers was
called ‘AfterParty’ and then when you’re in wardrobe and you see an Iron Man
costume it’s a bit of a shock! It’s a ‘try and be cool about it’ moment from
then on out. I’ve done a lot of productions that aren’t nearly as big, but when
you’re on a major studio film you cant help but be over awed by what’s going on
around you, everything’s on a scale you cant imagine.
You were in these movies as an
actor, unfortunately, uncredited (for now), but what was the best lesson for you
acting and production-wise and why? Which one of these stars did you actually
saw in action or get to talk to?
Well as it is for everyone else too, some of the
scenes I’ve worked on get cut out, I did a week on Maleficent that never saw
the light of day, but if the scene does get used and I’m left out, I’m almost
in a constant battle with IMDb about it.
I’d say Tarzan was the biggest lesson. That was the
first time I saw how a big production works. Me and a couple others got drafted
in during the summer of 2014 and we had many weeks of boot camp for a fight
scene, we had history lessons, military drill’s, firearm workshops, an audience
with a guy who’d actually lived in the jungle with gorilla’s… you name it. That was the beginning of me being interested
in how a film is made right from it’s beginning. Sadly the scene got changed
before filming and they went with something else instead… a shame, but thing’s
change right up until the last minute you get used to it. I won't rely on
anything till it physically comes out and I’m in it now!
That geared me up for Rogue Nation quite well though,
I was a stand-in for Jeremy Renner and that evolved into working on the motorbike
chase scene, doing pick-ups & re-shoots at Warner Bros Studios near London.
I’d watched those movies since I was a kid and that was a great few months. If
you have the opportunity to get involved with a big production, it’s worth it
at any level. You come across some of the biggest names in the industry and get
to see them do their job first hand: how they interpret the scenes you’ve seen
that day and how they perform it - that’s a better master-class than money can
buy. Experiencing people like Tom Cruise & Christoph Waltz do their thing
left a huge impression on me.
I write a monthly #Lilywood
review where I list my personal #MUSTC and #WOT (Waste of Time) Movies. What
are your TOP three #MUSTC movies and why? And which three are your #WOT movies
and why?
I agree a lot with what you’ve said on there. I think
a summer or two ago, there were at least four major studio films out and every
single one of their ending sequences involved a city getting invaded/destroyed
at the end. I mean, it’s the same plot! Just repackaged in a different film… sometimes
you need a dose of reality.
Top three #MUSTC, well I always enjoy looking back on
a successful actor’s career and studying their path to see what choices they
made, you can find some gems doing that. I’d go for ‘A River RunsThrough It’ directed
by Robert Redford starring a Young Brad Pitt, great little film about life in
Montana. I really like The Last Samurai, which is a blend of a big production
with the feel of a smaller one, but it’s just such a great narrative. More
recently I saw ‘Whiplash’ and was just mesmerized, the last ten minutes are
something else.
In term of the Waste Of Time’rs, well I’m really going
off the whole superhero thing, (despite having worked on one!) in Isolation
they can be great but just the whole churning out the same re-worked formula
put’s me off, but I suppose that’s hard to avoid with the whole ‘Marvel
Universe’.
I cant name specific’s but sometimes I like watching
movies that are not so good to just learn how not to do something. When you
watch a good movie you get lost in the narrative after a while, but with a bad
one you can really analyze what’s not working.
You started acting at a young age in school.
After training in stage you transitioned to film where you feel more at home. You
have visited several Academy courses in Los Angeles and London, including the extensive
Stunt & Firearms training at Warner Bros studios you mentioned earlier.
Meanwhile, you have done short films, commercials and played roles in television.
What was the best experience during your educational years? And what was the
worst and most challenging one and why? Also as an actor do you prefer to play a good and nice character or a bad and nasty person?
Well, my appendix rupturing whilst doing a run of ‘My
Fair Lady’ in the theatre wasn’t great! I thought I was just sick and could
power through it, the Director suggested she could go out and read off the
script but I was having none of it. I went out and did three nights in a daze,
I got through it but collapsed the day after and was in hospital for two weeks.
Best experience, well I really enjoyed a summer at The American Academy of
Dramatic art in LA – the quality of alumni is almost intimidating.
On par with
that it has to be stunt related training, I love that – the choreography, the
combat, the research and training, sword and firearm, motorbike’s and driving
it all just adds a great dynamic to a performance, its an art form in itself.
As an actor doing characters, someone with depth I really enjoy getting into
character and doing the research and fleshing them out, the more of that the
better really. I’ve got to be able to relate to them too, anything superficial
and I’m gone. Ryan Gosling’s character’s he’s played and his body of work to
where he got today is really something, it’s to be admired.
You recently worked with the Queen of England. Well
not the real one, but a young actress, who is playing Queen
Elizabeth II as a 25-year-old newlywed faced with the daunting prospect of
leading the world's most famous monarchyin the TV Series “The Crown”.
How did it feel like to be part of a historical production like this where the
story it based on your countries history?
