Our FEATURED AUTHOR today is Unathi Ngada, a young suspense thriller writer to watch out for. She has published 4 books to date on Amazon; (Shame) Less; A Play, Utopia, Where Have All the Children Gone and Other Short Stories, and The Book of Atem and Other Plays.
I'm Unathi Ndlelantle Ngada - a student who is currently completing her masters in Creative Writing. I'm a person who likes to read a lot as apposed to watching a lot of television.
2) And who's the writer? How was Utopia conceived?
The writer herself is very mysterious. She spends most of her days in silence while contemplating
new words, images and worlds that she can put on paper. I wrote my first book in 2015. What really compelled me was digging into the ideas of Michel Foucault, one of my favorite world philosophers because he was very critical about the spaces we human beings occupy, the ideologies in those spaces and how such spaces, such as the graveyard or even prison, for example, have an influence on our behaviors. I kept on reading and then came across another philosopher named Gilles Deleuze. The man's writing is amazing you feel your brain frying within two minutes because he unpacks so much. These two philosophers for me were the catalyst in writing Utopia in the name of fiction and characters I create.
3) Why did you choose the "thriller and suspense" genre?
Human beings are curious creatures who yearn for more curiosity by the day. We detest cliffhangers. If not, they give us a small level of anxiety. We prefer being taken on a journey of suspense and be thrilled by what is unpacked on the journey. I'm interested in what I, as a writer, get to unpack. I like to unpack dark and twisted events that in the long-term are justifiable for my characters. That is why I chose this genre. It also gives me, the writer, an opportunity to create more worlds and point of view...but in a dark and twisted, yet pleasurable way for the reader.
4) Is there a book or author that inspired you to be a writer?
There are quite a lot of books and authors but if I had to narrow it down to six it would be: Sarah Kane, Gillian Flynn, Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucault, Justin Cartwright and Alexandra Burt. But from the six, I would definitely say Sarah Kane. I don't think I've ever come across a piece of writing that is raw juxtaposed with grotesque yet such beautiful imagery.
5) What can readers expect when they read Utopia?
Have a glass of water before reading the book. Expect dark events, events that'll make you question what it means to heal and forgive. Expect some blood in the name of "therapy" and "forgiveness". I'd also say expect the beginning of the end of the unexpected.
6) Where can they buy a copy?
A copy can be purchased from Amazon.
7) Are you releasing a new book anytime soon?
Yes, I do hope to release it by the end of this year. Perhaps a little more brutal than Utopia...
8) What do you love about being an author?
The writing itself is more enjoyable and serene than the money. You write because you challenge yourself to dissect your mind when creating a new world or a character. When you write in solitude, that becomes serene to the point you don't even think about the "money" or trying to "make money" because you're so devoted in writing the story for a reader you hope to inspire.
9) What is your message to readers?
Unlock your mind. Have a cup of tea, become a librocubicularist - it's more enjoyable on rainy days and read as much as you can. It's never safe to cling on to one genre. Unlock your mind and explore.
10) Tell us where we can find you.
You can find me on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UnathiNgada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorunathingada
Tumblr: https://unathingada.tumblr.com
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