Down the Foxhole: Featured Author agurghis

With over 1,400 sales, Alex Gurghis is a FlashDen author to keep a close eye on. Throughout 2009 he has constantly crafted and released a consistently high standard of files that are usable, simple and appealing. His most popular and best-selling files are the XML Modular Template and the Powerful XML Menu. FlashDen has proved so successful for Alex that he has spent many occasions working solely as a FlashDen author to make his living. Let’s find out more about our featured author agurghis!

1. Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, what do you do for a living?

Hi all! My name is Alex Gurghis (gourgish). I was born 25 years ago in Republic of Moldova (previously a part of the USSR). I graduated from the Economic University of Iasi, Romania in June of 2007. I’m enjoying life and working exclusively for FlashDen, and from time to time I also freelance.

2. How long have you been using Flash and what made you start selling items on FlashDen?

I started playing with Flash in 2003 when I was in high school. During University I used to do a lot of freelance work, but I did it for fun. At the beginning of 2008, Andrei Potorac (bobocel) told me about FlashDen and I fell in love with it. From then on it became my main source of income and work.

3. Do you create files from scratch for FlashDen, or do you re-use work that you’ve created for a client?

Almost all of the files in my portfolio were built exclusively for FlashDen. I always use code blocks from my previous work to reduce the time required to develop a new file.

4. Where do you get your inspiration from for your FlashDen work?

Hmmm… it’s simply, from everywhere. Jean-Luc Godard said “It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.”

5. What is your work flow like when starting a new file? Could you walk us through the steps you take when getting ready to create a new file?

First of all I start with my sketchbook. Once I have the sketch ready I plan how the XML will look and I like to make my files as customizable as possible. When all of this is done I open up Flash and start working. After my file is done I test it and then I publish it on FD.

6. What do you do to market and brand your files?

Well, not much actually. I re-designed almost all the thumbnails, now I use a blue (#009cff) border and a pixelated font. I post my recent files on my blog. I also submit my files to Adobe Exchange.

7. What advice can you give to authors that might help them increase their overall sales?

Support your files. It’s very important to update the old files and to improve the file quality. Also, create files constantly. Get info from the buyer and make the file easy to change, write good help documentation. And, of course design, design, design!

8. Besides yourself, who is your favorite FlashDen author?

There’s so many great folks out there but my favorite authors are Bobocel, DigitalScience and Parker&Kent!

9. Which file do you think is your best file so far?

I think my best file so far is my XML MODULAR TEMPLATE. I have already updated it with new features. This template has many functions and a nice design.

10. What one thing would you like to change about FlashDen if you could?

Hehe… I don’t think I would change anything. Flashden is great as it is and I love it!

11. When you aren’t building flash files, what do you do for fun?

Hmmm… I play football (soccer), I love to travel, I love to read, I love to listen to music, I love to spend time with my friends, family and my girlfriend.

12. Would you like to give a sneak peek of the latest file you are currently working on to our readers?

View agurghis’ portfolio.

Read more interviews with FlashDen authors.