Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I'm Rebecca Scarberry, @Scarberryfields on Twitter, and author of Messages from Henry and Rag Doll. I have interviewed a young, very talented author. I've enjoyed learning more about Farid-ul-Haq (@tempest071990 on Twitter) and certain you will also.

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality?

Farid-ul-Haq: Well I am from Pakistan. My grandparents migrated from India and my maternal grandparents migrated from the beautiful valley of Kashmir when Pakistan got its Independence way back in August of 1947. So, I am half-Kashmiri and half-Indian which I think is very cool!!

Scarberryfields: When you finish a novel, do you miss the characters?

Farid-ul-Haq: When it comes to writing a story, which I know won’t be getting a sequel, then, yes, I do feel kind of sad. Writing a character is a relationship that’s quite intimate. You create a character, allow it to grow and give it a proper ending. It’s more or less a bittersweet experience because you know you have helped the character accomplish what he or she wants and now it’s time to say good-bye.

However, when I’m writing a sequel, then the characters keep swimming in my head until I am able to give them a proper ending. These characters are like my friends (I think using the word children would be weird) who stay with me until the end of their journey. But whatever the case, the sense of parting is always there and I think that every author remembers the characters they have created even if they appear for a moment in their works.

Scarberryfields: While writing, if you need help with punctuation, grammar, etc., where do you turn?

Farid-ul-Haq: I mostly do all of that on my own. However, I sometimes turn to my sister, who’s a year older than me, when I have completed writing something and she seems interested in reading it. She has done her Masters in English Literature and that’s why her input is always appreciated if she is willing. If not, then I do the work myself and I have to say that I’ve become quite good at it. Having a good foundation in English (I thank Mom for that) and trying to make university assignments as good as they can be, help a lot when it comes to knowing about the correct grammar, punctuation, etc.

Scarberryfields: With the number of hours spent writing, do family members support you or complain about the time spent away from them?

Farid-ul-Haq: My family members do know that I love to write. However, Mom didn’t approve when I used to write, years ago, and told me that I should be doing homework. I started writing seriously when I was eleven years old and I guess my mother thought that I wouldn’t give enough time to my studies. I guess she was right because when I feel the need to write, I keep writing and don’t even know where the hours go. I just sit down at my table and write until I have the whole story out of my head. This means that I don’t go out and meet relatives or friends. My younger brother doesn’t like it because I don’t sit down and play games on the computer with him. I guess I am good at time management because I was able to complete my honors in Biotechnology and Psychology while writing the stories I wanted. But when it comes to family members, they sometimes complain that I don’t spend as much time with them when I write.

Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Farid-ul-Haq: Yes, it does, a lot. For me, writing is a way for me to free myself from what’s going on around me for a few hours. If allows me to take everything off my mind. When I have a story, it keeps bumping in my head, trying to find a release. Even my body doesn’t feel comfortable. I just want to grab a piece of paper and write everything down. It also helps me look at things through various perspectives, meaning that I can talk about the same thing in a different manner through different characters. I guess that helps in broadening a person’s mind. I am open to sharing chapters of my work if anyone is interested. Writing and sharing my work gives me pleasure and I think that’s why I love to write.

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social networks?

Farid-ul-Haq: I don’t really use such things a lot. I use my twitter account for a few minutes after three or two hours, whether I am writing or not.

Scarberryfields: Did you use any family members as Beta readers for your debut novel?

Farid-ul-Haq: I actually used almost the whole of my grade 10^th class when I finished my first work “Colville: The Beginning”. It got published as a paperback after a few years in my country and then I put it up for free on the internet as an eBook as well. The feedback I got at that time and the things I learned as I grew older helped me mold it into a better piece of work. The only family member who I can consider as my Beta reader is my sister. She’s an avid reader. Her interest lies in classic African-American Literature so her feedback was important because I knew I had to write something good in order to keep her interested.

Scarberryfields: Do you feel social networking as a marketing tool, is beneficial?

Farid-ul-Haq: Yes, it is. Almost everybody has a presence on the internet. People discover new things and get to know about new recommendations through various social networking sites. I think it’s a good idea for authors, or anyone who wants promotion, to use social networking as a marketing tool. It helps you present your work to more people and you actually get to connect with them and know their response. It’s simple, easy and free.

Scarberryfields: What is the last book called that you completed and published?

Farid-ul-Haq: The most recent book that I completed and got published, by Beau-to-Beau Books, is by the name “Somerville Mysteries - The Missing” and it came out this year, on the 21^st of May. It’s the first in the mystery series that I’m writing and I think it’s quite a good book. The story revolves around a teenage boy named Jerry Mathews and his friends who try to solve a case regarding a missing woman. You will also get to see Jerry coming in terms with his sexuality and how the story helps each character grow.

Scarberryfields: Where can readers go to find your books?

