What is your name, where were you born and where do you
live now?
My name is Yusufu Shehu (nickname Soofy). Born in Watford,
now living in Mitcham, Surrey.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to
summarise it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Drawn Breath (Part I - Wrought Iron): The epic journey of
two boys from an idyllic childhood into the brutal and ruthless realm of war.
What can we expect from you in the future? i.e.
More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?Do you have plans for
a new book? Is this book part of a series?
The book is the first of five parts that make up the epic
novel called Drawn Breath. So there will be four more books released in series
all of the same genre (fantasy). All of the parts are finished and currently I
am working on a follow up story that looks at the history of the world Drawn
Breath is based in.
What
genre would you place your books into?
In a broad
sense, Fantasy, although I draw from several influences and themes not
exclusive to fantasy.
Do you have a favourite out of the books you have
written? If so why is it your favourite?
The third book, which is yet to be released. It is a fresh
world with new protagonists and a completely different and enthralling
sub-culture. I enjoyed writing it the most and I think the most lovable
characters come out of this part.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what
inspired you to write?
I have always been writing in some way whether it was
essays, book reviews, creative writing in school or just jotting down some
thoughts. I took the concerted effort to write a novel after I graduated,
around September 2011. I found a big space open up for creativity since Physics
was briefly out of my life on a full time basis, so I decided to dedicate it to
putting all the ideas I've hoarded and developed down on paper. With regards to
inspiration, whether it's Richard Feynman, James Baldwin, Christopher Nolan,
George Orwell, Tolkien, Charles Mingus, Van Gogh, Outkast or Albert Einstein.
All across the board, those immortal, transient people who in their brief
flicker of existence, had that passion to form and voice those powerful little
things called ideas.
Have you ever suffered from a "writer's
block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?
A few times. It is usually in the form of having the idea
there but not knowing how to fully express it without either under-writing or
over-writing. I find that my best writing or when ideas are in full flow again
is when I'm on the move e.g. walking for a long time (I frequently walk for 2+
hours, when I'm in the creative process), on the train or in the car. Another
"remedy" is to take a break and enjoy a book.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Many things. Top of the list has to be music, I am a
audiophile, I always have something playing in my head whether I'm humming or
it's my iPod or my sound system. I go for long runs or walks, reading, I do
Ashtanga Yoga almost everyday (well, I try to). I find cooking to be very meditative.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in
your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this
story is..")
Not morals in the strict sense but there are ideas or
philosophies of life that I hope readers can glean from the books as well as
being entertained. I think there are hidden messages in any work open to
subjective opinion, every person will have their own interpretation of a
subtlety in a book, film, painting or piece of music. Sometimes we can go down
the road of over analysis and pretense, which is not what I am encouraging, but
we all take our individual message from a book, based on our imagination, which
is the beauty of reading.
Is there a certain Author that influenced you in
writing?
Many, but of late it has been Cormac McCarthy, Aldous
Huxley, Harper Lee. All masters of prose with profound abilities to create
vivid, original worlds. I discuss there influences in more detail in one recent
entry on my blog.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is
your favourite/worst book to movie transfer?
As with anything in art it is all about the execution. If
the production team truly understand the subtleties of the book then it can
work. For example, the Coen Brothers did a fantastic job of No Country For Old
Men, which I think even outdid the book. They fully grasped the sparse, rural
quality of Texas, the appreciation of guns and survivalist tactics that is
pervasive in the novel and of course the behaviour of an utter psychopath. I
love the Coen Brothers' work and I think in every film they go the extra length
to understand the setting and the culture around the plot, such
that it becomes part of the plot (Fargo being a prime example). David Fincher's
Fight Club has to be the perfect transfer to film. No further improvement could
be made. It harnessed exactly what the book was about. The worst has to be
Dune...yes.
Do you think ebooks will ever totally replace printed
books?
No, print books will always have a following just as vinyl
has a following. The print press is one of the greatest achievements in the
history of man, it would be absolutist and naive to say it can be totally replaced.
But of course, nothing can be said for certain, so I will say it is highly
unlikely.
Your blog details?
http://soofyserial.blogspot.com/
Your Goodreads author page?
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5369713.Yusufu_Shehu
Your Twitter details?
https://twitter.com/Yusufu_Shehu
And any other information you wish to supply?
The first part of Drawn Breath, Wrought Iron, can be found
on Smashwords, Kobo, Diesel, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iTunes and Feedbooks.
It is absolutely free (except for Amazon unfortunately) and available in all
possible formats. At the time of this
interview the second part Amelack Somatres (Black Blades) is available on
Amazon, Feedbooks and Smashwords. Take your pick from the links below.
Drawn Breath (Part I - Wrought Iron):
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/111492
Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drawn-breath-yusufu-shehu/1108001869?ean=2940032908593&itm=1&usri=drawn+breath
iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/drawn-breath-part-i-wrought/id490009941?mt=11
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/readinglife
Diesel:
http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000111492/Shehu-Yusufu-Drawn-Breath-Part-I-Wrought-Iron/1.html
Amazon: (.com & .co.uk):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006IWW2N2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006IWW2N2
Feedbooks:
http://www.feedbooks.com/userbook/24423/drawn-breath-part-i-wrought-iron
Drawn Breath (Part II - Amelack Somatres)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MHG932
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006MHG932
Feedbooks:
http://www.feedbooks.com/userbook/24424/drawn-breath-part-ii-amelack-somatres
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114528
Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this Interview!
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