It’s that time of the week again and today I have great pleasure in welcoming to Behind the Pen a fellow book lover, who also happens to be a terrific YA author, Nadia L King.

 

What is your favourite…and why…

 

Character from one of your books?
My favourite character from my own writing is a teenage girl called Miriam from my first published short story, Disappointment. Miriam is doing life hard but there’s something about her tenacity and bare rawness that really touches me. She’s the unfinished canvas of life which I find appealing.

 

Scene from one of your books?
This is going to sound morbid and grim but the drowning scene in my book, Jenna’s Truth is one of my favourite scenes from my writing. The scene was difficult to write and required a ton of research but visually I can play it over and over in my mind so hopefully it’s powerful to read as well.

 

 

Movie of all time?
Just to prove that I’m not all dark and gritty, my ridgy didge favourite film of all time is the 2007 fantasy/comedy musical Enchanted starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey (isn’t he lovely?) Doesn’t the premise of animated characters turning into real people and being let forth into New York sound fabulous? Pure goodness versus delicious evil—definitely watch this if you’ve missed out so far.

 

Book that you always keep a copy of and recommend to others?
I have bought multiple copies of Favel Parrett’s Past the Shallows and shared them around because I think everyone should read her book—she’s a literary genius. During a trip to New Zealand earlier this year, I read Kate De Goldi’s The 10PM Question which once I finished I immediately started to reread. I loved twelve-year-old Frankie Parsons and all of his worries and I thought he was a brilliant and lovingly flawed character.

 

Fashion accessory that despite having plenty of, you still keep collecting?
I’m not particularly concerned with fashion but I enjoy wonderful smells and have a slight obsession with Chanel No 5.

 

Drink that you enjoy everyday?
I’m almost certain that my blood type is T. I drink gallons of tea everyday. I enjoy green tea, black tea, chai, lemongrass and ginger. I’m not a huge fan of floral teas but I have a wide selection of tea and can offer you a cuppa that I’m sure you would enjoy.

 

Treat you indulge in?
Books. I overindulge myself with books all the time. I’m not sure they’re treats, I rather think they’re necessities.

 

Place to be?
I’ve never visited Japan but it’s right up there on the top of my bucket list. I love the concept of ikigai (a mindfulness concept) and admire the Japanese way of viewing nature and the impermanence of beauty and life which resonates deeply within me. I hope one day to spend time in Japan and immerse myself in their culture.

 

 

Person you admire?
One of my heroes is a guy called Kevin Hines. He attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge and by some miracle he survived. He has spent the last seventeen years sharing his story and ultimately offering people hope. Kevin believes in the power of the human spirit and I find his life and work truly inspirational.

 

 

Season of the year?
Perth’s climate is pretty mild so I’d have to say spring, winter and autumn are my favourite seasons. Summer can be blisteringly hot—too hot to be outside so I find that challenging.

 

 

You can connect with Nadia and follow all her news over at her blog Nadia L King Author.

 

Photo credit for Nadia’s author shots goes to Louise Allen.