Carlyle Labuschagne Author Interview

Book Nerd Interview

Carlyle Labuschagne lives in Sunny South Africa, married her high school sweetheart and shares her creativity with her two young boys. Carlyle Works as a PR and Marketing Manager by day, and writes by every other moment. She holds a diploma in creative writing through the writing school at Collage SA. Loves to swim, fights for the trees, food lover who is driven by passion for everything fantasy. Carlyle writes for IU e-magazine an inspirational nonprofit magazine that aims at inspiring the world through words. Debut author for 2012 - novel The Broken Destiny. Her ultimate dream is to write songs and direct music videos. Her native language is Afrikaans and has just begun her journey into grasping the English language.

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Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?

Well I was 12 years old on Safari Holiday with my family when I was mesmerized by the beauty around me and grabbed a pen and paper and my first poem was born. Have not stopped since.

Why is storytelling so important for all of us?

In my opinion, we learn a lot form stories, emotionally we learn, as well as logically. We put ourselves in positions for a moment that we would never have thought of, and learn a bit about ourselves in that way. Storytelling opens our minds to other things, spurs on the imagination, and gives us a world to escape in.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?

Patience. Be an honest writer. Work hard. Edit , edit , edit and edit some more.

In your new book; The Broken Destiny, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?

The Broken Destiny is very much a book ruled by emotion, ironing out insecurities, accepting faults. I feel readers can connect and find some wisdom in those pages. We have all had feelings and emotions and situations that seem impossible, this book and the series will take the reader on a journey of action, really bad, great and surreal moments, and seeing how these characters overcome the worst of enemies at times – themselves, can be very enlightening. My goal with this series is to inspire and heal through words. I’ve created a powerful story filled with intense and overwhelming emotions. This is a story of Ava and her kind rising above the fall.

What part of Ava did you enjoy writing the most?

I would have to say her entire story, the bad, the good and the ugly. But mostly the way she wars inside her head between herself and the other self that takes over when the mind-shift or shadow-shift threatens to consume her. It’s fun to see how she gets over these issues of hers, and yes she had many, the way she uses certain things to balance out others. It’s like a chess game she has going on in her head. There are so many things I enjoy about her story, sure I have my moments where I want to strangle her – in the end she will rise above everything.

For those who are unfamiliar with Enoch, how would you introduce him?

Enoch is Ava’s fall, and her rise. Enoch is the one thing that will torment her for the rest of her existence. He is her mistake and her truth.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?

I am one of those writers that have to follow where my heart takes me, so things change all the time, currently my journey is The Broken Series. I have started many projects. One in particular is a spinoff of the series entitled Rage. A project I have started on the side came to me in a dream; it is the Haltered Duology a very supernatural influenced project. I would also like to write kiddies books and have two story ideas for that. I might have a prequel in the works for The Broken series.

If you could introduce Troy to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

Gale Hawthorne from The hunger games. They have the same kind of logic, and coolness about themselves. I can see them hanging out together, sitting on a hill overlooking the landscape before them and discussing their girl issues, perhaps he could give Gale a few pointers on getting The Girl!

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?

That question would be – How are you? I will always say great. As someone who is now a public figure I believe I need to keep a professional image. Because when it comes down to it, whether I had a bad day, or feel a little sick, there are millions out there that truly are in a worse position than me. So it’s not really a lie, because I am blessed and am great every single day.

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?

I believe in order to achieve your own style you need to be a very emotional writer. Don’t write to impress others. Don’t be a show off. Your intentions toward the project should be of personal gain and pleasure, because that comes through in the mood of your novel. Write with honesty and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?

My husband. He is the only person in existence who knows and accepts all aspects of me.

What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?

The most memorable would have to be just before I had gone to college, my best friend and I had decided to do various promotional gigs, and when you put my best friend and me together – there is bound to be lots of fun and trouble going on.

Who was your first boyfriend?

My first true relationship I have ever had is with my husband. Sure I had other interests, but with him it was a true relationship and we met and fell in love when I was 17.

Tell me about your first kiss

I wish I had a romantic story for that I don’t! Oh gosh my first kiss was at a birthday party when I was 13. I was in a new school and became part of the popular crowd who had all had experience in this department. I had not. So I kissed my first boy in the game called spin the bottle, and let me tell you I hated every second of it! It was the longest, scariest, wettest kiss I ever had. I get ill just thinking about it.

When was the last time you cried?

