Chanette Paul's FAQ

When did you start writing?

Since I could form letters and make up words.  I made up stories long before that. Officially, I started writing in 1995.

Why do you write?

For the same reason I breathe.  I need to.  It is my way of making sense of things.

How did you manage to write 33 books in 15 years?

Writing is my job as well as my passion.  Besides, if I want to know what is going to happen to my characters, I need to finish the story and I haven’t been blessed with a patience-gene.

I believe you’ve switched from romance to suspense novels.  Why?

Suspense has always been my reading preference.  I’ve wanted to write in the genre for a long time, but the time wasn’t ripe in Afrikaans before.  When crime fiction hit Afrikaans in a tidal wave, I took my chances.  I like the challenge of writing longer books that are more complex, and really getting into my characters’ psyche.

How long does it take to write a book?

It depends on the kind of book.  Some took two months, others up to four years.  My suspense novels take on average nine months to write.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Inspiration is ubiquitous yet intangible.  My stories start with my characters.  By the time I get to know them better I have normally figured out the setting as well.  After that, the story happens more or less of its own accord.  Stephen King said something to the effect that writers don’t ask other writers where their ideas come from as we know none of us have the faintest idea.  I’ll second that.

Do you only write when you’re inspired?

Pieter de Vries said that he only writes when he is inspired and that he makes sure he is inspired every morning at nine o’clock.

I make sure my muse is sitting on the corner of my desk at five, six in the morning and she’s only allowed to leave by five, six pm.  After that, she is on standby.

Where and when do you write?

In my study in front of a window with a view on the Kleine River.  I get up around sunrise.  On average, I work about 12 hours per day during the week.  On weekends, I try to leave the desk by 11 am and sometimes take Sundays off.  Approximately one week per month, I read manuscripts for Lapa Publishers as part of my job as manuscript developer.

In reality however, one writes 24/7 as your story never really takes leave until it’s done.  And by that time the next one has already started brewing.

Which one of your books is your personal favourite?

The next one – it’s always going to better than the previous one.

Your favourite writers?

Too many writers have given me pleasure to mention all of them, but for relaxation, I love books by Jodi Picoult, Sandra Brown, Michael Connelly, Sue Grafton, Minette Walters, Mary Higgins-Clark … you get the picture.  I also like Joanna Harris, Kate Atkinson and Sue Monk Kidd.  In Afrikaans I love books by Sophia Kapp, Wilna Adriaanse and Deon Meyer and one of my favourite books is Roepman (Stargazer) by Jan van Tonder.  I also used to read every new book Eleanor Baker wrote. I think she was terribly underrated.

Are you ever going to write romances again?

I don’t think so, but never say never.

When wil your next book be published?

In October 2010.  The working title is Meetsnoer (yardstick).  It follows in the footsteps of Springgety , Fortuin and Boheem and Gys Niemand features again.  The story is mainly set in Fluisterbos (whisper wood) a small area of virgin forest that survived close to Niemandsdorp and is home to a mystery. Three parties are vying for ownership after the previous owner died under suspicious circumstances. Raine Quinn wins the race … to her detriment.   (Poor girl!)

Why don’t you write in English?

For the same reason I don’t dream in English.  In my mother tongue, I can express myself in a way I can never do in English.

Why haven’t your books been translated?

Translations are very costly and to break into the international market is extremely difficult.  Just to find an agent is near impossible.  Having said that, I believe the impossible just takes a little more time and effort than the possible, so I’m in the process of having Springgety translated as and when I can afford a chapter or two.  Let’s hold thumbs I find that agent!

To read the prologue and first two chapters of Leap Tide, the translation of Springgety, click here

What comes after Gys Niemand?

That, my dear and beloved reader, is a secret! All I can tell you is as long as my readers enjoy my books, I won’t stop writing.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Beware; ‘write’ is a verb.  I don’t know who said it first, but I certainly can underwrite ;-) the statement.