P.S. Mokha (February 25th, 2013)

[[deleted user]]

Who are you? Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m PS Mokha, author of The Last Sanctuary. I’m also a part-time farmer, high school teacher and Chartered Accountant.

I live in the New Zealand wilds, a relative stone’s throw from where The Hobbit was filmed. It’s a magnificent spot without cell phone coverage, mains water and street lighting; the perfect place to create adventure.


What made you want to be a writer?

Two reasons.

Firstly, my job is to bring fantasy to life. My limits are set only by my imagination. What profession could be as incredibly fulfilling?

Secondly, I’m passionate about mastering the art of storytelling in order to entertain generations with epic tales full of modern twists and humour.


Are the names of the characters in your novels important?

Vitally.

Imagine naming a chocolate bar ‘Turd-log’. It wouldn’t work, unless it was aimed at drunk college students.

I investigate each character’s name etymologically to ensure it fits their past, and suits their personality.

For example, Rabidus is a minor character who can loosely be likened to a stereotypical mad-professor (but in my book he’s a mad-wizard) and his name is Latin for crazy.

While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?

I put myself in the shoes of each character when crafting their narrative and actions.

Not only do I reflect on their motivations and personalities, but I even adopt facial expressions and body language when writing from that character’s point of view. It helps enhance my understanding of what they would be feeling or thinking in difficult scenes.

What types of things make you laugh in books?

Jokes

… which can be sub-divided into types.
There’s word play. For example – let me introduce you to the butcher’s wife; Meet Patty.
Visual humour is difficult to pull off given the text based nature of books, but it can work. For example - I awoke to find someone had drawn a huge face outside my front door; I couldn’t get over the cheek of it.
Cheesy gags can work for younger readers and for the young at heart, who also appreciate the odd fart joke - by odd fart joke, I don’t mean a fart that’s odd.
Messing with the reader’s expectations is the type I prefer. It requires more planning, delicacy and intricacy and is appreciated by the more mature reader.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I mostly write. It’s a passion bordering on obsession.

To maintain balance I play a lot of sport – which is easy given one of my jobs is running sports at a local high school.

I also love spending time with my daughters; watching movies or exploring the rugged countryside together.

Finally I always look forward to curling up in bed with my wife and a good book at the end of a long, fulfilling day.

Have you ever considered anyone as a mentor?

My current mentor is a famous novelist and past President of the New Zealand Society of Authors. I’m lucky she’s only about a 50km roundtrip from my rural home.

The only other mentor I would consider at this stage in my career is Ken Follett – but I’m not sure he’s heard of me (yet).

Will you have a new book coming out soon?

The sequel to The Last Sanctuary will be out in a short while. I don’t know when, given our third child is due soon. Writing will therefore take a back seat for a bit.

Where can we find your books?

The usual places, Amazon in hard copy and ebook. Also, Barnes and Noble for non-kindle users.

Check out the Goodreads reviews, too and feel free to like my Facebook page.

A cheeky way for a free read is to ask your local library to stock a copy.

If you could leave your readers with one bit of wisdom, what would you want it to be?

Follow your passion. It will always lead to happiness, except in two situations

1) following your passion tramples on friends or family
2) money is your passion

Thanks for the interview, it was lots of fun.

[[deleted user]]

Check Out:

Can three orphans with a mysterious past unlock the meaning of a
chilling 700-year-old prophecy; Three will arrive, one to give, one to
die and one to live?

Secret forays from their London orphanage into the hidden world of
Ammasaya reveal how their lives are entwined with blood-thirsty Spine
Crawlers, secretive goblins, deadly scorpions, murderous witches,
enchanting Spry and the powerful Dragons of Creation and Destruction.

A genocidal war and the evil Blood Empress are lurking in the shadows,
waiting to change the orphans’ lives forever.

He is giving away e-copies of The Last Sanctuary in return for Amazon and Goodreads reviews. Message me or P.S. Mokha for the smashwords code.