Final Seasons: A Lovecraftian Quartet received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Wahabah Hadia Al Mu’id .
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The book Final Seasons: A Lovecraftian Quartet was released in August 2017.
What’s the book’s first line?
First line of first story: “My dear friend Dalton, It is has been fifteen years to the day that the mesmerist you’ve heard tell about, took me.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Final Seasons is a brief collection of Lovecraftian inspired weird, horror short stories that intent to transform the possibilities of Lovecraftian themes and memes.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
It sounds crazy, but I literally had a dream which became the basis for one of the stories and the rest followed soon after. All were written in about a month.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The stories ended up being interesting combinations of autobiography, dream materials and sheer imagination. It’s best to read the book for enjoyment and wonder.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Each story has a single distinct narrator, and they are all different, with none of them being “like me.” All of them are dealing with changed life conditions that they have absolutely no control over and which may result in their annihilation, or worse. Each character handles that challenge in a different way. One narrator tries to use reason and superior knowledge, another tries to run from themselves. Two of the characters are more accepting of their situations, but only one ends up embracing it. Perhaps, the reader will identify more with one than another.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I started writing at the age of 12. I don’t know that I ‘decided” to write. It’s more than eventually, I was convinced to share my writing with others.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
This is the first book of fiction that I’ve written. I have written academic non-fiction under a different name (Carol S. Matthews) and one of the books (New Religions, Chelsea House, 2005) is still available in some places.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I teach at a local community college and work in IT and data analysis for non-profits.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Several hours a week. Because of my schedule I can’t always write daily – I write mostly in chunks. When I have extra time, that’s what I spent it doing.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
Best – you can work at your own pace and publish when you want.
Hardest – you have to do all the promo grunt work yourself.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Be realistic. Know your goals up front and keep them modest at first. Don’t fall for the companies that promise to make you a famous author for tens of thousands of dollars. With help, I wrote and produced Final Seasons for about $1600, and a third of that cost was printing. There is editing, formatting and graphics help out there that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg – so avail yourself. Make sure you have a good product (good content, good editing, good artwork) so that you can actually be proud of what you’re going to be selling. You may be the best writer in the world, but in the present marketplace, you’ve got to be able to do the externals too. Know what your strengths and weaknesses are – be honest, and be willing to put in the money and time.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
It would really depend. I would probably not go with a big, big company because I detest the pressure of producing on command. I might go with a small or midsize company if I could self-create with them a contract that would suit my temperament and needs.
Is there something in particular that motivates you?
Just creativity – the knowledge that I put something out there in the world that others might enjoy. All the rest disappears in the end.