OF BOOKISH FANTASY INVOLVING DRAGONS AND MAGICAL ADVENTURES

Author Interview: Nishi Singh

Nishi Singh, also known by her pen name Nishi Chandermun, lives in Durban, South Africa, and enjoys holidaying in the breathtaking and impressive city of Cape Town. She is the author of “The Pearl of Immortality”, which is the first book of The Sands of Time series. She loves writing and bringing to life the workings of her avid imagination. When not occupied with swords and dragons and her bookish fantasy world, she enjoys coffee dates and dining out with the family. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, she talks about her latest book, her writing journey, her favourite books and authors, and much more. Read on!



Please tell us more about Nishi Singh as a person.

I was born and raised in Durban, South Africa. Home away from home is the magnificent city of Cape Town where I frequently retreat to restore my spirit beside the majestic and ancient Table Mountain. I obtained a Bachelor of Law degree, cum laude and further obtained a second major in Psychology. If I were to describe myself in one word, I would say, unrelenting. I am a very determined person, my greatest strength being my willpower; my unfailing resolve to achieve whatever I set my mind to. I am working full-time on the “Sands of Time” series, a protracted seven-book series that occupies much of my time. I am happily married with three wonderful children. I consider family to be an exceptionally important value for all the great worth it delivers to a person’s life. Being a writer of fantasy, I am more of a person of spirit than religion though I consider a balance between the two to be very fundamental. I am a practitioner of Kundalini Yoga, deriving much benefit from the ancient teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Apart from fantasy novels, I particularly enjoy reading psychological thrillers and crime fiction as well.



Has writing always been a part of your life? Or did you chance upon it later on and then instantly fell in love with it?

I have written for as long as I can recall. From bits of fiction to poetry, pen and paper have always been my preferred tools. However, having a very strong academic mind as well, I qualified in law under the notion that writing would be my secondary career. Nevertheless, the writer in me would not relent, compelling me to surrender all else and embrace writing as my absolute profession.



Your book “The Pearl of Immortality” is the first installment of a seven-book series. Can you give a blurb of this book in your own words?

“The Pearl of Immortality” follows the story of Xerxes, a fifteen-year old boy from 18th century Persia, who gets magically teleported to the fictional planet, Ishtar in the Alpha Centauri star system. In a world so different from Earth, a world dominated by the Light and Dark forces of magic, Xerxes learns of his new identity as a Dragon Rider and gets catapulted into a succession of perilous magical ventures.
Whilst Book One focuses on regaining and restoring a rare and magical pearl, the Pearl of Immortality to a mythical dragon, the overall quest of the series is to seek the Seven Sands of Time. The Sands that are part of a magical structure that permits the free flow of Time on Ishtar and which were lost thousands of years ago, bringing the planet close to annihilation.



How did the idea of writing this book series emerge?

The fantasy genre has always appealed to me. Hence, it was an instinctive choice to pen an epic fantasy of this nature. In seeking untapped waters as far as fantasy world-building is concerned, I chanced upon the mythology of Mesopotamia. Further research indicated that the deities of this era were in possession of super-extraordinary powers of magic, a fact that awed and lured me into this intriguing world. Merging traces of Hindu and other legends as well, I fashioned a home for The Sands of Time series.



What type of research went into writing this book?

Several years of arduous research on Mesopotamian mythology have been expended for the purpose of my series. By immersing myself absolutely into the literature, art, religious texts, and myths of the time, I equipped myself to write a very unique fantasy series. I have also studied various academic texts on the language of this era, and inspired by such translations, have created a magical language for the Sands of Time series which I call the Supreme Words.



You have previously written in other genres. Can you tell us more about your oeuvre?

I have previously written middle-grade adventure fiction as well as children’s picture books which were published in South Africa.



What are the books that are occupying your non-working hours these days?

Theese include “Die for Me” by Karen Rose and “The Power is Within You” by Louise L. Hay.



Can you recommend five books from any genre, for our readers to add to their reading lists, that you particularly cherish?

“Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte, “The Sword of Shannara series” by Terry Brooks, “The Wheel of Time” series by Robert Jordan, “Mind Power” by John Kehoe and “The Predator” by Patricia Cornwell.



There are many new writers and poets who are aspiring to get their work published. What would you say to them?

My word to aspiring writers and poets would be to remain true to yourself and write what resonates best with you. Combined with your finest effort ever and total faith in your work, you are likely to gain success whether you opt for the traditional or self-publishing route.



Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going?

I am a firm believer in pursuing one’s dreams steadily, one meticulous step at a time, and not rushing things. This is the very principle I employ in penning The Sands of Time, a major seven-book fantasy series. For me, it is the journey in life that matters, not the destination. Therefore, my single belief would be: “Masterpieces are not created overnight. All that is truly remarkable requires a magical moment of growth.”