Regnum Vita is the story of the princess of Heartsas, a kingdom in Vita, named Prudence Fulgura. On her coronation day, 17-year-old Prudence is attacked and forced to run away. She manages to escape through a magical portal. When she opens her eyes, Prudence meets Ryan Snowangel, a young man from a city named London. Prudence is drawn to Ryan and becomes attracted to him - but she is quickly reminded of her duties towards Heartsas. Cheryl, a half-human and half-wolf, tells Prudence that she only has until 24th December before her kingdom banishes her forever. With the help of Ryan and his friends, Prudence returns to Vita. She learns the myth of a sword with the power of an army. It is only a myth - but her only chance to free her kingdom. It is on her journey that Prudence discovers the meaning of friendship, family, loss and responsibility...but above all, love. Prudence is destined to make a choice, a terrible choice: love or duty. Will Prudence defy her and Vita's destiny for love? Or will she sacrifice the one thing she wants, forsaking all others?
INTERVIEW
What is your name, where were you born and where do you live now?
My name is Naim Sadeer, I was
born in Paris in 1992, and I’ve moved in England in 2006. I live in Epsom
Surrey.
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did
you want to be?
My first love was drawing. I
wanted to be a game designer or create my own video game. I did not like
writing back then, I would only write biographies for my characters.
When did you first consider yourself as a
"writer"?
When I started writing, I fell
in love with writing. I was just writing episodes (6 pages long each). It was
fun and it was a good way to put my inspiration down on paper and give a story
and a motivation to my characters. I’ve only considered myself a writer when I
began thinking of publishing my story.
Did it take a long time to get your first book
published?
Yes kind of, about a year I
would say. I mean that’s without counting all the proofread and the edits I’ve
done before sending to the publisher. If I put everything together, that would
be a year and half.
Do you work another job as well as your writing work?
No, I’m a full time student.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had
to summarise it in less than 20 words what would you say?
My latest book is my first
book. It is called Regnum Vita and it tells the story of Prudence Fulgura, the
princess of Heartsas.
Who is your publisher? or do you self publish?
I am a self published author.
I’ve signed up my book with Matador after hearing so many good things about
them.
Do you have a "lucky charm" or "lucky
routine" you follow when waiting for your book to be accepted by a
publisher?
Yes, it’s more of a routine. I
would listen to a positive song and cross my fingers.
How long does it usually take you to write a book,
from the original idea to finishing writing it?
It all depends to my writing
environment. The more inspired I am, the fastest I write. I think it’s the same
with everyone. However, if I had to give an approximate time, I would say about
4 to 6 months (without editing or proofread).
Which of your books were easier/harder to write than
the others?
I’ve only got one book out,
and it took a lot of me. I’ve been writing a series as well, but this was
easier because I was just doing it for fun and for myself.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie
More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I’m writing the sequel of
Regnum Vita. I don’t care if my book sells well or not, I’m writing the sequel
because Regnum Vita made my dream a reality. This story is precious to me and I
will always cherish it. I’m also writing a story which is completely different
from this one. It is focused on romance only, without any fantasy. And for any fans (if I have fans), I was creating
Regnum Vita’s game (using RPG MAKER VX), but I’ve changed my mind and I’ve
decided to write a prequel to Regnum Vita instead. This is a way for me to
fulfill my other dream as a game designer.
Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of
a series?
Yes, this book is part of a
series. I plan on writing 5 books for Regnum Vita. Even if it is not
successful, I will write for me and for my children (if I have children one
day).
What genre would you place your books into?
Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, YA
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
My childhood and all my
memories made me want to write this kind of genre. However, what truly impacted
on me putting a lot of romance was my experience with love. When I fell in love
for the first time, I could not explain it and that changed me in a lot of
ways. It is the reason why I feel romance is important in my book(s), because I
believe love is the biggest quest of life.
Do you have a favourite out of the books you have
written? If so why is it your favourite?
This one is. It gave me a lot
of hope. This book was the only thing that kept me going when I was down. It
will always have a place in my heart.
Do you have a favourite character from your books? and
why are they your favourite?
I love Ryan, Prudence and
Cheryl more than the others. I love Ryan because he is the first character I’ve
made (I was 9 when I created him). Cheryl, because her personality is the
deepest one I’ve came up with (she’s more revealed in the sequel). However,
Prudence is and will always be my number one. She was the most difficult to
draw, I was never satisfied or happy with the way I was drawing her. But, one
day, when I had finally found the perfect design for her, I felt like I knew
her all along. Her story, her personality, her motivation(s)…I knew everything
I wanted to write about her. It is the reason why she’s my favorite.
