Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi I’m Chanisse Kara, I was a fan of literature since I was seven. I was born in Durban and without a literary agent! lol.
Like all people who take a liking to a certain craft I delved into the world of great fiction story telling. While growing up my father had a hobby that used to fascinate me. He was so good at card magic and the illusions they did at casinos. All this provided me with a lot of content for the Omen Swift series I wrote. There are eight books I have written. Four in the Omen Swift Series. I am now working on more books, including the Rusher Street series, and new books called Consanguinity and The Davidson Gang.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Pyramid Scheme is the next book I wrote, while on a creative high . If I knew more about that family than I know who inspired that book, it would have been alot longer than it should have been, hah ha. The book again is about cult religion and its contraversial effect it can have on people. The society before the illuminati and how far will desperate people that have no resources and the financial stability go to find the success and wealth every one wants in life. What inspired it was the love I have for history. I heard in places like India and Africa there are people who only wish they could go to school. Some of them resort to a poverty stricken life. It’s old news. Nothing much is done about it. Charity is offered but there is still war and famine happening. I thought about everything a disadvantaged person could want. I came to the conclusion that everyone in life , regardless of race or their background wants and needs the same things. The question that sparked the novel to run in its volume of pages.. was how far will a desperate human go to live the life they never had?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, none at all, what is an unusual writing habit? I have not come across that. I know I once had a very vivid dream that showed me the entire plot of the new book I would write. Red Riding Wolf. A spin off to the Red Riding Hood story.
Of course there’s many spin offs to old fairy tales. Its fun for authors to do that now.
But mine is darker.. seriously.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are many writers that I have been a fan of, surprisingly anyone that comes up with an amazing idea and is able to take the world by storm by the figment of their imagination is what I consider an influence. So for me all the writers have done it.
The influences.. J.K Rowling, Roald Dhal, R.L Stine.. Lee Child. and even Micheal Jackson as a song writer. All of them have left no room for simplicity in their story telling.. In a very good way. That was what I aimed to do with the Omen Swift series. With the writers I mentioned it was all about amazing explosive ideas coming across the pages to form plots and scenes that would entertain readers, Stephen King… Is The KING OF Literature !
What are you working on now?
My next few books in the Omen Swift Series and a few more to come, I would love to write more novels and be like Stephen King and Michael Jackson. Love them both! I am working on The Davidson Gang and The 28 Rusher Street Series. I don’t drink and neither do I drive as I can’t do eiether of them except be a geniune nerd and write one novel after another depending on what great idea I get inspired by.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method is always Awsome gang, You Tube and Twitter. All of them for different reasons. You Tube, Because I am a new author and I need as many readers. The video trailer depicts the content I have created in the books. To give readers a sense of understanding of what the series is about. Twitter. The readers are there, you just click on the Harry Potter following and just like that you got over three million possible people that could read the same genre you are writing.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes , every writer is a reader, but not every reader is a writer. Writing is a task that anyone can learn. There are schools that teach you how to write well, but none of them will teach you how to write a best seller . That is left to the imagination of the writer. My advice to authors is try to come up with some thing as different and unique as possible. The market is already flooded. Publishers are looking for new inventive ideas that will sell. During the writing process focus on the scene inside your head before worrying about how the words will sound when put to paper. The mistake every writer makes is focusing about the way they write rather than what they have in their heads to form the story. Just remember its the imagination you need as a writer to tell the world a story.
Not the way you write. Every thing else comes after the images you create in your head.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I went to a flim festival once to pitch the possibility of my novel into a short film , One estate agent that wrote books. Yes even other people write novels. Ha HA. He said to me “So go to a book distributer, approach other people in the industry you don’t need a deal now they are just the middle man, put your books in stores” I am doing it now. I also strongly advise that if writers speak to publicity agents for exposure , they should listen to their advice and keep them as mentors even if they do not land a publishing deal. Because these people know the right people and sources to get you into contact with to help build your career as a writer. There is alot of admin work behind getting your work out when you are a SELF PUBLISHED AUTHOR. In which you have to do all on your own, It can get very lonely without an agent, I know it sounds weird but us writers need that publishing print deal.
What are you reading now?
A few fiction books by Lee Child and my own books over and over again because I have to edit them. But when I’m bored I do read .. mainly to improve my own writing. Alot of Stephen KIng as well.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I would love to write more novels. There is something rewarding about finishing a five hundred page book and going on to write four more within the series and knowing it came from your head.
I want to write the Davidson Gang and The 28 Rusher Street Series which I am working on next. I dont drive, but these amazing motor bikes at a Harley Davidson store was epic.
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?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid for the laughter and light heart humor of youthfulness. Michael Jackson Dancing The Dream. Stephen King IT .
Author Websites and Profiles
Chanisse Kara Website
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