Interview With Author Z Zara
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Born and raised in Honolulu, I wasn’t really stewed in the arts like some other big cities. Reading and writing was always my escape from the realism of the world I lived in. I’ve ghostwritten novels, but never published my own… yet. I’m working on my first novel now after gaining some momentum from seeing the relative success of my first poetry book, “a natural disaster.” I’m a painfully slow writer when I really care about the work, so both of these books are years in the making. Some call it wanting perfection, but I call it wanting to be proud of my work. I can say that I’m extremely proud of “a natural disaster,” and teeing up to write a second edition, so keep your eyes peeled for that!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“a natural disaster” is a reflection of how I see myself and the world around me. It has four parts that align with four natural elements: fire (inferno), water (flood), air (tornado), and earth (landslide). For the second edition, I want to incorporate another element, space. I’ve had my landslide moments that have made room for so much space, and my poetry reflects that.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure how unusual this is, but I keep a journal by my bedside just in case I wake up from a particularly interesting dream (or nightmare). My upcoming novel is inspired by a recurring dream I had. After having that dream for the third time, I had to write it down because I was certain it meant something. After pouring over my dreams, I realized a lot of it could be strung together in interesting ways that might resemble a novel with a little bit elbow grease. A lot of the points of tension come from my nightmares, which give me a reason to be thankful for them— a silver lining, I suppose. I also take lots of time in between writing sessions if I feel like my work is getting stale. Sometimes I have to drag myself to bed because I’m writing like I’m running out of time. I write where the wind takes me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I feel so basic for having Jane Austen be my favorite author, but she’s a classic for a reason. When I ghostwrite romance, I do find my work echoes hers stylistically. I also see a lot of myself in Gabriel Garcia Marquez. He’s my novelist Dali. Dali has also been a great influence of mine in my visual art endeavors. Both Marquez and Dali opened my eyes to what art could be. I lime the idea of perfecting form while simultaneously breaking it. I try to achieve that with my poetry.
What are you working on now?
My first novel, Z22 (working title), won’t be out for a while, but I also write short stories on my Substack, WriteBiteZ.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s been word of mouth for me. I travel the world and just start talking to people. I’ve gotten almost all my sales that way, but also a few through Instagram and Substack. I know there are better methods, and I like the idea of people knowing me through my work, so I’m trying to branch out.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’m a new author myself, so I’m not sure what I could say. I think it’s important to have a circle of other writers to bounce ideas off of. I don’t have that right now, and I’m sorely in need of it as I write this novel.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I actually just heard this today on the audiobook of Daisy Jones & the Six. It’s quite fitting for pretty much any aspect of life. “I think you have to have faith in people before they earn it, otherwise it’s not faith.” Sometimes, you just need to have faith in yourself, even when you think you haven’t earned it.
What are you reading now?
The Vanishing Half, The Godfather, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being — I guess “The” is a big theme this month.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I don’t know. I’ve always said, “as soon as I make a plan, the gods laugh in my face.” I imagine living life in a little cottage, writing novels and poetry until the day I die. I couldn’t imagine myself happier.
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?
The Alchemist – Such a comfort read and so relatable
This is Paradise – The professor in college that really inspired me to take writing seriously wrote this book, and it so clearly outlines aspects of living in Hawaii that I would miss being on a desert island.
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