From the haunted rocking chair, Shaheen Kazi takes you on a horrific journey of some of the more haunted stories she heard from her family, friends, and personal experience. Cemeteries and graveyards are where the dead are laid to rest… but are they always at rest? On the quiet road, a lady who looks alive can come to you and seek help, and then you realize that the story is different. In a vacant gymnasium, you can feel the presence of a creepy companion. What are you going to do? Board with 26 letters, ten numbers, and a few simple words with a bit of company from the spirit world, of course. A fun picnic turns into a spooky experience with a runaway situation; what would you do running screaming and never look back? Or do you prefer to stick around and investigate? A fantastic collection of stories for everyone who enjoys a bit of horror. But be careful; many of these stories are not only going to shake your Imagination but also haunt you in your sleep. Get ready to be disturbed-greatly disturbed.
Akhila Saroha: I would like to begin by congratulating you on the publication of “13 Nights of Tricks.” How has the response to the book been so far?
Shaheen Kazi: Thank you so much, Akhila. The response is mix few readers found it very chilling, terrifying, few found eerie paranormal sensations, and the minority found nothing!! So you see, the response is like a cocktail juice. And the readers who didn’t find anything. Through this conversation, I would like to say I can understand you cannot accept Non-vegetarian to become Vegetarian all of a sudden. The readers who only read romantic books horror books will be a little challenging to take and understand.
Akhila Saroha: What led to the idea of writing “13 Nights of Tricks”? Were there any events that inspired the work?
Shaheen Kazi: To be honest, I never thought of writing horror. Behind writing ’13 Nights of Tricks’, the credit goes to my ten years old son Rahil. He only wanted me to write horror from day one when I started writing ‘Age was just a Number.’ All the 13 stories are inspired by actual events, which is the experience of my friends, family members, and mine too.
Akhila Saroha: How easy or difficult was it for you to write on a subject that held relevance for all and remain objective about them in “13 Nights of Tricks”?
Shaheen Kazi: Yes, it is a vast difference between listening and writing. But I will say it is a massive thing to imagine, especially when you are in someone’s story and can truly understand and focus on writing it down. After all, Writers / Authors write from their own or someone’s experience, but Shaheen Kazi always writes from the bottom of empathy.
Akhila Saroha: What are your views about present-day writing? Do you think it does complete justice in depicting human nature in the light of “13 Nights of Tricks”?
Shaheen Kazi: Writing is not an easy thing; it needs a lot of focus and dedication. Each page, words and lines come from the author hard work. So many authors have their way of writing in their unique style; it should be welcome and appreciated. If the readers felt any eerie, chilling experience while reading ‘13 Nights of Tricks’, then I guess the justice is done.
Akhila Saroha: “13 Nights of Tricks” shows the uniqueness of your style of writing. Are there any authors that you enjoy reading or any books which are your favorites?
Shaheen Kazi: Thank you, I love reading books, and I enjoy reading different kinds of genres. While reading, I read only like a reader and enjoyed the different writing styles from other authors. Ruskin Bond will always be the first name on my list whenever I mention my favourite author name.
Akhila Saroha: How would you categorize “13 Nights of Tricks” as its appeal seems to be to a broad audience?
Shaheen Kazi: I had categorised from each story a unique fear and excitement. Fear has various shades, which you will come across while reading each tale.
Akhila Saroha: “13 Nights of Tricks” has given a powerful introduction to your potential as a writer. Can the readers expect more from you in the future? Would you please share about your future projects?
Shaheen Kazi: Thank you for reading the introduction. Yes, readers can expect more from me because my writing is still on.
Akhila Saroha: What is the story behind the title of your work, “13 Nights of Tricks”?
Shaheen Kazi: There is no story behind the title – only one word, ‘Halloween’. As we are all aware of how horror fans wait for Halloween, I felt to give the title related to Halloween. In the book, there are 13 short stories, so 13 number came from that plot too.
Akhila Saroha: How easy or difficult was it for you to write of others’ experiences which you only heard of without hampering the readers’ perception in “13 Nights of Tricks”?
Shaheen Kazi: It was not that difficult, but yes, it was hair raising while listening from them. While writing down their experience, I only imagined myself in their story. But, alas, that’s the author’s beauty; it can take any shape and form to express.
Akhila Saroha: In the present time, situations in “13 Nights of Tricks” do not find much mention. What, according to you, could be the possible reason for that?
Shaheen Kazi: Not only ‘13 Nights of Tricks’ many titles are not found these days, but that’s also because genuine readers are vanishing in today’s time. According to me, social media. People are finding more happiness in social media than in the book’s pages.
Akhila Saroha: If you were to describe your book “13 Nights of Tricks” in a few words without giving any spoilers, what would those words be?
Shaheen Kazi: “You don’t find ghosts; they find you.’’
Akhila Saroha: Other than “13 Nights of Tricks” you have been an active writer of 3-4 books. Would you please share a little about them?
Shaheen Kazi: My debut romantic novel was AGE WAS JUST A NUMBER, then romantic poetry book for valentine lovers CUPIDS ARROW, for children summer reading with colourful illustrations BAABUBROWN AND HIS SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, poems on 12 zodiac signs STARS IN YOU & ME and then for horror fans 13 NIGHTS OF TRICKS.
Akhila Saroha: Thank you very much for sparing your time. I look forward to reading more books from you in the future. All the best.
Shaheen Kazi: My pleasure Akhila, thanks a lot. Reading is a must for readers, and writing is lust for writers!!
