Showing posts with label guest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest. Show all posts

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Interview II: Fantasy Author Andi Katsina


What will you do if you have a time machine?
Go back to before the Industrial Revolution; encourage full-scale research and development into the harnessing of solar power to be used as a form of clean energy. Educate people as to the accumulative destructive nature of the global use of fossil fuels.

Why am I asking you these questions?
You have a great website; http://indieauthor-howto.blogspot.com and you give authors a nice chance of better exposure. I guess you want to give me a chance to reach my readers, and engage potential readers, with lots of fun facts about me, the author. Thank you Lakisha : )

If you were a Star Trek® [or Star Wars® ] character, which one would it be?
One of the Admirals in Star Trek, so that I could decide where we went traveling, I would then demote myself to captain and take charge of the Enterprise. Engage!

If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say?
Andi Katsina encourages us all to never give up!

If you could take five things to a deserted island, what would you take?
A group of friends.
Tripped out hi-fi equipment programmed with thousands of songs.
A computer with massive storage capability, solar chargers, and tools to fix it.
A sailboat with top of the range navigation equipment.
A way to purify the water for drinking.

Sing in the rain or dance in the streets?
Singing in the rain whilst dancing in the street.

If you throw a Blue stone into the blue sea what it will become? Sunken.

What
holiday would you invent to get a day off work?
Anti Pollution Day.

Do you like your handwriting?
Yep, nice and flowy, and kinda flowery.

Do you have a best friend?
Yep, a couple.

What are you afraid of?
Loosing the people I love.

Do you have quirky habits?
Nope.

What makes you unique?
I love life, people and animals, and have the most amazing imagination. I hope this does not make me unique and that lots and lots of people are just like me : )

Do you have nicknames?
And, short for Andi.

What is something you cannot live without?
My guy, RDA

What is the wallpaper on your computer?
Snow covered mountains; Apple Mac standard.

What music are you listening to?
Last week, Barry White, Judy Tzuke, David Bowie + Ziggy Stardust

What is the best vacation you have had?
Ibiza in my early twenties with my best friend, who I lost in my early thirties.

What is your middle name?
Josapha

When is your birthday?
23rd September

What will you do to celebrate your next birthday?
Not sure.

What is your favorite holiday?
To be truthful, I like any holiday, though not thanks giving.

Where do you live?
Constantly travelling, I currently dont have a home. Right now Im staying in Panama and will leave here in a few months, driving northwards through Central America.

What are your favorite foods?
Fresh fruit and vegetables.

What are some foods you dislike?
All animal products.

Have you ever gone cow-tipping?
What is this?

What's your worst pet peeve?
Don’t seem to really have any pet peeves, very easygoing.

Whats your favorite horror movie?
The exorcist was the most effective horror film I ever saw. A teenager, I was so terrified after having seen it; checked under my bed for months. Grew up a catholic, so you can imagine the impact of a film like that…. Not sure if Constantine is a horror movie, if so, I liked that. No slice and dice nonsense for me please.

Do you do dance crazy when no one is looking?
Oh yes, luv to boogey!

Do you like to sing in the shower?
Used to….

At the beach would you rather play in the sand, or play in the water?
In the water, I’m a water baby.

Do you think people should eat the fish they catch, or just let them go?
For heaven’s sake let ‘em go… go vegetarian; healthy mind healthy body!

Do you scream on roller coasters? Do you lift up your hands?
Scream yes, loudly! Lift up my hands, I think not!!

Pen or pencil?
Either, both get the job done, though pen if its important, as pencil can sometimes be rubbed away in a bag full of books and papers.

Favorite day of the week?
I always consider Sunday as the start of a new week, but I have to admit, I find all days pretty nice.

Do
you play a musical instrument?
Violin, recorder, accordion, screechingnone of them well!

Movies or TV?
Definitely movies, dont watch TV. Never watch the news.

Which storybook/cartoon character do you like the most?
Jungle book; Mowgli

What's the funniest movie you've ever seen?
Abigails Party.

