The author of The Changeling King, Noor A Jahangir, joins us today. He’s been writing since age 14, but knew from age 7 that was what he wanted to do with his life. Noor currently holds the title of Chief Tyrant in Command of a non-profit, interfaith organization in Burnley, England. He’s been spotting unicorns since Ridley Scott’s Legend, but personally prefers Pegasuses. Pegasusi? Pegasi?
The author reading.
GL: Welcome, Noor. What was the first spark that resulted in The Changeling King?
Noor: The first spark for the Changeling King was a mess about writing exercise between me, my brother and a friend. The idea was that each of was would write from a single character perspective and build on what the other had written. It quickly turned into an ongoing attempt to kill each other’s character off for my brother and the friend. But I grew very serious about it. So I booted them off the project and went at it with tongues and hammer. The original story started off with a young couple (Nathan and Salina) walking down a sidewalk, hand-in-hand, with a serious expression on their face, heading to a role-playing game session. Obviously, that had to go!
GL: So it began with great turmoil! Super. How about a paragraph excerpt? One that you’re particularly proud of writing?
Noor: This passage is from the first chapter but it was written a lot later than most of the book. Its the kind of stuff that gets me buzzing!
The hill began to quiver as wild energy rose from deep beneath the ground and swirled up through the tower’s foundations. Ancient wards, long worn from the passing of ages, snapped and fizzled out of existence. Power snaked through stone, making the edifice thrum to the luminescent tattoo of white fire. Fearing the approach of a predator, the mouse bolted down its hole to a fiery death.
A beam of blue energy surged out from the battlements into the night, rupturing the sky with a halo of clouds and lightning, pursued by the wailing howl of disturbed winds. A brooding blackness ripped a broadening gap in the starry night. The beam subsided but the tower continued to smoulder like a dying ember.
GL: [reads] Ooh, I like. Two thumbs up! Do you have a personal research library? If so, how many reference books reside within it?
Noor: I think research for fiction writing is just as important as in non-fiction. I’ve got around 150 reference books in my personal library, ranging from ancient battle strategies to horse behaviour, and just as many fiction books too.
GL: I agree. The two most common pieces of advice for writers is to read a lot, and to write a lot. Nice library!
Next question: What sort of goodies do you require on hand during writing time?
Noor: I think coffee and a piece of cake provides the perfect combo of caffeine and sugar to get the brain going. Mid writing a royal gala Apple or two won’t go amiss.
GL: Mm, cake. [drools, then shakes herself] Where were we? Oh, what are you working on currently?
Noor: I’m currently working on the second book of a series called the Adventures of Some Kid. The original is about a below-average at everything boy who ends up un the middle of an adventure, dodging poisoned darts and bullets, trying not to get killed by a forgotten tribe of aztecs or by Somalian pirates, whilst preventing the possible end of the world.
GL: Sounds exciting! Bet my daughter would enjoy reading it.
Speaking of reading, who are some of your favorite authors?
Noor: I’ve got a few favourite authors. I love everything written by David Gemmell, I like Raymond Fiest and George R R Martin and reading Neil Gaiman is like eating expensive chocolate. I also like Brent Weeks, James Barclay, Scott Lynch and Lian Hearn too.
GL: Some of those, I’ve read too. Cool. One more question: Do you think ebooks will ever completely replace their print counterparts?
Noor: I hope not, but I’m sure they are going to take a big bite out of the market share. Who knows, perhaps they will take over completely on the next decade.
GL: I hope not too. Thanks for coming today, Noor!
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The first five to comment will receive a free copy of The Changeling King!
You can spot Noor at the following places online:
- His website
- His blog
- Twitter as @noorjahangir
- Facebook Author Page
- Smashwords Author Page
- Goodreads Author Page:
- The Changeling King Page
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