If you had to choose to be one of your characters in
your book/books which would you be? and why?
That answer is pretty obvious,
I would be Ryan. Everyone likes him (which is not the case for me in real
life). Though, I must say, Prudence has a lot more in common with me
(personality) than Ryan.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what
inspired you to write?
I’ve been writing since I was
probably 15 or 16 years old. But I’ve been drawing since I was 7 years old, and
that’s how I was inspired to write.
Where do you get your book plot ideas from?What/Who is
your inspiration?
I have to say that I get my
inspiration from everyone and everything outside. Anything that I experience is
a source of inspiration that pushes me to write. When I feel sad, I write
something sad, when I’m happy, I do my best to emphasize that feeling in my
writing, and so on…
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie
You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I listen to a song that speaks
to me. The song choice is as important as my mood. After that, I begin my
writing and I let the song entertain my brain while my fingers tap the
keyboard.
Do you have anybody read your books and give you
reviews before you officially release them?ie. Your partner, children, friends,
reviewers you know?
My editor and my brother.
Do you gift books to readers to do reviews?
Yes, I don’t value my book’s
sales as much as I value the reviews. Reviews tell me where I got things right
or wrong. If someone just buys but don’t even read the book, then great I made
a couple of pounds, but what does that tell me about my book? I would rather
give my books for free and get reviews, instead of selling them and not knowing
what people think.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
I don’t have any reviews at
the moment. However, I would read all reviews. When someone comes to me and say
“I’ve read your book”, I feel so happy. Even if they hated it, I feel happy
that someone actually took their time and read my book. So yes, if I get
reviews, I would read all of them.
Would you ever ask a reviewer to change their review
if it was not all positive about your book/books?
No, I want honest reviews even
if they are painful to take. I’ve learnt to take negative comments since I was
a child. I was not at drawing at first, so obviously people used to laugh at my
characters, but thanks to them, today I know I can draw. It is the same for my
book. If people’s comment can make me a better author, then I will welcome bad
reviews even if they hurt at first.
How do you come up with the Title and Cover Designs
for your book/books?Who designed the Cover of your books?
The title of the book came
while I was writing the book. I was not sure what to put. At first I thought of
a French title, but then I’ve changed it into English. I didn’t like it. Then,
after writing a bit more, I came up with Regnum (Kingdom) and then I thought of
Prudence’s World’s name (Vita). I’ve put the two together and that gave “Regnum
Vita”. For the front cover, I drew about 4 different covers. In all the covers
I had to put something that shows it is a fantasy book. However, I first
started with the characters I wanted to display. Prudence, Ryan, Cheryl and
Nash were my priority. After drawing them in different covers, I’ve selected
the one that stood out from the rest. I then began drawing more things and I’ve
added a background that would make the book’s cover stands out. This is when
I’ve decided to put a dragon, because dragons reflect the notion and idea of
fantasy.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then
choose the title?
Usually the title comes
before, but this time it was different.
How do you come up with characters names and place
names in your books?
I’ve picked Prudence’s name
after watching Charmed. I was probably eight when the first episode was
broadcasted in France, and I’ve instantly liked Prudence in Charmed. She became
my favorite character, and in French, Prudence is a synonym for careful. I
think it’s a beautiful name for a woman. I’ve picked Ryan’s name during an
English class. We were 9 years old me and my friends, and we had to pick an
English name. The list was big, and I’ve picked randomly “Ryan”. After that, I
began liking this name and that’s how I’ve come up with Ryan’s name.
Are character names and place names decided after
their creation? or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?
I draw first, and then I give
them a name. Just like when a baby is born. I begin writing their stories,
personality, and motivation only after I’ve named them.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet,
tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I do that before, but
sometimes the plot makes me react to one character’s personality, and I develop
the character even more.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book, before you actually
begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and see where it takes the
story?
I let it flow. As soon as I
have my main characters sorted, I let the plot flow and the story develop.
How do you market/promote your books?
I’ve paid Authoright to market
my book, but I am also working on my side. I send reviews requests to people
and I try my best to promote my book by talking to people I know etc…
What do you think makes a book a really
good/bestseller ?
I would have to say awareness.
The more people know about something, the more that something ends up in the
basket. Books are the same; it’s all about existence in the public’s eyes.
Have you ever suffered from a "writer's
block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?
