Ch’kara, would you start off by telling these nice folks how we met, a Louisiana girl and an Australian author. Isn’t the internet great?   

Ch’kara – Linda and I met on a forum online and we have become great friends.  We laugh and cry and support each other.  She is a great author and although we are on opposite sides of the world this in no way inhibits our friendship.

And I would like to thank you so much Linda for this opportunity to connect with your followers.  Blessed Be!

Lalo – Ch’kara is one of the sweetest people I’ve met since I’ve been roaming the internet. I love her work and she’s a great person as well as an accomplished author.

 

1) Tell us about your most recent release.

Ch’kara – My first novel is called Daughter of Light & Dark and is the first in a trilogy Prophecy of Nitesh.  It started because my main character ‘Montayna’ came to me one day and pestered me until I began to write about her.  Other authors will know how those voices work.

Lalo – I’m a little envious of that. Sometimes my characters don’t talk to me for days.

2) What else do you have coming out?

Ch’kara – Book 2 of Prophecy of Nitesh will be out by the end of the year.  It would have been sooner but due to a lot of health issues things have been delayed.  But it’s all good now so surging ahead.  I also have several short stories published and a few other novels partly written.

Lalo – I understand and look forward to reading more of your stories.

3) What genre do you write?

Ch’kara – I write in fantasy, YA, and dabble in sci-fi. I love myths, legends and magikal creatures my characters come alive on the pages as I write.

Lalo – I can tell you enjoy what you do. That’s great.

4) How do you choose the titles of your novels?

Ch’kara – They choose me.  My first one had a working title and then one day I kept hearing that it was wrong.  Those pesky voices that speak to authors and continue until we finally listen.

Lalo – That’s remarkable. I love to hear how it works for other authors.

5) Who are some of your favorite authors?

Ch’kara – There are so many great authors, particularly indie authors.  There is you of course I love your writing.  I have read all of Linell Jeppsen’s books and I usually devour Lisa Williamson’s work.  I have just finished inhaling the Sensor Series by Susan Illene.   There are many more Indies, but I would take up the whole page. Then some of my other favorites are Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Traci Harding and Jennifer Fallon.

Lalo – I know we enjoy the same kind of stories and read many of the same series and authors.

6) If you listen to music while you write, what kind and why?

Ch’kara – Sometimes I like the quiet of my beautiful surroundings; I’m a bit of a Celtic fan, so I often listen to Loreena McKennit and Enya.  Their music takes me to other worlds.

Lalo – oh those Celts. I love their music also.

7) Describe your perfect day.

Ch’kara – Currently its winter here, so I get up in the morning and after my husband goes to work, I curl up on the sofa in front of the fire with my notebook and coffee and write.  I hand write all my work and then type it up later.  It has always been this way for me.  I love the flow of the words as they unfold on the paper.  I have tried in the past to write directly to my computer but then nothing happens, I find myself sitting starting at a blank white page, not very productive.

Lalo – I have heard that hand writing uses a different part of the brain. I cannot read my handwriting… so I’m stuck with the computer.

8) What are your favorite movies?

Ch’kara – There are many wonderful movies around, but one of my all-time favorites is Ladyhawke with Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Lalo – I love Ladyhawke also. It is a great movie.

9) How do you remain sane as a writer?

Ch’kara – Sane? Are there any sane writers (I say this as I fall off the sofa in hysterics)?  Let’s face it, we have conversations with people who nobody else can see or hear.  I’m sure if we weren’t authors we would be locked up and they would throw away the key.

Lalo – okay, I admit, that was a trick question.

10) What are books for?

Ch’kara – I believe books take us to worlds of wonder and enchantment.  They take us on a journey to places we wish we could be and I always find some message in books that can help me feel that I am on the right track in my life or that I can improve my life.

Lalo – I agree with that.

11) Have you ever found true love?

Ch’kara – Absolutely, my husband and I just had our 23^rd anniversary.  We were best friends for twelve years before getting together (I was a little slow in making up my mind lol).  He always loved me from the very beginning, and although I loved him I didn’t believe I was in love with him.  Then one day it just hit me like a big sledge hammer and bam that was it. After all these years he still says I was worth waiting for.

Lalo – You are both fortunate.

12) Are you jealous of other writers?

Ch’kara – God no, I am so inspired by other authors.  It encourages me to see how many wonderful Indie authors are here now. I am so proud that there are so many gifted people out there willing to take a chance on their dreams.

Lalo – Interesting, I never thought of it that way before. All those people taking a chance on their dreams. It’s very encouraging.

13) Describe your writing process. When and where do you write?

Ch’kara – Well as I said earlier, I hand write everything because there is something magikal for me in the process of the pen flowing across the page.  I don’t really plan anything, for me it feels like someone is telling me a story and I am taking dictation.  Having said that there are times when I write notes and know something is going to go into a certain place.  But mainly it’s by the seat of my pants.

Lalo – It’s working well for you. 

14) What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Ch’kara – To read everything you can lay your hands on in the genre you want to write in.  Write daily, even if it’s just in your journal, it keeps your mental flow going. Get feedback from Beta readers.  If you can afford it get it edited by a professional.

Lalo – That sounds like great advice. Thank you Ch’kara.

BIO

Ch’kara – I live in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges in Victoria, Australia with my ever-patient partner and two beautiful Maine Coon cats.

I travelled around the world in my early twenties worked in the film industry in London for ten years. Then spent a year travelling in America, and after returning to Australia worked in Advertising, as well as doing volunteer work for several years in my spare time, before settling down to write seriously.

I live a magikal life and am a hereditary witch, and although I was born in Australia, I come from a mixed heritage of an Irish/Spanish mother and a Cherokee father.
You can connect with Ch’kara Silverworth and find her fine books via these LINKS:

Amazon US:  http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Light-Dark-Prophecy-Nitesh-ebook/dp/B008DCOR2O/

Amazon UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daughter-Light-Dark-Prophecy-Nitesh-ebook/dp/B008DCOR2O/

Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chkara-SilverWolf/e/B008DN6FIC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1405900612&sr=8-1

Website:      www.chkarasilverwolf.com

Blog:            www.sheerak.wordpress.com

Twitter:       www.twitter.com/ladychkara

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/chkara.silverwolf

Once again, Ch’kara, thank you for the interview. I wish we lived closer to each other.