Celenic Earth Publications 
We have a special treat for you today. Celenic Earth Publications CEO is bringing you some answers to the same questions we’ve posed to our other authors. Below, you’ll find our interview with author Shaun M Jooste regarding the books he’s written since 2000.
If you’ve ever wondered about how he approaches his writing, you can find it in the interview below. You can also read our Shaun M Jooste wiki page for more details on his life and work.
Interview with Shaun M Jooste: An Exciting Writer’s Journey
With several books under his name, plus a film screenplay and some game writing, we decided to ask him some questions focusing on the roots of his books. Let’s dive in with our interview with author Shaun M Jooste.
1. What initially inspired you to start writing, and how did you embark on your journey as an author?
While I was in Fairbairn College for my final high school years, I was enamoured by several fantasy novels in the school library. As my mind delved into the various worlds of magic and mayhem, my desire to write my own fantasy novels and worlds grew. I started drawing maps between 1997 and 1999, while also dreaming about stories I wanted to write one day.
It was only in 2000 that I started planning and writing what would be called The Celenic Earth Chronicles before writing the first chapter of The Windfarer. It would take me 6 years of on/off writing before I finally completed it and then first published it in 2007. You can read more about that journey on the Wiki page.
2. Can you share a bit about your writing process?
I am very much a planner. I’ve tried just writing without planning, and it doesn’t work for me. Before I even start writing the first words in a book, I need to plan everything out. It starts with the overall plot, determining the acts, turning points, crisis point, and so on. Then, I do Act outlines, dividing each one into chapters with brief descriptions for each one.
From there, I go into chapter and scene developments. I go into extensive details about what needs to happen in each chapter and scene to make sure I don’t miss anything. I also make notes about key elements, such as foreshadowing elements, how specific aspects are connected, and so on.
I use Microsoft OneNote for all my planning, with tabs for each category (maps, creatures, characters, chapter outlines, etc). Depending on the novel, some of these have many tabs, while others only have a few.
3. What themes or subjects do you find yourself drawn to the most in your writing, and why?
I mostly love fantasy and horror themes, sometimes blurring the line between the two. While I started writing Celenic Earth Chronicles with a hero theme and teaching that you can still save someone no matter how dire, my other novels had darker themes. It’s all about drawing the reader in so much, they just want to keep going.
4. Are there any particular authors or books that have had a significant influence on your writing style or creative approach?
During my high school years, several authors inspired me toward fantasy. I loved Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, but Stephen Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant Chronicles is what hooked me the most and probably influenced me the most. While many readers have said The Windfarer feels a bit like Harry Potter in Act 1, I actually only started reading the books and watching the movies long after I started writing my first book.
I also need to give Raymond E Feist some credit. His Riftwar Saga heavily inspired me to bring other worlds into the mix with the second book in my fantasy trilogy, DragonRider. That’s why when people ask me what my fantasy books are like, I tell them a mix of Lord of the Rings, The Riftwar Saga, The Dragons of Pern, and Elder Scrolls Online. My fantasy novels go well beyond the scope of any of them, but you’ll find similar themes.
Of course, there are many games and movies that have inspired me over the years. Silent Hill inspired me to write the Sacred Valley horror books, since I’ve loved that brand since the first game. Also, I have some books in planning for several years now inspired by games, which you can find on my Author Shaun M Jooste website.
As a few examples, the Crystal Islands Saga is inspired by the Myst game series by Cyan. Malum: Rise of the Deadly Sins is inspired by Diablo games by Blizzard Entertainment and Resilience: A New Dawn inspired by the Fallout series by Bethesda.
5. How do you balance your writing life with other commitments or responsibilities?
In the beginning, finding the time to write my novels was easy. I only had my day job, really. Now, I have a wonderful wife and two beautiful children, I own and run a few companies and sites, and I deliver writing content services to several clients. Writing and editing are both my passions and my career now.
Still, I do make time for my family and things I want to do, such as writing my novels. It isn’t easy, but that’s what makes life exciting. I’m just glad everyone understands when I tell them I need to vanish to write, as it’s hard to focus when everyone is looking for me, pets included. It’s all about locking out that time to write, setting my focus tools and music to help with concentration, and going into “GO” mode.
Of course, having writing buddies also helps. I find myself more inspired and ready to rock when I have a friend who also writes novels, creating sessions where we write together. Right now, Russell (who wrote Reveries and Refrains and working on more novels) has been a great help in pushing me to complete Sacred Valley: Obversion.
6. Can you tell us about a particularly memorable moment or experience you’ve had as an author so far?
I’ve had several. I suppose every author loves receiving great reviews of their books. I was really excited when I believed I had permission to write Silent Hill novels, but that fell away when Konami rectified their mistake. I’ve also enjoyed the few newspaper, television, and online interviews I’ve experienced, and I look forward to more to come. Right now, I’m just enjoying the positive reactions from my fans.
7. What do you hope readers take away from your work?
I just want them to enjoy my stories, to be honest. There aren’t any hard lessons I want them to apply to life. If they can read my stories, smile at the end and say that was a good book, then I’m happy.
8. How do you approach character development and world-building in your stories?
I spend more energy on character development and world-building than writing novels, to be honest. Once all my planning is out of the way, I literally just sit and write the books. I love creating maps, and then kingdoms and culture for each of them. There’s so much joy in doing so, and I wonder if God felt the same happiness when he created all the planets.
In my planning, my character development includes the relationships between each character and how they affect one another. This aspect is the most important in my upcoming Malum books. There’s so much character relationship development going on that it’s going to create the most tension I’ve ever had in my books.
9. What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting on their own writing journeys?
Make time to write your novels, and don’t give up. I see too many aspiring writers give up when writing a book seems daunting. I’m the happiest in my element when sitting on my laptop and writing my chapters, watching the story I had planned unfold. When you have new ideas for books, take notes for them and keep them ready for when you complete the current novel.
10. Finally, can you share any details about upcoming projects or works-in-progress that your fans can look forward to?
Sure. As many of my followers already know from my site, I have many projects in planning and progress. Sacred Valley: Obversion is the second novel in the 7-book Boatman Saga, and I’m a few chapters in Malum: Rise of the Deadly Sins. My erotic thriller Open Door is completely planned out, and I just need to start it. I’m also writing for an upcoming CEP game called Bonsai Simulator, plus I have other secret projects I don’t want to mention at this point.
Enjoy Shaun M Jooste’s Books on CEP and Elsewhere!
Well, there you have it! With our interview concluded, please be sure to check our online bookshop for more of Shaun M Jooste’s books. Plus, they are also available on other online stores, such as Amazon, Exclusive Books, Takealot, Loot.co.za, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Lulu, and many more.