No I didn’t. If I feel writing
is not making sense to me, then I take a break and I get back to it. It’s
better to not write, it helps to avoid writing rubbish things.
What do you do to unwind and relax?Do you have a
hobby?
I have a lot of hobbies,
mainly drawing, and martial arts. I also love ice-skating, and socializing with
friends.
Have you ever based characters on people you know or
based events on things that have happened to you?
Yes, a lot in Regnum Vita is
based on things I’ve experienced, and some characters are also based on some of
the people I know.
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..")
Yes, my book is about love and
decisions. The choices in life are important. If love can conquer all, it can
surely destroy someone’s identity. Someone selfless can become selfish, and
people around might suffer the consequences.
Is there a certain Author that influenced you in
writing?
J.K Rowling has made my
childhood fabulous (Harry Potter series). If I could make someone’s teenage
phase better with my book, then I would be happy. J.K Rowling influenced me to
publish, not because of her success, but because of her impact on my childhood.
Which format of book do you prefer, ebook,hardback, or
paperback?
Paperback, because books smell
great (especially when they’re old). I love to hold the real thing, not a
device.
What is your favourite book and Why? Have you
read it more than once?
Difficult one, I would have to
say Chrétien de Troyes “Yvain le chevalier au lion”. I’ve read it thrice. I
can’t say why, I just love that book.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is
you favourite/worst book to movie transfer?
I think they do yes. Harry
Potter was perfect. I loved both the books and the movies equally.
What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it?
What format is it?(ebook, hardback or paperback)
S.D Perry Resident Evil, I am
enjoying it, and it is in paperback format.
Do you think ebooks will ever totally replace printed
books?
Unfortunately ebooks are
taking over now, but I know there will always be readers out there just like
me, who prefers the real touch and smell of a book.
Do you think children at schools these days are
encouraged enough to read? and/or do Imaginative writing?
No they are not. Children are
too involved with technology now. I remember the first time I had a console, I
was 7. Children now, they have consoles, Ipads/Ipods etc…at the age of 4
sometimes. I know some will disagree and some will probably dislike me for
saying that, but children are too quickly attracted to technology instead of
the good old things. Writing, drawing, reading…I don’t see any children who
take any of these seriously now. I know there are a few exceptions of course.
Did you read a lot at school and write lots of stories
or is being a writer something newer in your life?
I used to play episodes
instead of writing them. Me and my friends would pick a role (I would always be
Ryan) and then we would begin playing. We were knights and we would go in my
garden and take wooden sticks. The sticks were our swords, and after that, we
just started to imagine things. I was not writing, but I enjoyed playing a lot.
The reason it was important for me to mention that is because these plays had
an impact on me writing.
Did you have a favourite author as a child? J.K Rowling and Victor Hugo.
Do you have a treasured book from your childhood? If
yes, what is it?
I had one but I’ve lost it. It
was called “J’aime lire” and that book was the first one I have read. It was
filled with small stories for children. This book taught me how to read.
Do you have a favourite genre of book?
Fantasy, Romance
Is there a book you know you will never read? Or one
you tried to read but just couldn't finish?
Twilight, the author has been
successful and that is good for her. However, I didn’t like her book at all.
Are there any New Authors you are interested in for us
to watch out for? and Why should we watch out for them?
I don’t know about that one. I
think every new author is courageous and brave to put their book(s) out there.
I’m interested in all of them.
Is there anything in your book/books you would change
now if you could and what would it be?
Just the proofread, it took
too much time. I was lucky someone from Matador gave me a good and quick
proofread, otherwise my book would have been even more delayed.
What do you think about book trailers?
Good idea, if I could finance
on them, I would.
What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Whatever happens, never lose hope or the sight of your dreams. Writing
is not measured by money; it is measured by the love you give to it. My advice
is to never let anyone or anything stop you from writing something you believe
in. A lot would think a successful writer is someone who becomes a bestseller,
but to me, a successful writer is someone who took the step ahead and
published. Now if you do become a bestseller (heck I wish I become one), then
that’s a great bonus!
Do you or would you ever use a pen name?
No, even if my name is strange
or difficult to pronounce, I will keep the name I’ve been given.
If you could invite three favourite writers to dinner,
who would you invite and enjoy chatting with?
Victor Hugo, J.K Rowling, and
J.R.R Tolkien.
Your web site ? www.naimsadeer.co.uk
Your facebook page? Still to come, just follow my twitter until my facebook page is available.
Your Goodreads author page? I don’t have one.
Your Twitter details? https://twitter.com/NaimSadeer
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