Would you rather see a movie at the theater or at home on DVD? Why?
At home on DVD. Going to the movies these days seems like an over priced outing. The cost for a family is almost prohibitory, and if they want drinks, ice cream and popcorn on top… most working class families can not afford a trip to the movies anymore. I strongly recommend that the ticket prices be lowered, as well as the price of the snacks, which currently tend to exemplify monopoly status.

What's your favorite TV show of all time and why?
I can probably say, hands down, StarGate SG-1. This is the first sci-fi show which for me embraced not only sci-fi but adventure too; giving us really great sets both in the traditional ‘sci-fi’ dim lighting, and also glorious sunshine and daylight scenes. Additionally, many important social issues where addressed over the course of this series. The acting was great, the dialogue was excellent, the cast dynamics were very nicely balanced, and let’s face it, Richard Dean Anderson is an absolute Darling!

Do you prefer card games or board games?
Both are great fun.

You wouldn't be caught dead where?
In the line up to cast stones at people with different preferences and lifestyles to my own.

Name 2 things you consider yourself to be very good at.
Writing. Swimming.

Name 2 things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
Nothing springs to mind right now.

Do you have any hidden talents?Nothing hidden, what you see is what you get : )

Can you fake any accents?
French, Spanish, India, Irish, American, Italian.

What would you do if you didn't have to work?
Relax, big time!

Can you daydream at night?As long as that night is on one of the days of the week, I can definitely manage to daydream : )

What was your favorite toy when you were a kid?
I had a little orange Giraffe called Mr. Nobody, I loved that toy.

If there's anything more you'd like to know about Andi (though I think we hit the info jackpot today) you can reach her at


Friday, November 30, 2012

Interview: Fantasy Author Andi Katsina


Please tell us about yourself.I was born in London and grew up in Manchester, England. I trained as an athlete, swimmer and accountant, with lots going on in between. I like to go for a daily run, and swim in the ocean. I really like riding motorbikes. Im an environmentalist and believe in the right of protection for all sentient beings. I am a writer, usually writing epic fantasies.
Tell us your latest news?
Currently one of my books is being translated into Japanese, it’s expected to become a huge bestseller. Right now I’m working on a fun, earth based, sci-fi story, and looking forward to the release, Spring and Autumn 2013 of Rick & Wylie’s Fantastical, Magical Adventures
book 2, and Gurk & Whale [The Rose Mane Arrows] respectively.
When and why did you begin writing?
After a long break, I picked up my pen again in 2003. I wrote two books, and wanting to write a fabulous story for someone I care a great deal about, so that they could read it to their little girl, I continued writing. The story I wrote was Gurk & Whale [The Rose Mane Arrows].
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I first considered myself a writer when I was nine years of age. I used to write plays, this I did for many years, it was such great fun.
How can we find you?

Website; http://www.theindieoracle.com 
Twitter; https://twitter.com/AndreaKatsina  
Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andi-Katsina-Author/242676839084200


Tell me a little about your book.
It’s a highly descriptive epic fantasy following the adventures of father and daughter, forcibly separated, journeying through an island sized mystical forest.

More blurb; the fabled Hawaiian Menehune people, thought to be invisible except in moonlight, are believed by most to exist only in legend. In actual fact their kingdom has been in deep slumber ever since being attacked, half a millennium ago, by an evil wizard, Wan Chu Fang.

Wylie, a vivacious teenage girl, finds the lost sacred Lono crystal teardrop, which contains the one being capable of defeating the evil wizard. The race is on for Wylie to reach the sleeping Menehune kingdom, and for the evil wizard to procure the sacred Lono crystal teardrop.

Violently separated during their vacation to Hawaii, Rick, Wylie's father, must now enter the mystical forest, a huge region found deep within the Hawaiian island, in order to rescue his daughter and try to help her wake the sleeping kingdom. Along with a small group of friends, he is faced with many dangerous situations as they journey through the mystical forest. Wylie's journey is equally fraught with danger, which unfortunately she must face alone….

Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?
I write full-time. It’s not a conscious effort on my part to organize my writing time. Usually as soon as I wake up I start making notes for the story I’m working on, this is about a two-hour process, could be longer. I then sit down at the computer and type the notes into story format, not finishing for the day until all that day’s notes are typed up. This can take many hours, with breaks in between. Oftentimes I’m still typing right into the evening; writing full time, all day, everyday.

