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Author Rita Kruger does my blog...

And now folks an author from South Africa - A beautiful country as I know from living there once upon time...

Name: Rita Kruger

Please give us a short introductory bio.

Rita Kruger is wife, daughter, mother, and soon-to-be grandmother. She is a therapist by day, a spiritual leader, coach and at times, a witch. She surrounds herself with what enriches her body, mind and soul. Family. Friends. Nature. Great food. Good wine. Mountains of books.

She told stories before she could write them. From childhood she was addicted to books, finding in them an escape from her boring life. Reading showed her mankind at its best and worst, took her to places she will never be, and taught her to never stop dreaming. She told stories every day, but never wrote them down. Until now.

Her genres of choice is horror, thriller and fantasy. Her debut horror/ paranormal novel, The Woods, was released in December 2017. Her writing addresses real life themes of good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate and how easily we cross from one to the other.

Where in the world are you?

I’m living in Sasolburg, Free State, where nothing is free and everything is in a state. This is in the beautiful South Africa.

Where in the world would you like to be?

I love it here, but I always wanted to visit Scotland and Indonesia.

Books – buy links:

The Woods: https://www.draft2digital.com/book/303714

Snapshot Selfies: https://www.books2read.com/u/4DoMOr

Social Media (Please provide links & handles):

Rita Kruger Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.kruger.9469

Favourite book:

I love The Manual of the Warrior of Light, by Paulo Coelho. It has taught me great lessons on how to be, and how to become. This book is what inspired me to step up and write, even when other people told me I was too old to begin a new career.

My favourite part is this:

“A warrior of light is never predictable.

He might dance down the street on his way to work, gaze into the eyes of a complete stranger and speak of love at first sight, or else defend an apparently absurd idea. Warriors of light allow themselves days like these.

He is not afraid to weep over ancient sorrows or to feel joy at new discoveries.

When he feels that the moment has arrived, he drops everything and goes off on some long-dreamed-of adventure. When he realises that he can do no more, he abandons the fight, but never blames himself for having committed a few unexpected acts of folly.

A warrior does not spend his days trying to play the role that others have chosen for him.”

Favourite snack when writing:

I snack rather healthy on chopped apple with cinnamon and all kinds of seeds, or some nuts and dried fruit. On days when I want to live dangerously, I drink strong black coffee!

What do you write on – computer (what type) – software –pen and pencil – quill and vellum – and tell us why.

It depends where I am, and on my mood. Usually I use my laptop (an old Aspire that fell off Noah’s Ark, according to my kids) and Word docs. But I also use my mobile to record ideas or paragraphs on Evernote when I’m walking or, out in a mall and stuff comes to me.

When I have writer’s block, I usually grab a pen and paper and go outside to write for an hour or two.

Where do you write? (Can you post a photo?)

My window looks out over open fields. Around four in the afternoon, the cows come by on their way to camp for the night. If the weather is nice, I go outside and sit there to write.

What are your current projects?

I am writing on a new fantasy series, Voices of the Apocalypse. The first book, The Blue Jay’s call, is at Beta readers already.

I’m writing the next one, The Raven’s Flight right now. This series is rich in culture and myths in local areas, and I am enjoying every moment of the research.

Can you share a little of your current work with us (no more than 1000 words)?

Mianda passed into the forgiving darkness of sleep, and in the morning she woke to a world changed irrevocably. Uncle Ikolo touched her shoulder with kindness, and held out a calabash of homemade beer for her to drink. She did not question why she was allowed to drink beer, but finding her mouth dry, and her throat parched, she swallowed the thick brew.

“What is the score now,” he asked.

For a moment she laid quietly, not sure what he was talking about. Then she remembered and a smile broke out on her face. “Twenty for me and five and ten for you,” she said.

“Twenty for me?”

She giggled. “Twenty for me!” In his eyes she read that he knew this, but the game was to cheer her up, or take her mind off something.

“So, riddle me.”

“Now?”

“Yes,” he rubbed his hands together. “It will be an easy win. You are almost asleep, and you just had half a calabash of beer.”