Interview with Lalien Cilliers
Published 2016-11-27.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
I was in the second grade and it was a grandiose story about a little purple shell for the school yearbook.
Describe your desk
I am sitting here on a Sunday afternoon with the cool breeze from the Atlantic over my hands as I am typing away on my laptop. It's a hot day today and the beach across the road from my home is filled with the sounds of the waves, the laughter of children and the occassional big bike roaring past. It's a blessing staying here and I drink in the changes in the sea and air and Table Mountain across the bay. I find that I work best in organised chaos. Which means that I like clean surfaces, but when something lands on my desk, it has to stay where it landed once it's found its way on my "environmental radar". So - not a neat freak, but it's like my mind "maps" where things are, and then they have to always be there for me to go into the zone and write with joy. I have a tiny bright red fan that plugs into my laptop in summer, my phone, something to drink (often coffee, rooibos tea with lemon, or just ice cold water) on my right, and a notebook for quick scribbles.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I'm a South African and grew up as part of our country's ever-changing political scene. We're a young democracy, and in our teens now, with amazing collaboration and heart-breaking tensions. I'm also an oldest child and this might have added to my desire to smooth any troubled waters - in my work, life, and relationships. There are so many wonderful people that just need some mentoring to fulfill dreams that they're dreaming in the quiet of the night in some small room shared with too many people. I get frustrated by wasted potential and I think this is a major theme in why I am writing and what I hope to achieve in my body of work.
What are you working on next?
I have two series that have been in the works for a while.
The one is (at the moment) called "A Guy's Guide" and consists of four ebooks aimed at helping young men find their way once they leave home. Each of these ebooks will deal with a different concept, e.g. understanding women, finding a great job, settling into a first home, and some deeper stuff such as a good self image.
The other series is (at the moment) called "The Young Manager" series and at present I have ten books planned from project management issues to network and teambuilding. I am really excited about this one, as some people need just a bit of guidance before they can transform themselves, their communties and the world as a whole.
When did you first start writing?
I have always been writing, but only recently finishing things! :)
What is your writing process?
I am like half of King - I splurge the content on the page. What I am still working at refining is doing the second half of King - editing!
What motivated you to become an indie author?
The heartbreak of having a print book pulped and of my mom's work not living on after her death. Stories and how-tos have so much value beyond the time in which a print book can last in a publishing house, so the change to digital is natural and brilliant for making sure that legacies are not lost.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The flow of words. I am a real nerd and I am one of the most curious people I know. Writing means that I can indulge the nearly tactile passion I have for words, but also my desire to know a little bit about everything (and hopefully share it with anyone who cares to find out more).
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
I work, so my smartphone's alarm at 5 am is really inspiring!
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
It's always great to have a friend or colleague recommend one, but often I search for something specific, and there are lots of guidance online - from Googling something, searching for a title I come across in a YouTube video, and then, of course, the "recommended for you" section and comments section at the end of a book I particularly enjoyed. I read a lot of nonfiction, but when I read fiction I have to confess that the ratio of "literature" to "relaxing" is often a bit distorted!
How do you approach cover design?
Although I have a graphic designer friend who does the present great ones, I must confess that I am learning slowly but surely how to do it myself. For those of you who are looking for great covers, or any type of graphic art, I can really recommend him.Find him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/august.hoffmann?fref=ts
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I read on my Galaxy S7 edge. Love it - flick through pages with my thumb - anytime, anywhere.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
