Shadow City received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Anna Mocikat.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Shadow City, Nov. 7th, 2019
What’s the book’s first line?
“Dust whirled over the concrete.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Shadow City is a fast-paced, cinematic Dark Fantasy/Sci-Fi story set in post-apocalyptic LA and featuring a badass, female villain.
After a horrific catastrophe, the formerly glorious Los Angeles has become an apocalyptic wasteland. The few survivors not only have to face a daily struggle against radiation, mutated creatures, and anarchy but also their potential extinction through nightmarish creatures from another dimension, who enter our world through a rift caused by the disaster.
But humans are not alone in this epic fight. Unexpected allies emerge from the shadows. And in the final stand, a nameless stranger will decide humanity’s fate.
It is a place where nobody and nothing is what they seem to be. A place where villains become heroes and heroes are not what they seem. A place where light and dark merge into shadows.
Shadow City is a dark story, but it’s also a story about friendship, loyalty, love against all the odds, and the unbreakable human survival will.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Shadow City is a story I always wanted to read but couldn’t find anywhere. So, I decided to write it myself. For me and all other geeks out there. The Shadow City world is inspired by classic pen&paper role-playing games, video games and pop culture. I had it in my head for years until I finally sat down and wrote it.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
My goal is to entertain my readers first and foremost. I want people to enter this dark, exciting world and forget the real one for a couple of hours. I want them to see a movie in their heads.
People who love books as much as videogames, who enjoy dark settings and larger-than-life heroes should have a good time with Shadow City. Geeks out there – this for you!
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
This question isn’t easy to answer in the case of Shadow City. The book is a multi-plot and follows the storylines of several characters which are, however, all connected into the main story arch. That’s why Shadow City doesn’t really have one main character, it has an ensemble. And most fascinating for me about this fact is that everyone who has read the book so far picked another character as their favorite. My personal favorite is not a hero but the villain of the story, Eurydice. The most distinctive about her is, that even though she clearly works for the dark side, most readers can’t hate or even dislike her. She’s a very strong character, enigmatic, ruthless and a total badass. She hates bullies and has a soft spot for bravery. She leaves the weak alone and instead challenges the strong. And whoever dares to stand in her way will die.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I always wanted to be an author. It was a childhood dream of mine. However, I worked in many other fields (journalism, movies, video games) before I finally returned to what I love most and published my first book.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
No, Shadow City is my fifth book. It is, however, my first book in English. All my previous books have been written in German and published in Germany.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I write between 3-6 hours every day. If I could, I would write all day, but unfortunately, life keeps me busy with other things.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I don’t have a choice but to be creative every day. It’s like breathing for me. I can’t live without it. Getting feedback from my readers who tell me they had a really good time with one of my books is the biggest reward for me.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
George Orwell. He’s the father of the Dystopia genre. I wouldn’t be who I am as a writer without his influence.