Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with PN Shafa
Book Title: Descendants of Power
Released: 01/31/21
Genre: Dystopian Scifi
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Descendants of Power”?
Shafa: Some years ago a friend of mine asked me, 'If SpaceX is successful and builds a colony on Mars, what will the governmental system look like? Who will be in charge? Is it Elon Musk? Will it be a democracy? A corporation?' I couldn't get this question out of my head. The idea that the space-faring future of humanity will most likely be, if we continue on this current path, privatized, left me wondering: when we run to Mars, what are we running towards? And what will be waiting for us when we get there?
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Shafa: Because Descendants of Power is book with a global narrative, many of my characters are non-western or non-white (though there are certainly others who are). Because of this I did a lot of research when it came to names. One character is a member of the Haisla clan, one of the native peoples of British Columbia, for example. I also enjoy gender-bending names, so there is a bit of that to look forward to.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Shafa: I am a second-generation American born from Iranian immigrants now living in Melbourne, Australia (so an immigrant myself). As a child of immigrants, now an immigrant in her own right, I write stories that explore otherness and growth through alienation. I am particularly fascinated by the narrative of intergenerational consequences, and can be found hunched over my notebook, scrawling in unreadable handwriting on the growth and demise of societal systems and the snowball effect of individual intention on human civilization.
I believe that all writers and contributors to the cultural narrative (including myself) have a responsibility to create works which will help the humans learn to cooperate and grow as a species.
If "Descendants of Power” were adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Shafa: Movies? Who has time for movies when there are BOOOKS to be read??? No but I'll be honest, I'm terrible with remembering celebrity names. Whoever is fine. Just not anyone too good looking.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Shafa: Ahh, writer's block, my greatest nemesis who waits for me in the mirror...one little ism that I've found very helpful: while a sculptor already has their clay pre-made, a writer has to make their own clay before they can even begin the sculpting process, and to write a first draft is the process of making that clay. So basically, I give myself permission to write really badly. To get the juices flowing, even if they don't taste very good at first.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Shafa: I am a huge proponent of outlining! Once I get a good, very detailed outline done, I can zap through the writing process and it enables me to concoct a much more complicated plot than would otherwise be possible for this little ol' brain of mine. One book that is short, simple, and so helpful is 'Take off your pants'.
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Shafa: Top two at the moment are N.K. Jemensin and Octovia Butler. If you haven't read The Broken Earth series or Lilith's Brood, then you are still in the 'before' half or your before and after life moment. And if that can't convince you...**throws up hands, walks away** OH! I also really, really enjoyed Borne by Jeff VanderMeer and Join by Steve Toutonghi.
What are you working on next?
Shafa: I'm currently working on a novel about what would happen if humans started a-sexually reproducing themselves through the process of apomixis (like dandelions and many other plants do)
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