Karen Menezes wrote The Chronicles of Capherayna over three years. She spent the next few years editing the manuscript in her spare time while working a full-time job in web development.
She loves spending time in nature, never misses a sunset and is fascinated by food, forest mythology and alternative healing therapies. Some of the themes she touched upon in the series took place as global events a few years later, including the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently based in Mumbai, in a home where parakeets and sparrows are spotted every morning while sipping a cup of masala chai.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’m not wedded to a genre. My intention is to write a story that is authentic and offers different things to different people. The books in The Chronicles of Capherayna series are contemporary fiction with elements of low fantasy and magical realism.
Do you keep a notebook of ideas?
A great thought rarely appears, as fleeting as a cloud. I’d rather note it down and reference it when I have the luxury of time. These ideas are often scattered across drafts in my email account.
Are you more of a fan of plot-driven stories or character-driven stories?
I prefer a plot wrapped around character-driven stories. I believe the character drives the plot and not vice versa.
What are your thoughts on typewriters?
My mother used a typewriter years ago while working as a secretary. My father had one in his office when I was a child. I remember the tactile sensation of banging those keys and the reverberation with every stroke.
Interestingly, a friend of mine purchased a beautiful vintage typewriter some years when we were strolling past a second-hand street market in Mumbai. We took it for a vacation by the beach because he wanted to compose haiku with his new toy. By the end of the trip, his arms were aching from carrying it around.
Would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?
I’d much rather run a library. There was a lovely lady with heavy makeup and long painted nails who owned a library across the street where I grew up. It was hidden inside a garage in a building. We were over the moon when we discovered it.
Some librarians have an old-world sensibility that I adore. Perhaps it’s the analog feeling of being surrounded by books whose scent matures with age. Or the feeling of interacting with readers in a space that has a finite number of books. The act of recycling the same book is almost rebellious in a world steeped in consumerism.
How do you name your characters?
There needs to be a cadence, a melody in the sound of a character’s name. It needs to create a visual impression of how they look, speak and move about their day.
If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or series?
I think a series would be preferable because The Chronicles of Capherayna has three books that have been published, and I’m working on the fourth. There’s enough variety in landscapes and characters to exploit for a series. The books are set across forests, villages, cities, urban ghettos, palaces and Gothic nightclubs.
How many words or pages do you typically write in one writing session?
On average, 300 to 900 words.
Do you have any writing rituals?
Every book I’ve worked on begins with a compelling image in my head. An image that I can’t get rid of, no matter what I do.
I sit with this image before going to bed or while walking in nature. The image speaks to me, and the plot gets revealed. I visualize the finer details of the plot for a few days. When I’m satisfied with the outcome, I begin to write, visualizing a few chapters at a time in this manner.
What are your passions/obsessions outside of writing?
I love being in nature, cooking, photography, plants, dancing, socializing, and trespassing. I’ve sneaked into turrets, climbed up old clock towers when they were kept open for cleaning and wandered down winding green paths near old temples when the gate was left open accidentally.
Who would you most want to read your book?
Anyone who finds magic in the mundane, meaning in suffering. Someone who loves forests, food and adventure. One who thinks deeply about the nature of life and loss. Those who enjoy low fantasy and magical realism.
Have you ever mentored another writer with their writing?
I worked as editor for an online magazine for four years. I occasionally help friends with proofreading and tightening up their writing.
Is there an idea that a non-writer has pitched to you that you have considered writing?
I’ve been asked by quite a few friends to write a recipe book! I love inventing recipes and sharing them at potlucks. This love for food makes an appearance in The Dawn Chorus, the second book in the series.
Do you ever use dreams as inspiration for your writing?
Dreams come from the subconscious mind, and in my opinion, it would be a waste not to incorporate their rich imagery and radical ideas in my writing.
Have you ever gone away to work on a piece of writing? If not, where would you go if you could?
I grew up in a noisy house, so I’m able to tune out the outside world while writing. I continue to write while travelling. I prefer the mountains to the coast for inspiration.
I would love to take a month off and write from The Dolomites in Northern Italy. The rugged cliffs, endless greenery, old castles and churches soothe the heart and open the mind to endless possibilities.
How do you measure the success of your writing career?
The success of my writing career is measured by the satisfaction I derive during the process. Every stage must provide lessons and joy—dreaming up the plot, writing the first draft, cycles of proofreading and editing, cover design, publishing and marketing.
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