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Mar 13 2016

Interview at The Angels Pearl

I’m honored to be on The Angels Pearl for an interview. Read the excerpt below and check out the full interview on The Angels Pearl.

1. What inspired you to write The Last of the Firedrakes?

I started thinking about this story nearly ten years ago. Building the world of Avalonia, whenever I got time. The actual world creation started with a tapestry in my grandmother’s house. One day I stood before it and wondered, what if I could step into the tapestry, where would I end up? And so the world of Avalonia sprang into existence.

From then on, the person who stepped into the tapestry was a young 16-year-old girl who didn’t know who she really was, her name was Aurora, and this is her story.

JK. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, C.S. Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles, Roald Dahl’s Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Diana Wynne Jones’ magical worlds, Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland books, Ursula le Guinn’s Earthsea Quartet and J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan are some of the books that have in some way contributed towards my love for magical adventures and fantasy worlds and inspired me to write fantasy for young people. These books, including many others, inspired me to write a story that would combine the best of all I had learned, and so The Last of the Firedrakes started to take shape.

2. In the writing process, who was your favorite character and why?

I would have to say Rafe. He is the quintessential hero, the knight in shining armor, but mysterious and dangerous with secrets of his own. I think the hardest part of writing his character is to show how he feels through Aurora’s eyes. We can’t see into his head and I wanted the readers to discern his emotions just like Aurora has to.

Full Interview on The Angels Pearl.

Mar 06 2016

Interview at Reading with AngelaRenea

I’m honored to be on Reading with AngelaRenea for an interview. Read the excerpt below and check out the full interview on Reading with AngelaRenea.

A warm welcome to the lovely Farah! Let’s start with some inspiration, Who or what inspired you to become an author?

I have always enjoyed great literature, and the range of authors that have inspired and influenced me throughout the years is quite vast. From Homer, Shakespeare, and Milton to Jane Austen and Enid Blyton, I’ve enjoyed them all. But in the past few years I’ve been fascinated with the prospect of creating fantasy worlds and exploring them with the characters I have created. Books like The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, The Earthsea Quartet, The Magic Faraway Tree series and Harry Potter with their wonderful worlds and fascinating stories really influenced the way I looked at storytelling.

Which authors would you say have influenced you most and how?

Enid Blyton, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K Rowling. All their books have a magical wonder to them, and at the same time the worlds are so beautifully crafted that you feel like you want to live there. Creating the world of Avalonia was how I started writing this book, I wanted to create a world that readers would love to live in. The characters and plot grew from there.

How long do you generally let a story idea ‘marinate’ in your brain before you start the book?

A while, it needs some time to change and grow. So I write down notes first, and then start writing.

Full Interview on Reading with AngelaRenea.

Feb 28 2016

How to Write Fantasy Like a Pro

I’m honored to be on Kori Miller Writes for a guest post, How to Write Fantasy Like a Pro. Read the excerpt below and check out the full post on Kori Miller Writes.

Tips on World-Building by Farah Oomerbhoy

Fantasy is not a creation of the modern world. In fact the roots of fantasy go back thousands of years to an age of myths and legends, when wandering storytellers sat by a fire and recounted fantastic tales of wondrous worlds, populated by gods, heroes and monsters. Starting from the ancient epic of Gilgamesh and the tales of King Arthur to the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan; fantasy is the longest surviving genre in the world of stories.

One of the most important aspects of writing fantasy is the creation of your world. It could be a vast land with many kingdoms like The Lord of the Rings or a world that is hidden and exists within our very own, like the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Enid Blyton wrote about worlds at the top of the Faraway tree, magical lands that could only be reached by climbing a ladder into the clouds. And C.S. Lewis’ Narnia is a childhood classic.

In order to write a fantasy novel, it is important to first have a complete idea of what your world is going to be like. There are five basic steps that can be used to build a believable and consistent world. Although your fantasy world is a creation of the mind, and can be anything that you desire it to be, there are certain rules that we must follow to make sure your world makes sense. Otherwise when you start writing your book, inconsistencies in the details of your world can lead to greater problems later on.

1. First we look at the type and setting of your world. You have to decide what kind of world you want your characters to live in. Is it a pseudo-medieval sort of world, a dystopia, or an alternate history? It could also be a modern fantasy set in our world and in the present time.

The most popular fantasy setting is usually a pseudo-medieval world, where there is a lack of technology. Riding horses, fighting with swords and encountering magic has an adventurous appeal that readers enjoy.

Medieval settings should be properly researched. But it is not necessary for the society to be based on a European medieval society. It could be Norse, Celtic, Asian or even Indian, what matters is it is well constructed and suspends belief.

Full Post on Kori Miller Writes.

Feb 21 2016

Why Book Covers Are So Important

I’m honored to be on Quartz Feather for a guest post, Why Book Covers Are So Important. Read the excerpt below and check out the full post on Quartz Feather.

It is quite easy to say, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” But the truth is we all do it.

One of the most important things that you can do for your book is to get the cover design right. This is after you get your book professionally edited of course. Even if the cover is spectacular, if the book is riddled with mistakes and plot holes readers won’t finish it.

The cover of your book is the face of your story, it is the best marketing tool you have. If your cover is beautifully designed it will draw in readers to try it out. Even if they have never heard of you and this is your debut novel, a reader who enjoys your genre is more likely to pick up a cover that stands out from the crowd.

Full Post on Quartz Feather.

Feb 14 2016

Interview at A World of Books

I’m honored to be on A World of Books for an interview. Read the excerpt below and check out the full interview on A World of Books.

1. What inspired you to write The Last of the Firedrakes? Did the story change as you wrote it?

For this particular book and series, it all started nearly ten years ago, with a tapestry in my grandmother’s house. One day I stood before it and wondered, what if I could step into the tapestry, where would I end up? And so the world of Avalonia sprang into existence.

From then on, the person who stepped into the tapestry was a young sixteen-year-old girl who didn’t know who she really was, her name was Aurora, and this is her story.

The story changed a lot, actually. As I wrote it the characters kept changing and having their own personalities. That influenced the plot in many ways.

2. Are there any parts of your book that you love and other people do not like or vice versa?

I’d have to say this would be Aurora’s character. I think her naivety and trusting nature is endearing. Some people find her silly and immature, but I don’t think she is. She does have a curious personality and that’s what gets her into trouble.

3. What kind of music do you listen to whilst writing or do you prefer silence?

Most of the time I prefer silence. But sometimes I listen to music. It can be a variety of songs, but wherever Rafe is in an action scene I like to listen to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song. 🙂

Full Interview on A World of Books.

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