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 10th 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 21st 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
Barnes &
Noble
Rainbow
eBooks
All Romance
eBooks
OmniLit eBooks
Apple
iBookstores (U.S. Link)
Just change
/us/ to any two digits corresponding to the country you are in
Beau-to-Beau
Books: My publisher
It will be
available in a couple of days in Google Play, Kobo, Coffeetime Romance and Sony
Reader Sore.
“Colville: The Beginning”
“Colville #2: The Swamp”
http://www.obooko.com/obooko_teenya/bookpages/tya0068_free_ebooks_colville2_farid_ul_huq.php
great interview...thanks for sharing :)
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