Ask the Author: S.A. Chakraborty
Answered Questions (14)
S.A. Chakraborty
Thank you!
Not so much from the literary side as I'm far more steeped in Arabic and Persian works in that realm. But I definitely took some inspiration from Mughal history... especially its many warring princes!
Not so much from the literary side as I'm far more steeped in Arabic and Persian works in that realm. But I definitely took some inspiration from Mughal history... especially its many warring princes!
S.A. Chakraborty
Thank you!
I mean... what really IS death? Seems a somewhat flexible thing for some of these characters ;)
I mean... what really IS death? Seems a somewhat flexible thing for some of these characters ;)
S.A. Chakraborty
Thank you, I'm so happy you enjoyed!
Oh, how can I possibly answer this question? Let's just say inshallah ;)
Oh, how can I possibly answer this question? Let's just say inshallah ;)
S.A. Chakraborty
I'm glad you liked it! It actually just began as sort of a private world-building project. I wrote a bit here:
S.A. Chakraborty
This is really hard! But for fantasy, I love how N. K. Jemisin works with language and power, especially when it comes to her VERY powerful characters. And Laila Lalami is great at writing historical characters in a way that brings them across the centuries.
S.A. Chakraborty
I'm so happy to hear you loved it! And yes and no - we'll see Ali and Nahri again in the second book, but they'll have some company ;)
S.A. Chakraborty
I'm so happy you enjoyed! The date got slightly bumped, but the next book should be out in January 2019!
S.A. Chakraborty
I'll likely be at a few cons in the summer and will post my schedule when I know more! You can follow me on Twitter (@SChakrabs) or sign up for my newsletter for updates:
S.A. Chakraborty
Hi! It's actually been an interest of mine for years; I originally wanted to study Islamic history in grad school with a focus on trade in the Indian Ocean.
Haha, the name is a marriage acquisition!
Haha, the name is a marriage acquisition!
S.A. Chakraborty
The Moor's Account by Leila Lalami and Arabian Nights and Days by Naguib Mahfouz for fiction. Non-fiction is harder to pin down - I have a whole reading list!
S.A. Chakraborty
I try to mix names with meaning with names that will stick in a reader's mind. That being said, I can easily fall through the research hole with this, so I'll often use placeholder names if I know I want to pick something good later. For The City of Brass, my MCs names were a mix of this. "Nahri" is a nickname calling back to the character's origins (nahr is river in Arabic), I named my hero "Ali" after another Muslim hero, and Dara...well I just always liked the sound of it!
(and thank you - I hope you enjoy the book!)
(and thank you - I hope you enjoy the book!)
S.A. Chakraborty
Hi Arnav,
Thanks for your question! I actually did an interview on just that () which gets into the details, but I actually went the fairly standard route of querying for an agent and then going out on submission. Things happened a bit quicker than normal, but it's been a pretty exciting ride!
Thanks for your question! I actually did an interview on just that () which gets into the details, but I actually went the fairly standard route of querying for an agent and then going out on submission. Things happened a bit quicker than normal, but it's been a pretty exciting ride!
S.A. Chakraborty
Haha, I'm not sure if this is for Saints and Misfits or The City of Brass, but I'll happily answer! (and also Saints and Misfits is fantastic and I wholeheartedly recommend it)
The research for The City of Brass actually came before the book was even an idea. I've always been a big history buff, and I studied the classical Islamic world in college (and then continued to after graduation because I'm a nerd) TCOB started then as basically an experiment in historical fan-fiction. I wanted to recreate the worlds I loved reading about and mix them up with some of the magic and fantastical elements present in regional folklore.
In particular, I focused on djinn, sticking to and then elaborating on the stories we already tell about them. For example, traditional texts tell us that the Prophet Suleiman used them to build his temple, so I dug into the how and why of that - as well, as what (in my story anyway) happened after. We talk about them living in human ruins, so I had them influenced then by some of the empires and cultures they watched rise and fall. I took particular influence from Abbasid and Sasanian history and culture though others will be showing up as well :)
The research for The City of Brass actually came before the book was even an idea. I've always been a big history buff, and I studied the classical Islamic world in college (and then continued to after graduation because I'm a nerd) TCOB started then as basically an experiment in historical fan-fiction. I wanted to recreate the worlds I loved reading about and mix them up with some of the magic and fantastical elements present in regional folklore.
In particular, I focused on djinn, sticking to and then elaborating on the stories we already tell about them. For example, traditional texts tell us that the Prophet Suleiman used them to build his temple, so I dug into the how and why of that - as well, as what (in my story anyway) happened after. We talk about them living in human ruins, so I had them influenced then by some of the empires and cultures they watched rise and fall. I took particular influence from Abbasid and Sasanian history and culture though others will be showing up as well :)
S.A. Chakraborty
Hi Filipa,
I'm excited you're excited! I don't want to give too much away, but yes, there will be some romance throughout the trilogy, though perhaps not always between the characters the reader might imagine! However, the story doesn't center around them - much like actual life, they can be more of a complication than anything ;)
I'm excited you're excited! I don't want to give too much away, but yes, there will be some romance throughout the trilogy, though perhaps not always between the characters the reader might imagine! However, the story doesn't center around them - much like actual life, they can be more of a complication than anything ;)
About Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
Jul 07, 2023 11:05AM · flag