4) When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
When I began writing plays at school, in English, Latin and French, I enjoyed it so much, from those early days I very much fancied myself as a writer, and for three or four years, age nine until twelve, I was a writer, a play-writer. 
 
What do you hope readers will take from your writing?I hope to give my readers a wonderful experience when they visit the fantasy worlds I create. I want my readers to feel relaxed, and also very excited and eager to explore my scenes and follow my characters. My stories are real, live fantasy places readers can become a part of, helping to shape the world and develop the characters. This is what I want my readers to take away; the feeling that they have had a fantastic time reading my stories, and that they themselves, in forming a bond with these fantasy adventures, realise that they too become a member of the fantasy world they read about, whether as a viewer, or actively using their own imagination to participate in the journey. My worlds are fantastical wonderful places and are open to everyone.

What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?
Lakisha, I am rather fortunate in that I find no part of being a writer tough. It’s a great vocation, and the end results are so rewarding. To have readers who enjoy my work, wow, it’s fabulous. Hearing from my readers, telling me they really enjoyed my book… wow! If you feel as though you can tell a good story, and have always wanted to write a book, I urge you friends, begin writing now!

What about your book makes it special?Rick & Wylies Fantastical, Magical Adventures book 1 [Journey to the Kingdom], part of a trilogy, is a great adventure in the epic fantasy genre. There is much more to the story than most, this accounts for its length. Many young people, and people young at heart, really enjoy great fantasy epics, this story does not disappoint, and the fact that it is so long, makes my readers journey that much more lasting, and enjoyable. I think catering to ones reader in this way is quite special.

Where can people learn more about you and your work?My micropublishing hub; www.theindieoracle.com is a great starting point to find out about me and some of my books.
 
Any tips for new writers hoping to write in the genre of your book?Yes! First and foremost, never give up! You must have a vivid imagination to be attracted to this genre, dont limit it! Much advice offered tells you to read as many fantasy books as you can lay hands on. I say dont! Why invest yourself in other peoples work, you can not hope to be individual if you dont stand back and develop your own ideas and style, with as little input from other writers as possible. Dont feel as though your story might not cut the grade. It is always great to have a new perspective and fresh ideas. If you are struggling to continue with your story, after only a few chapters, Do Not let this stop you, my advice is to simply begin work on another story, which will give your current story to develop by itself in the middle of your mind, as soon as you see a way forward, pick it up again, or if you are racing ahead with another story, MAKE extensive notes so that you will be able to take up the story as soon as. It is important to make notes when working on a story because you can lose great ideas as quick as you can formulate them! Good luck fellow writer : )

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I always try to impart, in a most subtle way, the need for environmental consciousness, be it the need for clean waterways, the necessity for reducing pollution, etc..
What are your current projects? Currently, in relation to Rick & Wylie’s Fantastical, Magical Adventures book 1, I am working with translators in Japan, and also negotiating the publishing of the book in India. I am also writing a very fun, earth based sci-fi novel. In addition to doing much to publicise the release of my book.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? No! There is absolutely nothing I would change about Rick & Wylie’s Fantastical, Magical Adventures. I never release a book until it is completed, and it’s never deemed to be completed until I’m happy with it.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?I originally become extremely interested in writing when I was nine. I used to write plays in a few different languages. I did this for three or four years. I totally enjoyed it; also discovered writing came quite naturally to me.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?No. I enjoy the whole process, and am so thrilled each time I finish a book.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Sometimes, especially if I’m writing a particularly scientific or technical part of the plot, it can be a little exhausting, and as such I write at a slower pace, other than that everything goes smoothly. I really enjoy the stories I write.
Do you have any advice for other writers?Yes, I always have advice for other writers, although my advice is more for those who are striving to become writers; don’t give up!
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I would love to say to my readers; Thank you so much for your time, I very much appreciate it. Receiving feedback is lovely. It makes writing these epic fantasies all the more worthwhile when I hear that you have really enjoyed my stories. Best wishes to you all. Andi x