LOL. I cry on a daily basis. I get moved easily by stories, books, and sometimes I do shed a tear for the lonely beggar with her child strap to her back on the street. It hurts me to know that there are people in the world that have no food or home.

What do you think is the single best decision you've made in your life so far?

To be with my husband.

What is the one, single food that you would never give up?

Food would have to be seafood, because chocolate does not count as a food – so they say.

Where can readers stalk you?

Here are all my links:
Twitter : http://twitter.com/#!/CarlyleL
Website : http://www.carlylelabuschagne.com/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12537426-the-broken-destiny-1-in-the-broken-series
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlyle-Labuschagne/189835811074342
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Destiny-Book-One/dp/1612048722/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347131640&sr=1-1&keywords=carlyle+labuschagne
Barnes and Nobles http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-broken-destiny-carlyle-labuschagne/1112448868?ean=9781612048727
Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FPWniWsvrk
Blog http://worldsawaybookblog.blogspot.com/

I would like to say Thank you to Jean for granting me the opportunity to tell my story and be featured on the amazing blog  :)

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Ava is third generation of The Broken kind who reside on a planet called Poseidon. The Broken share this planet with an ancient race known as the Minoans. The Broken are a breed of humans who evolved from a program that was constructed to save human kind from harsh conditions back on Earth. But Ava knows much more, and feels much more than she is allowed to. When she starts questioning her origins and the destruction of Earth, things go horribly wrong for her. She is saved by a Minoan boy from an attempted kidnapping on her life – the perpetrators are evil Zulus and their dark ancient magic. Humans and Minoans are forbidden to interact with each other, and as she is taken back to their village she finds out why – they know of her, her kind and her destiny to save a dying race. Ava must rid them from the Council’s ruling and free the galaxy of The Shadow. Her destiny is to rise above the fall, because within her soul is the key to an archaic weapon that has been missing in the mix of a genetic code since the time of the ancients. As the prophecy unfolds she learns of her bloodline – a bloodline that makes her less human than she could ever have imagined. She alone has the power to destroy or save, but the mind-shift is a horrible thing. Ava will become what she hates to save the ones she loves. Beaten, poisoned, possessed and betrayed by her own emotions, she has no choice but to rise above it all… for that is her Destiny.

Prologue 

All my life, I had searched for something, something I thought I ought to be. I felt like I was living someone else’s life, waiting for the awakening of my own. I felt like an empty shell burning for life. That was, until the day I lay dying in the prince’s chambers. I could no longer feel the pain from the tear in my gut. The only sensation left was a hollowed-out feeling that I had made a huge mistake in assuming that taking my own life, would have stopped the ancestors’ spirit from raging out. I had given up. I didn’t want to see myself killing the ones I loved. I was the Chosen one, but I threw it all away for what I thought would save a life. Could you end a life to save a life? I did, and I have regretted it ever since. I realized then that things like me are not meant to exist. What had been missing my whole life? It was I. To find myself, I had to lose myself in the worst possible way. The consequences of my actions became the legend of The Broken.

Carlyle Labuschagne’s The Broken Destiny takes its readers to a planet called Poseidon, a place where the Minoans fled to when Earth became no longer habitable. At the least is what the Council has told them. Third generations of The Broken, sixteen-year-old Ava, also resides in this planet and have always felt that her existence is more than what it seems. When she begins to ask too many questions, it leads her to trouble and gets saved by a Minoan boy. Everything she has ever known is about to be challenged when she begins staying with the Minoans. The interaction between their races is forbidden and she learns why. She learns that her bloodline has the power to save or destroy and must use it in order to save the ones she loves. Ava must now remove them from the Council’s ruling and free the galaxy from this dark force.

Often times, sci-fi novels takes a certain group of readers to truly appreciate its appeal and magic, but author Labuschagne’s writing etiquette allows it to be enjoyed by anyone. This dystopian story she has created is completely unique and refreshing. To have a successful sci-fi book, details and explanations must be clear and comprehensible. Labuschange manages to steer readers into a path of comprehensive understanding of its unique and amazing plot. She creates some of the most astounding and engaging characters. Ava is young and very complicated who has gone through a heap of mess within her sixteen years of existence, she still has to deal with normal teenage issues. The Broken Destiny showcases the brilliant imagination of Labuschange and kickstarts a series that is sure to be thrilling and compelling.

You can purchase Destiny at the following Retailers:

    

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And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you Carlyle for making this giveaway possible.

3 Winners will receive one e-copy of Destiny by Carlyle Labuschagne.

a Rafflecopter giveaway