Today’s word is Loath – definition: unwilling to do something : reluctant. As you will soon realize Yasir is loathed to be restricted to one genre.
Of the characters you have created or envisioned, which is your favorite & why?
Gregorian the demon & Fagnor the banshee, side characters have an air of mystery about them. These two aid the protagonist, kind of, in his quest for revenge. Their qualities are as random as their presence, having wild-cards in a tale gives a story the kick others don’t have.
Do you favor one type of genre or do you dabble in more than one?
Do I ever? I am definitely a dabbler, I have an imagination threshold when it comes to genres. I’m not a horror aficionado like Stephen King, I find that my words become somewhat stagnated. I have been warned by an author friend of mine that writing in multiple genres is dangerous. It may be my naivety or ignorance but I fail to see his logic. So to keep things refreshing for the reader I have already started dabbling, but I’m not going to tell you much more. Always leave them wanting more…
What do you enjoy most about writing?
How anomalous occurrences become the crux of the story, I fall into the category of writers that say the story writes itself. The side lines, the back stories and the random excursions are what give stories that texture readers crave. My own mind keeps me guessing so as I’m typing I am discovering. As the story unravels and characters reveal themselves I find myself immersed in the lunacy of creation.
Have you got a favorite place to write?
I wish I did, it’s a family home so we all share one computer. If I had the money I’d buy a nice house that has a nice study, a quiet room that has all the hallmarks of a writers retreat. I would surround myself, in this room, with vestiges of inspiration and creativity. One day my friends, one day…
Do you plan your stories, or are you a seat of the pants style writer?
A bit of both, I found planning gives the story structure and the “seat of the pants” strategy gives it flavor. Inspiration normally comes at night so I am always arms length from pen & paper. I write the idea down in my despicable handwriting and then when I get a moment I add it to the manuscript. I’m still growing as a writer but I am finding a rhythm to writing.
What inspires your stories?
Oh! Everything and anything. Films, books, music, theatre, dancing, a bird on a perch having a very large poop (apologies, I don’t mean to offend) it’s totally random. I could listen to a poem on the radio and it moves me to tears. Then again I could see a toddler hand a flower to his parent and I can feel every much joy as the parent. Inspiration by its very nature is from spirit so I suppose it’s in the spirit of the moment.
What are you currently reading?
OK, don’t hate me for saying this because I have been criticized in the past for saying what I’m about to say. I don’t like reading fiction, even though that’s pretty much what I write. I don’t mind poetry, I can read poetry but even short stories bore me. Now I know in some regions of the literary world I have just committed blasphemy. If I were to read anything then I only read self-development books. Currently I am not reading anything but I do want to get my hands on some NLP and mind programming books.
Do you have any odd habits or childhood stories?
I do have some odd habits, but I don’t care to mention them. Childhood stories, if I told you it would sound quite generic. I got in trouble at schools, teachers annoyed me and I them, over the years I matured and discovered that life can be an adventure and I have the best family and friends in the world. See, generic.
Do you have any pets?
I have one zebra-finch, a miniature pooping machine (same apology as before)
Do you belong to a writing group? If so which one?
I belong to New Writers UK, it’s a writing group that is run by authors for authors. It’s for writers in general but predominantly to help new writers, such as myself, to find their feet. They have exclusive events and resources that I am privy to being a member.
What age did you start writing stories/poems?
I started writing poetry at age 8
I started writing short stories at age 16
I tried writing a stage play at age 24
I am still dabbling in all of the above at age 25
Do you have a book published? If so what is it called & where can readers purchase it?
I do, it’s called Memoirs of the Damned and it is a horror story it can be found here:-
Company website – http://www.troubador.co.uk/book_info.asp?bookid=1922
If you could meet one favorite author who would it be and why?
Maybe Dale Carnegie for his wisdom but I’m not too fussed with him. More than Mr. Carnegie I would like to meet Edgar Allen Poe to see if he was as crazy as everyone says. Also I would like to hear him read “The Raven”, James Earl Jones and Christopher Walken both have hypnotic voices but I believe that the true insanity of that poem should be experienced 1st hand from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Don’t worry I don’t have a morbid fascination with Poe, unlike the creator of The Following with Kevin Bacon – urgh –
If you could live anywhere in the world – where would it be?
Japan. I would like to live in a dojo in the country side. I would wear a kimono all day, be protected by a legion of Samurai in the morning and a squadron of Ninjas at night. A man can dream…
What’s your favorite movie of all time?
I have phases, what my favorite movie is at the moment might not be the case in a few months time. It’s a tie with Payback, Get Shorty and The Usual Suspects at the moment.
Where can readers find you and your blog?
Please find me here – http://www.newwritersuk.co.uk/yasirhayat.html
Or if you wish to connect
LinkedIn : uk.linkedin.com/pub/yasir-hayat/50/5b8/4a7
Twitter : https://twitter.com/darkbiggie
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/darkbiggie
Do you have plans or ideas for your next book?
I do but I can’t give too much away, lets just say it’s a romance with a twist, nothing paranormal. I also have designs of prospective sci-fi endeavors, but enough of that for now.
Who is your best supporter/mentor/encourager?
If you get a copy of my book and you turn to the dedication page then you will see, exactly, all those people who I consider invaluable in my efforts as a writer.
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