Tuesday 21 June 2016

Book Tag: Finn Chow

Inspire. Create. Write. TM

So this month has really been about the interviews hey hahaha. One of my passions is to Share the awesomeness I encounter along my Journey and this one is no exception.
I'm beyond overjoyed to introduce you to today's guest. He's got mad skill, is wickedly witty and an all around great guy. I'm in love with his artworks and cannot wait for the release of his book.

Finn Chow is a fantasy author who is currently working on publishing his first book, Sparks. Literature has always been a passion of his, and being a born and raised in San Diego it is not uncommon to find him on a beach reading a good book. Finn is also an artist and a singer who enjoys exploring various creative forms of expression. Motivated and ambitious, Finn is always trying to find a way to share his work with the world.

Questions:

1. Do you have a specific place to read?
  • While I can honestly read pretty much anywhere as long as the book is worth reading, I prefer to read outside in the afternoon. It’s always nice for me to relax on a grass under a big tree and forget about the world around me while focusing on one in my hands. 

2. What book/s can you re-read without getting tired?
  • I won’t lie when I say that I hate the concept of re-reading things. As good a book is, it’s never the same thing after I read it once. There are no surprises or twists to make you stay up until 3 am reading.
3. Who is your favorite author?
  • I could never pick one favorite author. There are so many great literary minds with amazing talent out there. It also really depends on what I feel like reading. But to name a few authors that I can always count on: JK Rowling, Rick Riordan, Eion Colfer, Suzanne Collins, Derek Landy, Cassandra Clare, Neil Shusterman, and Michael Grant.
4. What is your favorite fiction book?
  • I can’t choose a favorite book, but my favorite fiction book series would be the Percy Jackson novels. If I had to re-read anything it would be them. I have always loved Greek Mythology and love the way Riordan puts a modern twist on ancient tales.
5. What is your most memorable childhood book?
  • My favorite childhood book would have to be Frog and Toad. Not only were the stories simple, but they also displayed a charming and lovely friendship that you can’t help but to want in your own life.
6. What quote from any book will you never forget? Why is it significant?
  • While I'm not one to remember all that many quotes, my favorite would have to be JK Rowling's use of "I open at the close". It reminds me that even when one thing ends many more begin.
7. What books did you hate reading in school?
  • I can only say one thing about Shakespeare. And that word is “overrated”. While I am not implying that Shakespeare had no talent, his work is nothing special in my opinion. Not to mention that the difficulty to decipher Old English takes away from the value of the work and the effect on the reader.
8. Do you read before bed?
  • My mom read to me before bed almost ever night when I was younger. She still carries on this tradition with my younger siblings as well. As a result, I find it natural and calming to grab a good book before a long night of struggling not to get up and write down my new story ideas.
9. How many books are there on your book shelf?
  • Let’s just say that if I ever need to move my bookcase it would take a lot longer than anyone really has time for.
10. What genre of books do you prefer?
  • I can honestly say that if I had to choose between destroying the world’s supply of fiction and non fiction I would choose to save fiction in a heartbeat. I think that books should a tool to escape the reality of life and enter a world that someone has created out of the inner workings of their minds. As for what types of fiction I like, that varies from mystery to fantasy to horror depending on my mood.
11. Can you read while there is noise around, like music or TV?
  • Being the second oldest of four boys I kind of had to learn how to tune out shouting, bickering, the sound of things breaking, crying, and all hell breaking loose. To be honest, if the world was ending around me while I would notice if I was reading something good.
12. Have you written any books? If so, tell us about it.
  • I am currently working on a fantasy trilogy that I started in 2014. The novels center around three genetically altered teens with extraordinary abilities as they struggle to survive in the world of darkness around them. Having already written the books one and two, Sparks and Inferno respectively, I plan to publish the first this summer while finishing my conclusion, Ashes.
Artwork Cred: Finn Chow
13.
You walk into a book store, what do you walk out with?

  • I don’t go to bookstores. While they are one of my favorite places to shop and browse around in, I was highly discouraged from going into them as a child. That fact that my parents would buy a book, only for me to finish it in two days made them wary to keep taking me. So nowadays I tend to frequent library and spam suggestion boxes until I get what I want.
14. Worst book you ever read?
  • I’ve had to read several obnoxiously boring and unnecessarily long books for school. But the worst one among them was Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. Not only was it utterly strange, with the author attempting to teach the readers lessons by having a man interact with a philosophical gorilla, but I could have easily summarized these lessons on half an index card. There was no need to make me suffer through a weak plot and bad characters as well. 
15. Do you have any collections of books?
  • I’m one of those people that everyone gives books to. So as a result, I have quite a few great series on my bookshelf. And unless people are thoughtful enough to buy me the next book when I’m done I normally end up getting the rest myself.
16. Do you have a library card?
  • Of course, I have a library card! While it would be a wonderful thing to constantly buy all of my books new, I personally think it’s a beautiful thing to share books in the same way that we share stories. 
17. What is the last book you read?
  • Unbreakable by Kami Garcia
18. How many books do you read per year?
  • Let’s do the math shall we? I can read an average three hundred to four hundred page book in three to five days. But factoring in the fact that I have adult responsibilities and other boring things like school. I’m going to say between twenty to thirty books.
19. Who is your favorite character from a book? Why him/her?
  • While almost anyone obnoxiously sarcastic will do, I’m going to have to go with Skullduggery Pleasant. There’s something about being an undead skeleton and getting away with horrendously rude and dark humor because of it that appeals to me.
20. Why is reading important to you?
  • Reading is a way for me to take a break from things in the same way that other people glue themselves to TV screens. There’s nothing wrong with either and it’s nice to turn your brain off for a while. Personally, I also use books to learn other author’s writing techniques and styles.

