Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ll be amazed if anyone reads past the first paragraph, so… how many books? Well, 1, so far. I’m 19. Give me a chance! However, some of the ideas I’ve had for books have been around for years, it’s just there’s only so much you can put down on paper with the time we’ve got!
I adore artistic sport and nature.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first and only book so far is called Randouka. This cryptic name in fact sympolizes the name you’re given before birth, before your parents get some input. The essence of your soul, so to speak. It’s a massive novel that somehow, crazily, stemmed from just one passage in a book by Cynthia Voight, Come a Stranger. “‘Your wife is very beautiful.’ Isn’t she? I always thought, what a good job God did when he made Alice.'” It literally made me think, what if God really did shape all creatures before they’re born? (Or at the very least, some helpers) I’m not religious, but basing a story from angels and creation seemed like a great idea. A lot better than the cliched fairy tale theme, in any case.
It starts with an unrealistic love between an angel and mortal girl (who isn’t even born yet) but the further I wrote, the deeper things got. It really wasn’t about love after all.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know, but maybe it might surprize you to learn I always write the first draft by hand. No matter how long it takes, I’ll write the whole thing (and obviously, later, go through the mistakes and changes when typing). Throughout school and college, the notebooks would travel with me everywhere. Everywhere. Until three years and a bit later, it was finally done. But I got into the habit of filling my waiting time with writing so much, that I’ve started doing it with the next story. And then the next, then the next.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ooh… that’s tricky. I aim to take something away with me from most books (otherwise they’re not worth reading. At least, in my opinion.) A lesson or insight into my own life, or inspo for the book. It took me a long time to get through Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series, but then I was savouring every moment and growing up alongside the heroine. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani was also an epic read and learning curve, with some great ideas for fantasy and questioning stereotypes.
What are you working on now?
Actually selling the damn book. Also a website, building social media and the next book, which will be for slightly younger readers. Let’s just say there might be a children’s takeover…
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I can’t name any that have worked particularly well. But that should change soon.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
In retrospect, probably to say get people excited about your book *before* it comes out. Look up on tips to get together a launch team. That way you’ve automatically got a queue of people willing to buy, review or recommend your book from the start, and it can only grow afterwards.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I guess it was early on. I was sitting with a girl at school and showing her all the grand plans, titles and plots of books I wanted to write one day, when she said “Well, what’s the point in planning all this? Just start writing.” And I’ll always remember that. Why didn’t it occur to me before? Since then, I’d written some childish books which I didn’t always finish, or I looked back on them later and thought ‘this is so unprofessional.’ Or in other cases, the idea is really good, but just needs a lot of polishing. No harm coming back to them in a few years time.
Also there was a wonderful quote which unfortunately I can’t remember who said. “Your audience is the person you were before you learnt the lessons your now writing about.”
What are you reading now?
Nothing, actually.
What’s next for you as a writer?
No idea! My journey as a writer/person is just as wild and unexpected as any quest you could ever write about. That’s the beauty of life though, if you choose to live fully.
Admittedly, it would be nice to write full time.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Would need a bit more than books. Preferably something I’ve never read before. But Oleg Roy has some killer plots (if you can understand Russian) and The Fandom, by Anna Day, was simply mindblowing. It could easily be the only story I’d be tempted to write an (excuse the pun) fanfic for.
Author Websites and Profiles
Akin Isa Website
Akin Isa Amazon Profile
Akin Isa’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile