One of my favorite aspects of publishing as an indie author is finding a brand that resonates with readers. For highly popular genres, that’s a breeze, but things get a bit harder when you’re working with niche genres like dystopian fiction… trust me on that. But one author I’ve admired for ages is the lovely Tirzah Darnell — she’s been writing since she was five years old, and her list of accomplishments is downright dazzling. This awesome author has directed the film Unscared and starred in the musical Mazuma!, to name just a few of her accomplishments. Her branding is fantastic, too, as the recent promo video for the Planet of Darkness reveals. We recently sat down to talk about writing, infusing political intrigue into written works, and making your mark on the world.
Nikki: Thank you so much for joining us, Tirzah! For those who don’t know, Tirzah has an an M.A. in Political Science and teaches Government and History at the local community college. How does that influence translate into your books?
Tirzah: Currently, I am focused on science fiction, but I like any genre that includes complex plots, technical know-how, and political intrigue. While science fiction is one of my top genres to read, I also enjoy some fantasy, mystery, and adventure. My soon-to-be-written list includes mystery thrillers and cyberpunk adventures.
I can definitely see how political intrigue makes its way into science fiction. What books do you currently have out now?
I have been writing most of my life, and I have plenty of works in progress. The book that recently came out is The Planet of Darkness: Book 1: City of the Dark Tyrant. This book is the first in a trilogy that follows a group of citizens of a dystopian world and the schemes and challenges that bring them together in their quest to survive or escape the Planet of Darkness. Many readers have noticed elements of the old series The Prisoner or, more recently, Dune, Hunger Games, and Lord of the Rings. I write under the name Tirzah Darnell because that is the name I used when acting on the stage.
That is so funny… I used to belly dance, and Saida Merymut, one of my characters in Industrialized, absorbed my old stage name. It’s so fun to see how these pieces of our own stories often follow us through new adventures. You mentioned you have works in progress. How many unfinished manuscripts do you think you have kickin’ around?
I have about twenty unfinished manuscripts, many of them only outlines. I do plan on developing them all. I also am in talks with author Kathleen R Cuyler about co-authoring some books, including some cyberpunk mystery adventures.
Kathy is another powerhouse of an author, I would love to see that come to fruition! What other authors have inspired you over the years?
The author who first drew my interest into reading was Jules Verne, particularly Mysterious Island. A close second is Alexandre Dumas with The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. Like I said, complex plots and political intrigue!
I love that you’re naming some of the classics, as I’m a huge fan of them myself. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was reading books at the age of five, I would get upset that they did not go the way I had hoped, so my mom told me that I could write my own books and make them turn out the way I wanted. That was when I wrote and illustrated The Ant in Tennis Shoes. The story is about an ant that wants to run a race, but he can’t because none of the stores sell shoes his size. Finally, he finds a boy who searches far and wide, and together they finally find shoes that are the teeny tiny size the ant needs, and he wins the race.
When I was a student in college, I was privileged to meet a guest speaker visiting our college, Pepe Serna from the film Scarface. He called me up on stage with him, and together we performed The Ant in Tennis Shoes. I told it in English, and he performed it in Spanish for the audience. It was a hit for the College. Everybody loved it. I would love to meet up with him again and let him know how much that encouraged me to continue with my writing.
Oh my gosh, what a beautiful story. And it’s such a great reminder that moments that may feel little or mundane to us can totally change the course of someone else’s journey. A perfect lesson in mindfulness. What did you think you’d be before you discovered your natural love of writing and teaching?
When I was grade school, I wanted to grow up to be the President of the United States of America. Then, I realized how much peopling I would have to do, which, for an introvert, would be a challenge. Instead, I pursued a degree in Political Science and focused on disaster resilience, which helps me a lot with my writing.
I could definitely see you being presidential material, but before I go off course, I want to talk more about your books. What’s coming next?
Currently, I am focused on writing Book 2 in the Planet of Darkness Trilogy – Book 2 is called Through the Wilderness. I also have plans for a prequel that will provide the backstory for one of my most popular characters, 1-13. Yes, the characters in this world have numbers instead of names. Fortunately, there is a guide in the back with pictures of the characters to help readers keep track of who is who.
That is so darn cool, and what a unique approach to crafting characters. Do you typically like the characters you create?
The funny thing about my writing style, I tend to focus on things that I do not like and try to turn them around or exaggerate them to make them more interesting. This enables me to write about flawed characters in a way that makes them more believable. There are characters whom I am more sympathetic to – the apprentice who tells himself lies to help him cope with unbearable conditions is a particular favorite. While his backstory makes us care about him, we also wonder if he will ever be able to claw himself out of the pit he has dug. Come to think of it, there are two characters I really do like in Book 2. They are twin sister bounty hunters who are tough, funny, and resourceful. They have snappy dialogue and gutsy action scenes.
(laughs) I definitely relate to exaggerating qualities in flawed characters. What is one thing nobody has asked you about your books, but you wish they would?
I wish people would ask me about The Dark Tyrant. After all, he is a shapeshifting monster on a planet mostly inhabited by humans. Where did this creature come from? Why is he so obsessed about controlling every aspect of the planet? Why does he hate the Prince of the Planet of Light so much? Book 2 provides a few hints to answering these questions.
Oh, I love the teaser you’re dropping! I think I know the answer, but I’m going to ask… would you want to live in the world you’ve created?
I don’t think I would want to live on The Planet of Darkness. It’s a world without a sun that relies on thermal energy for warmth. There is very little plant and animal life. Even the coffee there tastes terrible. However, there is one part of the planet that I would consider visiting. That is the valley where the Shepherdess lives. Here, we find sparkling waterfalls, glowing trees, and very intelligent animals.
Oh, that region sounds magical. I just have one more question for you before I let you get back to building fantastic worlds. What’s the best thing a reader has ever told you?
An award-winning sci-fi writer, Tilmer Wright, Jr., told me that he was impressed with my world-building and my characters, how each of them have their own story to tell but they all fit into the overall plot. His review says of The Planet of Darkness, “It’s curious, intriguing, deep, thought-provoking, intellectually challenging, and beautiful all at the same time.” That’s pretty high praise, especially from one who does not throw compliments around. He also said he loves the Gorslanchers, a particularly terrifying species of space creature in Book 1.
Tirzah Darnell is definitely an indie author you’ll want to keep on your radar. To get to know her more, check out her interview on Tellest and swing by her Facebook page.
Want to learn more about other indie authors you need to know? Keep an eye on my Indie Author Spotlight Series for spotlights that span various different genres.