Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a South African author. I still live in South Africa, and my experiences in my beautiful country (especially as a woman of colour) has definitely influenced my writing. I am also neurodivergent, and I also use my experiences with my mental illness (and general weirdness) to guide my writing. I have written and published one book, however, I am currently working on getting my second book published by January 2022!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is Death of a King. I am a huge fan of fantasy and science fiction, and love the whole found family trope! I am a huge fan of Marvel, and wanted to create my own version of a team of superheroes!
I wrote Death of a King in under a year (and if I am being honest, it is more of a novella), but I played around with the idea of a character who could not die, for a while. I also wanted a female character, who had the title “King”. And the rest, as they say, is history!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to have long periods of frenzied writing, fuelled by custom playlists, caffeine, and action movies! I usually do the bulk of my writing in these periods, and then slow down to edit over a few weeks. And then I begin the process all over again!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Phillip Pullman is someone I take a lot of inspiration from. He managed to create a whole universe (His Dark Materials) in a way that felt so effortless, in a way that made sense. I was also inspired by Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus- the writing was so lyrical, that I felt like I was in a dream.
I do have to include writers of colour on this list: Tomi Adeyemi, Tochi Onyebuchi, and Nicky Drayden- these are my favourite writers at the moment!
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a literary/family saga. It will probably also be a novella in length, and will be very character driven, like all my stories.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am not sure about this yet, but Awesome Gang is looking like the best method I have come across so far!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am still a new author myself, so the only advice I have is- don’t listen to other writers. I spent a lot of time, when I first started writing, on buying pretty notebooks and pens. I spent a lot of money on things that I couldn’t really afford. And I did these things because I was trying to write like other writers. It did not work! I am not neurotypical, and I don’t do my best work when I am writing from 9-5, or in a pretty notebook. Forcing myself to write like other, more established writers, (when I couldn’t afford it, and mentally and physically could not do it) did so much damage to the quality of my writing.
Be true to yourself, and be comfortable with your process! There is nothing wrong with it, or you!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write what you know!
What are you reading now?
The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu
What’s next for you as a writer?
Working on my next project and making sure that I stick to my timeline!
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?
Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy.
War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi.
Author Websites and Profiles
Cas Williams Website