Meet MG Author P. S. Mokha

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes fantasy author P. S. Mokha. He writes the MG series The Last Sanctuary. He also likes one of my favorite authors Ken Follett.

Here's a bit about P. S.:

I’m P.S. Mokha, not a post-script reminder to refill with coffee, but an author of fantasy novels whose initials happen to be P.S.

Hailing from unspectacular roots, I wasn’t raised by wolves, nor were my parents members of religion-worshipping otters.

Conversely, my professional life has been ridiculously exciting. I initially qualified as a chartered accountant, and now I’m assistant principal at a high school. Everyone knows how enigmatic accountants and teachers are, so writing really interesting stuff was a natural progression.

Why did you pick to write books for MG?

Each of my daughters have been fascinated by magic, fairies, and their ilk since before they could form words. Now that my eldest is a discerning reader and prodigious writer, I have to ensure my work is more compelling than the competition to keep in her good graces.

What types of books do you like to read?

Both kinds. Hard copy and ebook. Seriously though, I enjoy Ken Follett, YA fiction, and true stories dealing with the strength of human spirit overcoming adversity.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I am particularly refreshed by hiding in bushes and imitating exotic birds that only exist miles from said bush.

I also play football, jog regularly, and ferry my kids from various activities that include gymnastics, ju jitsu, and piano lessons.

Tell us about The Last Sanctuary and how the story came to be.

The Last Sanctuary is a traditional fairytale peppered with humour and modern twists. The
story evolved from a desire to tap into traditional mythology and bring it to a modern setting with a fresh voice I’d yet to hear from today’s mainstream literature.

Here's a peek at The Last Sanctuary:

Lily is devastated when her sick grandpa reveals she must leave the small home they share. The next day, a confused Lily awakes in the London Bridge Orphanage surrounded by danger. With the help of her two roommates, she stumbles upon the ancient world of Ammasaya and a prophecy with catastrophic consequences: three will arrive, one to give, one to die, and one to live. 

But which part of the prophecy relates to Lily and which to her roommates? 

As enchanting as it is deadly, Ammasaya is a place where Lily must battle savage witches, devious goblins, and deadly Death Legions to discover secrets of her past that offer clues to her prophesised future. Life at school is no safer with menacing teachers burying secrets with unfathomable consequences.

The Blood Empress lurks in the shadows as her goal of destroying the orphanage draws near. Surrounded by riddles and lies, who can Lily trust?

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

Book two in The Last Sanctuary series is out now (The Fall of Refuge). All my friends say it’s really good and so does my mum.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

Book three in The Last Sanctuary series is entitled The Wrath of Winter, and I must say, I’m terribly excited about ratcheting up the tension and humour to another level.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Enjoy yourselves, life is too short to stress about writing, or anything for that matter.

Other than that, keep reading, believe in yourself, and never give up.

Anything else you want readers to know?

Leonardo da Vinci could draw with one hand and write with the other at the same time.

I can write with one hand and draw conclusions at the same time, thereby leaving one hand in a constant state of readiness in case the phone rings or an ear becomes itchy.

And finally, a big thank you to Cheryl Carpinello for allowing me to share my thoughts with the world.

Where can readers find you and your books?

I exist in the wonderful land of New Zealand, where I live with my family and countless animals on a small farmlet.

My book is on Amazon for the princely sum of $1, and also on Smashwords, Goodreads, and most online retailers.