The Creativity Author Interviews

Interview With MahaTaqi

Interview for: MahaTaqi

Interview by: harlowwinters
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Allow me to introduce you Author Maha Taqi, who in her debut novel "The Swiss Murder" is all set to take you on a riveting and thought-provoking journey into the realm of murder mysteries. Without further ado, let us take an enlightening glimpse into her life as an Author who recently graduated as a Software Engineer and made it known that instead of getting a job like a 'normal' person would, she decided to dedicate all her time to writing. Isn't that terrific?

What made you travel to the infamous realm of Wattpad?
I've been a Wattpad reader for almost 6-7 years now. Reading is something I always have time for. It's just my favourite thing to do. I don't know how I got here, but I'm so glad I did. I love the Wattpad community!

What led you to write your story "The Swiss Murder"? Do you remember that day specifically?
I have always wanted to write a murder mystery novel. I practically grew up on Agatha Christie's novels. She's my favourite author and my biggest inspiration. I loved the feeling of suspense and to see who finally did it. And that's why I wanted to write a book, even if it's just for myself. But my friend convinced me to post on Wattpad. I remember sitting in the park with a pencil and paper, furiously scribbling the character description and plot. It came so naturally to me, I was kind of shocked!

Tell us more about The Swiss Murder.
It's a cosy murder mystery set in Switzerland. The story is about love, friendship and betrayal. A group of friends from New York travel to a mountain village in Switzerland to spend Christmas together. There are many mysteries at play from the beginning, each friend has a past which will slowly unravel in the book! The characters are are quite interesting too and different from each other. I specially had fun writing about Levi!

Sounds like a compulsive read! Pray tell, how do you go about your writing process?
Well, I created the characters and their aesthetics first, decided on the setting and then created the plot from there. Then, I created the outline of my book which I religiously follow, it helps me keep on track and reminds me of some scenes I randomly jotted down.

What is your favourite childhood book?
This would definitely be The Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton. Can't pinpoint one book, they were all amazing and fed my hunger for adventure!

Renowned authors like Agatha Christie and Sidney Sheldon who have contributed significantly to the murder/mystery genre; have you ever felt the need to top their works?
I don't think I can ever top Agatha Christie's, she's the queen of crime novels for a reason. Even coming close to her would be an honour. I hope I can reach this goal someday!

You will definitely! I have faith in you. My next question for you is, how do you select the names of your characters?
Hahahaha, it's quite random actually. I just select them based on the characters. I'm like, "Yeah this one feels like an Emma." Does it make sense? I know it doesn't.

In a dark, cold, mysterious room lies a dining table in the centre. The occupants consist of Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, James Bond and Jake Peralta. Who do you think is most likely to clash with each other?
Oh this is a good one! Definitely Sherlock Holmes and Jake Peralta. I think their personalities are quite similar and they are both stubborn!

Everyone deals with writer's block in different ways. Some may go on a sabbatical, some may meditate, some may give it a momentary rest while some may sacrifice their cattle to the Gods. What is your technique?
Oh writer's block, I hate it! It happens to me when I'm stuck on a scene and I don't know how to deliver it in the best way to the readers. It's extremely frustrating. However, I just sit and stare at my draft, thinking of all the ways I can approach it. Sometimes, I even rewrite the whole chapter. I think that helps.

If you were to be brutally honest without any sugar coating, what advice would you give to young writers out there who wish to put their works forward?
If you want to write a book just for money, then don't. Writing a book is very intimate. It requires hard work and dedication. It's a whole cycle of frustration, motivation and little moments of triumph here and there. So if you're not ready to commit to yourself and your book, then don't do it. If you are, then that's the best thing!

According to you, which popstar would make a great detective?
Rihanna! I think she's extremely intelligent and such a great inspiring businesswoman. She excels at everything, why not this?

Imagine, we finish the interview in a fancy studio. You step outside, find a lottery ticket and end up winning $10 million. What's the first thing you do?
Honestly, I would invest at least 60-80% of it into shelter, clean water and education for people in need. I know it sounds cliched, but that is what I would honestly do! The rest of it will probably be spent in travelling, marketing my book and the perfect house for my family!

Now that is absolutely inspiring, it's not very often someone would think of that. Heck, I would definitely spend that money on food and concerts back-to-back. Moving on, last question, are you ready for it? Name one dish you would eat for the rest of your life.
Lasagne, for sure! I love, love, love it! I'm always craving it, even now, thanks to this question.

Thank you for making this such an awesome interview MahaTaqi . I appreciate your dedication and want you to know it doesn't go unnoticed. If crime is your scene, we have Officer Maha to hand you just the right case!