Carlyle's also been kind enough to host me on her blog.
To read Carlyle's interview with me, click here.
But first, please read this...
An interview with Carlyle Labuschagne, author of The Broken series
I'm excited about today's interview! I'll be doing a completely different format that will consist of three sections:
Section 1: Questions about author Carlyle Labuschagne
Section 2: Questions about The Broken series.
Section 3: Questions to Ava and Troy, specific characters from The Broken series
Section 1: Questions about author Carlyle Labuschagne
Section 2: Questions about The Broken series.
Section 3: Questions to Ava and Troy, specific characters from The Broken series
I hope you enjoy it!
D.H.: Hi Carlyle. I'm so thrilled to be hosting your interview today. I'm sure many people will enjoy hearing about your upcoming novel, Destiny, the first book in The Broken series, including me, of course! Thank you so much for doing this interview. Okay, so here goes...
Section 1: Questions about author Carlyle Labuschagne
D.H.: On your website, you have a number of very listenable playlists. Not only are these songs fantastic (I admit to spending an unfathomable amount of time listening to them), they all seem to reflect aspects of your written work. What role does music play in your life as a writer? Are there any songs that had a particularly strong influence on your writing?
Carlyle: Thank you. Music influences, fuels and helps to get the emotions out on paper. IF I could I would download music into my brain. I cannot go without it. I have the utmost respect for bands and song writers, without them we would all be lost. The playlist you see on my page is just a fraction of the music that has inspired my writing. The most important being the song from Muse. I listened to a lot of 30 seconds to Mars throughout the writing process. It brings the vision to life.
D.H.: What inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
Carlyle: My need to create and share. I started writing when I was twelve. Why I wrote a novel – I want to touch lives. Writing helps me understand myself better too. It heals, you know.
D.H.: What can you tell us about yourself that has nothing to do with writing or reading?
Carlyle: I love trees!
D.H.: Do you have a favourite time of day to write?
Carlyle: I love to write between 3am and 8am. At first it was the only time I got to write, as I have two young boys, and I work full time as a Marketing Consultant. There are no distractions as the world sleeps while I bring my world alive. Now I prefer that time.
D.H.: As a writer, what do you find is your biggest challenge?
Carlyle: The English Language. I am Afrikaans; I never had English lit at school. I went to a business school. So I learn as I go along.
D.H.: What piece of advice can you give to a new or struggling writer?
Carlyle: Never doubt yourself. Write every day. Read a lot, rewrite. Be patient.
Carlyle: Thank you. Music influences, fuels and helps to get the emotions out on paper. IF I could I would download music into my brain. I cannot go without it. I have the utmost respect for bands and song writers, without them we would all be lost. The playlist you see on my page is just a fraction of the music that has inspired my writing. The most important being the song from Muse. I listened to a lot of 30 seconds to Mars throughout the writing process. It brings the vision to life.
D.H.: What inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
Carlyle: My need to create and share. I started writing when I was twelve. Why I wrote a novel – I want to touch lives. Writing helps me understand myself better too. It heals, you know.
D.H.: What can you tell us about yourself that has nothing to do with writing or reading?
Carlyle: I love trees!
D.H.: Do you have a favourite time of day to write?
Carlyle: I love to write between 3am and 8am. At first it was the only time I got to write, as I have two young boys, and I work full time as a Marketing Consultant. There are no distractions as the world sleeps while I bring my world alive. Now I prefer that time.
D.H.: As a writer, what do you find is your biggest challenge?
Carlyle: The English Language. I am Afrikaans; I never had English lit at school. I went to a business school. So I learn as I go along.
D.H.: What piece of advice can you give to a new or struggling writer?
Carlyle: Never doubt yourself. Write every day. Read a lot, rewrite. Be patient.
Section 2: Questions about your book, Destiny, and The Broken series
D.H.: First of all, can you tell us which genre or genres The Broken series falls into? Can you explain what elements make it fall into those categories?
Carlyle: Fiction, Fantasy, Sci-fi and somewhat dystopian. The fact that it takes place on a different planet, advanced technology and gene alteration make it unmistakably Sci-Fi. It's also Dystopian in a way because The Broken are controlled and manipulated by the council.
D.H.: What types of audiences would enjoy The Broken series?
Carlyle: Anyone who enjoys young adult novels, with elements from Sci-fi and fantasy.
D.H.: Your characters are from a world that’s different from ours. Can you tell us about it?
Carlyle: The Broken are on Planet Poseidon. Poseidon has six moons, but only three moons are visible with the naked eye. Poseidon has an amethyst core, so the sky on Poseidon is very much the same color – purple.
D.H.: How did you come up with the ideas for The Broken series?
Carlyle: Oh gosh. I just sat down and it all came to me as I went along. I am a lover of Sci-fi so I knew from the beginning it would be set in another world.
D.H.: Does Destiny have a message?
Carlyle: Most definitely. The message itself would be another novel on its own. I love this question. I have many messages. Every person in their lives at one stage or another will seek approval, will feel unwanted, and feels the world is cruel to them. No matter who or what you are, you deserve love, but mostly loving yourself and believing in yourself is the key to giving you what your heart desires. If you truly want it, and you believe you deserve it, God will give it to you, if you don’t believe in God, at least believe in yourself. Humans are the gem of everything, we are strong and beautiful and magical beings. If you live in fear – you will be crippled by it, if you live with love – you can reach beyond your dreams. Live your dreams, they can come true at any time at any moment, your dreams are waiting for you to let them in. No one can save you, you are the only one capable of saving yourself.