   

Farid-ul-Haq: “Somerville Mysteries – The Missing” can be found at these links

Amazon: as an eBook and print form

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=somerville+mysteries+-+the+missing

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/somerville-mysteries-the-missing-farid-ul-haq/1115382253?ean=2940016528694

Rainbow eBooks

http://www.rainbowebooks.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=10932

All Romance eBooks

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-somervillemysteriesthemissing-1214500-176.html

OmniLit eBooks

https://www.omnilit.com/product-somervillemysteriesthemissing-1214500-251.html?oid=3

Apple iBookstores (U.S. Link)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/somerville-mysteries-missing/id650421817?mt=11

Just change /us/ to any two digits corresponding to the country you are in

Beau-to-Beau Books: My publisher

http://beautobeau.weebly.com/index.html

It will be available in a couple of days in Google Play, Kobo, Coffeetime Romance and Sony Reader Sore.

“Colville: The Beginning”

http://www.obooko.com/obooko_teenya/bookpages/tya0067_free_ebooks_colville1_farid_ul_huq.php

“Colville #2: The Swamp”

http://www.obooko.com/obooko_teenya/bookpages/tya0068_free_ebooks_colville2_farid_ul_huq.php

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I'm Rebecca Scarberry, author of novella, MESSAGES FROM HENRY and shorty, RAG DOLL. Also (@Scarberryfields on Twitter). I have once again interviewed a multi-published author, Christina Fifield-Winn (@KafeCastro on Twitter). I'm impressed with her talent and certain you will be also.

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality?

Christina: Actually, I really can only tell you a little bit about it.

My mother's side is easy: my Grandmother was Hungarian and my Grandfather was Italian. They both came through Ellis Island before becoming American citizens. This is probably the only simple thing about the Pellegrinos.

My father's side is a little more complicated. My grandparents were descended from the Finnish and English Canadians...except that my grandparents weren't actually my grandparents. I was almost eighteen years old when I found out that my father was the product of a rape. His "sister" could not handle being a parent, so his grandparents brought him up as their own. My father was not told about this until just before he got married. By then, his sister/mother was dead. The family was so focused on covering up the "embarrassment" that they never talked about it. All information about her rapist was buried with my biological grandmother.

Now, my siblings and I have no idea what types of medical related issues we may be predisposed to...except for kidney disease, which plagued my father for most of his adult life.

Scarberryfields: When you finish a novel, do you miss the characters?

Christina: I have only written a novella, SUKI.

My collection of short stories, THE COFFEE BREAK SERIES, is strongly based in truth.  Most of the characters are people that I know, and most of the events or situations that they find themselves in, have either happened to those people, me, or to someone else that I have come in contact with.

So, to make a long answer longer, NO. I do not miss the characters because they are part of my daily life, for the most part.

Scarberryfields: With the number of hours spent writing, do family members support you or complain about the time spent away from them?

Christina: Ha ha ha ....my kids complain that I am way too overprotective, so when I'm writing, it's a vacation for them...

Seriously, I do most of my writing before they get home from school, while they are doing homework, and before bed.

As much as I love family time together, writing while they are around is frustrating because of the constant bickering that is a staple of teenage/sibling life.

Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Christina: At times, writing has been extremely cathartic and revealing. I learn so much about myself as I think about what my character's reactions are and compare them with what mine would be.

But, writing REALLY benefits me when I see what it does for others. My blogs are outside of the box, and I often hear about how my perspective makes others think. Some readers have revealed that they are cheered up by my posts and also my shorts in the COFFEE BREAK SERIES.

The biggest reaction though, has been to my novella, SUKI. This one little story about love gained has set off conversations that have just blown my mind.

The print copies are being passed around to those that readers feel "need it". Booklovers are starting to sign the inside cover after they've finished it, and I get messages about the number of people that have read one copy...it's almost like a competition!

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social networks?

Christina: No I don't. I use it to take 2-3 minute breaks and remove myself from my work for a moment. It helps me see the situation I'm writing about from different perspectives.

Scarberryfields: Did you use any family members as Beta readers for your debut novel?

Christina: I had three Beta readers, and one of them was my sister-in-law. I chose her because she's an avid reader, she's very hard to please, and she's honest. She turned out to have the most valuable insights. Her comments changed the course of SUKI. If you read it and enjoy it, please send her a bottle of red wine...lol.

Scarberryfields: Where can readers go to find your books?   

Christina: All things SUKI, including links to buy it, can be found on my website: readsuki.com

The COFFEE BREAK SERIES shorts are sold individually at

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004SUOUT0

and my blog can be found at simplystick.blogspot.com

Scarberryfields: Thank you so much for answering my questions, Christina and thank you for being my friend. Good luck with your books and with raising 2 girls and your son by yourself. Posting you with them below. Great looking kids!