Ask the Author: Danila Botha
Answered Questions (3)
Danila Botha
My second novel. It's been so much fun to write so far. I shouldn't say too much yet- just that it's about two women in their twenties and the sisterly friendship that develops between them. The most I should now is that they both have secret lives (and struggle issues of identity and the lives they want versus the lives they have) It's the most surprising, plot wise of anything I've written so far, I think. And it's written in the third person, which has been an interesting challenge.
Danila Botha
I really love writing, more than anything. I think one of the best things is the joy of being able to create characters, and situations, relationships and entire worlds. Being able to engage completely with one's imagination, so that you can understand why people behave or feel or choose what they choose to do is so deeply satisfying and always interesting. I love the research process- interviewing people and learning about things outside of my experiences- I love writing early drafts and then adding a lot in the different stages of editing. I love connecting with other writers about writing and books, and I love connecting with readers. It's all pretty wonderful.
Danila Botha
For Too Much on the Inside, I was inspired by the places that I'd lived in that I loved the most- South Africa, Israel, Halifax, NS, and of course Queen St W in Toronto.
I met people whose stories and personalities and experiences imprinted me deeply, and I really wanted to write about (and imagine more) about them.
I had such an amazingly fun time writing this novel. It felt like a labour of love from the first draft to the final edits.
For For All the Men (and Some of the Women) I've Known, the new collection of short stories I have coming out in September, I was inspired by stories I'd heard. You know when your friends talk about relationships, or you overhear people on the subway, and you wonder what they're thinking and feeling and why they're doing what they're doing? It was a combination of observation and imagination (and a lot of love for the characters)
I met people whose stories and personalities and experiences imprinted me deeply, and I really wanted to write about (and imagine more) about them.
I had such an amazingly fun time writing this novel. It felt like a labour of love from the first draft to the final edits.
For For All the Men (and Some of the Women) I've Known, the new collection of short stories I have coming out in September, I was inspired by stories I'd heard. You know when your friends talk about relationships, or you overhear people on the subway, and you wonder what they're thinking and feeling and why they're doing what they're doing? It was a combination of observation and imagination (and a lot of love for the characters)
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