Carlyle: Fiction, Fantasy, Sci-fi and somewhat dystopian. The fact that it takes place on a different planet, advanced technology and gene alteration make it unmistakably Sci-Fi. It's also Dystopian in a way because The Broken are controlled and manipulated by the council.
D.H.: What types of audiences would enjoy The Broken series?
Carlyle: Anyone who enjoys young adult novels, with elements from Sci-fi and fantasy.
D.H.: Your characters are from a world that’s different from ours. Can you tell us about it?
Carlyle: The Broken are on Planet Poseidon. Poseidon has six moons, but only three moons are visible with the naked eye. Poseidon has an amethyst core, so the sky on Poseidon is very much the same color – purple.
D.H.: How did you come up with the ideas for The Broken series?
Carlyle: Oh gosh. I just sat down and it all came to me as I went along. I am a lover of Sci-fi so I knew from the beginning it would be set in another world.
D.H.: Does Destiny have a message?
Carlyle: Most definitely. The message itself would be another novel on its own. I love this question. I have many messages. Every person in their lives at one stage or another will seek approval, will feel unwanted, and feels the world is cruel to them. No matter who or what you are, you deserve love, but mostly loving yourself and believing in yourself is the key to giving you what your heart desires. If you truly want it, and you believe you deserve it, God will give it to you, if you don’t believe in God, at least believe in yourself. Humans are the gem of everything, we are strong and beautiful and magical beings. If you live in fear – you will be crippled by it, if you live with love – you can reach beyond your dreams. Live your dreams, they can come true at any time at any moment, your dreams are waiting for you to let them in. No one can save you, you are the only one capable of saving yourself.
Section 3: Questions to Ava and Troy, characters from The Broken series
D.H.: Ava, and Troy; Carlyle obviously conjured you two up for good reason. Can you each tell me why you’re important to the overall story of The Destiny?
Ava: *winks at Troy*
Troy: If we told you that there would be no point in reading the Novels.
D.H.: Ava, what do you like most about Troy?
Ava: Everything. *giggles*
D.H.: Troy, you probably feel that Ava needs to take some of your advice. What is it?
Troy: Most importantly she needs to believe in herself.
D.H.: Ava, you have to deal with some pretty harsh realities in this story, and you go through significant changes. If you could go back to any point in the book and change something, what would it be?
Ava: At first I would want to change just about everything, but I would never reach my Destiny if I never went through everything I did. I know that now. For the most part, I freak out pretty quickly and when I do – all hell breaks loose. I have a bad temper.
D.H.: Troy, if you were to pick a song that might help us have a glimpse at the inner Troy, what song would it be?
Troy: Bush – Glycerine.
D.H.: Thank you so much for popping by to do this interview, Carlyle (and Ava and Troy!) I can’t wait to get my hands on The Destiny, the first book of The Broken series!
Ava: *winks at Troy*
Troy: If we told you that there would be no point in reading the Novels.
D.H.: Ava, what do you like most about Troy?
Ava: Everything. *giggles*
D.H.: Troy, you probably feel that Ava needs to take some of your advice. What is it?
Troy: Most importantly she needs to believe in herself.
D.H.: Ava, you have to deal with some pretty harsh realities in this story, and you go through significant changes. If you could go back to any point in the book and change something, what would it be?
Ava: At first I would want to change just about everything, but I would never reach my Destiny if I never went through everything I did. I know that now. For the most part, I freak out pretty quickly and when I do – all hell breaks loose. I have a bad temper.
D.H.: Troy, if you were to pick a song that might help us have a glimpse at the inner Troy, what song would it be?
Troy: Bush – Glycerine.
D.H.: Thank you so much for popping by to do this interview, Carlyle (and Ava and Troy!) I can’t wait to get my hands on The Destiny, the first book of The Broken series!
About The Broken series
Ava and "The Broken " are exiled to Planet Poseidon. The Broken have no memory of their time from Earth or their coming to Poseidon, the purple planet. Ava suspects Earth was not destroyed; she needs to figure
out who The Broken are, and what their purpose is. To evolve into the perfect soul, she has to go through a terrible struggle, the struggle against herself. When the change takes over a year too soon, Ava is torn apart from the inside, and it nearly breaks her. Yet her difficulties don't end there. Ava is bewitched, poisoned, betrayed by a lover, and possessed. Her destiny, however, is to rise above it all.
This is the legend of The Broken.
out who The Broken are, and what their purpose is. To evolve into the perfect soul, she has to go through a terrible struggle, the struggle against herself. When the change takes over a year too soon, Ava is torn apart from the inside, and it nearly breaks her. Yet her difficulties don't end there. Ava is bewitched, poisoned, betrayed by a lover, and possessed. Her destiny, however, is to rise above it all.
This is the legend of The Broken.
About the Author
Carlyle Labuschagne lives in Johnnesburg. Here is what she says about herself on her blog:
"First I am a Mother, wife and career woman. By night I read. By early, early morning peace I write. I love trees, I love food. I love music. I love people. I want to touch lives."
Connect with Carlyle online:
Website: http://www.carlylelabuschagne.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CarlyleL
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5180626.Carlyle_Labuschagne
"First I am a Mother, wife and career woman. By night I read. By early, early morning peace I write. I love trees, I love food. I love music. I love people. I want to touch lives."
Connect with Carlyle online:
Website: http://www.carlylelabuschagne.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CarlyleL
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5180626.Carlyle_Labuschagne