Quick Fire:

Book mark or anything that can hold your place

Paper Back or Ebook

Novel or Biography

Fiction or Non-Fiction

Read the book or watch the movie first

Romance or Science-Fiction & Fantasy

An AMAZING Original Artwork by Finn Chow
Love this, reminds me of the 
Nine Tails Fox {Naruto}

21. Bonus Question: If there was just one nugget of wisdom you could share, what would that be?
  • If you know that you are never going to love what you do 100%, it is a waste of your endless potential to spend on it. Your life is worth so much more than that, and you deserve so much better. Make what you truly love a reality. 

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‘Sparks’ by Finley Chow


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37 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed the peek into this interesting author! I agree too that re-reading even my most favorite books has never appealed to me as it truly isn't the same as the first mesmerizing turn!

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  2. Great interview! Frog and Toad was my favorite book too! I literally read it like 10 times a day as a child!

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  3. Ahhh! This is so cool! Amazing interview and very creative! I can't wait to read his book!

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  4. Such a great interview! Sounds like books I would really enjoy, can't wait til they're published

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  5. I love the thought of an afternoon spent lazily reading. It makes me sad when young kids don't read much, it's been the best thing I've ever done in my life.

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  6. What a great interview. I love discovering new authors and books. I'm off to have a browze!

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  7. I love this interview. I love learning about authors and other people we have not met. It's a great way to realize we have so much in common with people we don't even know.

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  8. I love reading, so it is so great to know about a new author! I wish him good luck with a fantasy trilogy! "Make what you truly love a reality.”

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  9. Great interview, such insights into the author. Unlike the author, I love re-reading books. I don't care that I already know the ending.

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  10. I love reading, too. You'll find me camped out at a book store (I wish the chairs were more comfortable) or library for hours! At home I don't read in bed (although I did read to Lauren when she was a little one) Very little is better than a great chair that's really comfortable, perfect light and a terrific book!

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    1. haha me too! I love that you read to Lauren, it's the best thing to encourage reading. it's always great to meet a fellow book lover.

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  11. What a great review - I shall have to keep an eye out for his first book :) x

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  12. Great interview, I love his artistic abilities and enjoy that we are both from san diego!

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  13. I love learning about new authors! He seems very interesting. There are some great questions and answers!

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  14. This was a great interview once again. He looks like a really nice an interesting person

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  15. He seems like an amazing young man. Did he do all the art work for the book?

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  16. Yet another great interview, am really enjoying these :)!
    Sparks-Inferno-Ashes... Inspired!!!

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  17. I share his Frog and Toad love from childhood. This was an interesting interview, and I love his final quote!

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  18. This man is so talented. I like fantasy stories and I think it is hard to write, you have to be really creative.

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  19. This is a wonderful interview! I think he is talented.

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  20. I love these interviews. It makes me feel like I am getting to know the author better.

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  21. Great interview! I loved Frog and Toad too.

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  22. I haven't read a book lately and I miss having a one book. :)

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  23. I haven't read a book in a long time and I used to read all the time. I just started one that looks promising, though. Nice interview.

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  24. He looks so young, I'm sure he's going to come a long way in this industry. He sounds really dedicated to his work! That's admirable.

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  25. That was a fascinating interview.
    I see myself in most of those, especially 2, 7 and 13 etc.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  26. JK Rowling has inspired many young writers to follow their dreams, looks like you both have the same author as an inspiration. His story seems interesting! It would be nice to be able to read it.

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  27. I like fantasy novels. Glad to know that young talents discovered their passions in writing.

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  28. Nice writing skills, he is so young and I hope to hear more from him. I think fantasy novels are the best!

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  29. J.K. Rowling is also one of my favorite authors. I like fantasy novels, it enables our wildest imagination!

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  30. I like to read interviews. I agree, it's way too hard to pick one favorite author.

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  31. Interviews really reveal what kind of person someone is. They show you the layers of a person.

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  32. Finn Chow is full of talent. I also like the idea of reading outside, under a big tree and I wish I could do this every day. I am going to look for his book.

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  33. Finn is certainly multi talented having a range of hobbies like singing. What an exciting insight into his life.

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  34. I am also a big fan of reading outside, in the warm afternoon air! It's so relaxing!

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  35. Such a talented individual. I also love reading books under the tree! It feels so relaxing and peaceful.

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  36. Such a talented individual. I also love reading under the tree, it feels so relaxing and peaceful.

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