Yes, I suppose I did! Claire Foy is playing Queen
Elizabeth, she went to a friend of mine’s drama school and they’re very proud
of her there. I didn’t have a scene with her unfortunately but I did watch them
filming in the next room. It uses real locations and travels all over the
country, my scenes were done on The Mall just down from Buckingham Palace, so
it’s as real as you’ll get. I’m singing in that one too actually, it’s a huge
production put on by Netflix and the trailer looks great, I think it will go
down really well, especially as Downton Abbey is no more… quite a good time to
be a Brit!
I can’t believe that I’m saying
this. But you have actually founded an
independent production company “High Sierra Films“ in London because you want
to be more involved in the filmmaking process. As if that’s not admiring enough for a young man in your
age, you are actually working right now on your first independent film. What
can you tell us about your first project? Will you be in front or behind the
camera or both?
That’s very true I have yes, I founded High Sierra Films
because as an actor you’re just a small cog in a big machine and I think it’s
essential to understand how the machine works. You’d be surprised how many of
the big actors have their own production companies; sometimes I see their
logo’s turn up before a totally unrelated production to their normal body of
work and it's interesting to see what they get up to.
We helped with a film festival in Los Angeles last
year but right now we’re doing a short called “Whatever the Weather” in
conjunction with a production company called French 75. I’m behind the camera
this time, we’ve got a chap called Schaffer McLean in front and it’s looking
great so far, a feature is in the works but for now we’re focused on this.
I can’t help it, but I feel that
the quality of movies has changed drastically in the last decades. Animation
and Special effect wise the movies are on top, but story-wise the more time
goes by the less I found inspiring and touching stories. The film industry is
either re-producing old blockbusters or producing uninspiring action and crime
films for fast, easy money. What will your production company produce? What
will be the legacy of “High Sierra Films“?
Our goal right from the start was ‘to
produce inspiring movies and media’. You have to have a good narrative and
story, once you’ve got that it’s about making it enticing to an audience whilst
finding your angle on the storytelling. Finding a team to work with that can
nurture a project through the stages is the priority, and it has to be
collaborative. It’s funny, no matter what level of filmmaking you witness, they
all have the fundamentals in common, just on bigger levels - even on Mission
Impossible: Rogue Nation thing’s were sometimes improvised… that really threw
me! We’re at a point now where we’ve got a few projects in motion, all at
different stages, but I suppose our legacy would be to make a difference and
to bring something to light that hasn’t been seen before. I’d really like to
tie-in a future project with environment and wildlife protection, that’s a
pretty big passion of mine.
I don’t know if you have seen my “Entertain
& Educate post” about my Film project plans. But as you see I’m
trying to make a short film and a featured Film happen.
So what advice do you have for me and other Authors, who want to bring their
stories on screen? How should we approach production companies and make them a
part of our journey?
Well, I would start first by getting involved with the local film community in some way, whether that be at a film school or film
festival level - they have huge connections in the film world as they act like
a hub for people trying to collaborate. Ideally, you need a team of like-minded
people involved, a director, a producer etc - people who can share the same
vision and get on board. Have a good narrative, find your angle and target
audience - make it enticing.
Get all your ducks in a row and package it well,
and then comes a point where you have to leave creativity behind and go into
business mode… many people hand that over to someone else at that point as that
becomes hard with your own project. People in high up production companies need
to be shown that it will be a success, and the more you can do that the better…
but once a few people are on board and it picks up momentum… who knows who may
come across it and there’s no telling where it could end up.
Guy if I was an Angel and would ask you right now and right here, what is your biggest professional or personal dream, desire, goal, or wish. What would you answer?
Interesting one! Well, professionally it would be to have the ability to chose a project, I’d like to be in a place where there were more options, though I’m sure everybody would... aside from that it would be good if people were a bit more inclusive with each other, there’s a lot of division at the moment and not much progress comes from that. I went to a Coldplay concert recently and they’ve made a choice to put in as much energy and feeling in as possible, and you get a show that’s full of ambition, colour, high energy, and trying to get people to unite in something and have a great time. The positivity emitting from everyone after that was amazing, it was on a different level… we could do with some of that in everything we do.
What a beautiful and selfless answer Guy. And I say it again: You are an old soul.:-) So last but not least, ever
since Im working on the last book of my trilogy “Definition of Love”, I ask all my
inspirational interview partners these two questions. What is your definition
of Love in three words? What is your definition of Love in one sentence?I can’t wait to hear the answer to these two questions
from a wise soul like yours. :-)
“You… complete… me.”
how about that, or is that too cheesy?! I couldn’t not say it… that’s a great scene
in Jerry Maguire.
I think it’s hard to
define, the very reason you can't explain it is what makes it so great for
people, you can't force it or genuinely try and make it up, it doesn’t happen
often and when it does, it takes you completely by surprise… something with
that much of influence on someone is a powerful thing.
Guy, it was really a pleasure to do this interview with you. I have no doubt that you will make your way and I look forward to seeing you in Action in front as well as behind the camera. I wish you the best of success as an actor and as a film producer.
If you want to
find out more about Guy Potter follow him on:
If you know any inspiring personality like
Guy Potter, who should be discovered and promoted on my BLOG, please contact me and
I will decide whether I will do a “Question
and Answer Interview” and promote their work or not! Many thanks in advance
and God bless. Lily
