Featured Interview With Shakeil Kanish
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I'm a member of the USAF and a member of the LGBT community. I just wanted to tell stories that kids like me could look up to and see in bookstores one day. I love the Greatest Showman I think it's the best movie ever. Also, love me some anime! I totally just saw the new My Hero movie and started bawling in the theater but that's not important ha. I was raised all around my mom was prior AF as well so grew up in Europe and Texas and just all around so haven't really found a place to call home BUT I'm working on it! ๐ I don't have any pets but we did used to have a Morkie named Shai, he was amazing! Now I'm stationed in Abilene, Texas!
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Really young maybe about 5? And I started writing about the same time ha, I was part of the talented and gifted program (basically I wouldn't stop talking so they made an excuse to make me feel special). Kidding but it was great helped me slow down a little and just start getting into writing.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Madeleine L'Engle, Alexandra Bracken. I love reading fantasy, or thriller or horror. Anything that just pushes the boundaries of reality and takes you to another world. As far as who inspires me? I know I sound like a broken record but it really is that boy I used to be and the kids I see circling around bookstores sad that they don't see heroes of color in big fantasy/fiction novels or the LGBT community that is upset that they don't have their own Harry Potter or Hunger Games. I do this for them.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Sigil : A Novel. Um I think what inspired it was just the lack of colored protagonists and LGBT MC's out there. It made me sad to get on LGBT community sites and see people upset that they felt like they weren't represented so I wanted to try and do something that mixed both of those worlds together.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles