Interview with Shaun Jooste
- S.S. Fitzgerald
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
As much as authors like to pretend they are isolationists, we don’t succeed that way. A major part of being an author is supporting other authors. For the most part, this is pretty simple. Authors are readers, and we support other authors by reading their works. But with all the modern technology, there is also the problem of trying to establish yourself to be seen among expanse the internet has become. To assist the author, and spread your awareness of other authors, I reached out to Shaun Jooste (points for the fact he spells his first name correctly!), the author of The Boatman Saga.
Tell us who “Shaun Jooste” is.
Hi there. I’m happy to be here. I publish by the name Shaun M Jooste. I’m an author of fantasy and horror novels, screenwriter, poet, game writer, and website content writer (this last one is my day job).
What are you currently working on? Can you tell us a bit about it?
I am currently working on 3 novels, but my main focus is on my second horror novel, Sacred Valley: Obversion. It’s sort of a stand-alone novel, but there’s an overarching plot that becomes more obvious the further we go into the 7-book Boatman Saga. In SVO, it follows Cassandra who ends up in a dark version of the haunted town, with whispers of people who have died in the real world. As she comes across demonic creatures and disturbed locations, she realizes that the bad things she had done in the past are being used against her. The series is inspired by the Silent Hill games, so that should give you an idea of what you’re in for.
What is most difficult about building your brand?
I think just making more people aware of my books; you know, the marketing aspect. I have some marketing experience and a new strategy I want to try, but finding the time between working, family responsibilities, and writing is tough. I’m trying to set an hour aside every day just for marketing, but it’s not getting there. I also feel I’ve wasted the last 5 years of my life solely focusing on work when I could have done more in terms of marketing my books.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Mostly from games and movies. I’ll be playing games or watching movies when suddenly a new idea springs to mind. Like wait, what if this actually happened instead. Or my love for games like Elder Scrolls Online, Diablo, and Fallout will make me want to write my own stories similar to them. I don’t want them to be fan-fiction though, so I create my own worlds.
How do you make time for personal projects around your other commitments?
I need to take breaks from my PC. My lower back, neck, and right hand get sore if I sit and work at it for too long. So I use those breaks for a quick exercise session, gardening, meditating, etc. If I want to focus on a personal project, I place it on Focus-to-Do / Habitica list and block out some time to work on it. I find that helps a lot. I have small crew on Habitica and so I set up quests for us to do, and as we complete our personal tasks, we level up and complete the quests. It’s a fun way to stay motivated.
What do you need in your workspace?
Coffee, music, desk light, and my desk fan in summer.
What advice would you give to others?
To honestly never give up. Also, find other writers to motivate you and talk about your projects. Joining the Dark Veil Society has made me feel less alone in my journey, and we’ve been sharing some great ideas.
Do you have any other talents or hobbies? Tell us about yourself!
Yes, I grow and nurture bonsai trees and have started a new business called Budding Backyard Bonsaist. I also have a passion for cars, which I share on my site Driver Digest South Africa. I love dinosaurs and astronomy, and regularly stare at the stars and visible planets at night. I also have a love for the elements, which can be found in my epic fantasy series, Celenic Earth Chronicles.
How do you develop your characters? Are any of them based on people you know?
I love simply creating characters based on how I’d like them to look. I don’t have any real inspirations and just visualize them in my head. In the CEC fantasy books, the main character is based on me and my love for wolves (I have a personal history with the nickname Shadowolf dating back to when I was 16, but more on that another day), and a few characters were based on past friends. But that’s about it.
What is your dream project you hope to complete?
Finishing the Boatman Saga, but also getting to all the other novels I have planned. I would also like to build a bonsai tree reserve for visitors to spend time in to relax and unwind.
Follow Shaun Jooste on his various platforms
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