\u2018This novel is a love letter to mythology. I wanted to take elements from all the ancient myths that I have loved for so long and put them into a story of my own. It uses mythology to explore themes of feminism, motherhood, belonging, love, sacrifice, destiny and tragedy. It was supposed to be a stand-alone book but once I started, I couldn\u2019t stop.<\/p>\n
\u2018I had created this world in which there were more stories to be told and so a year later I finished A God of Flames and Monsters<\/em>. I think it does a good job of expanding the universe while exploring themes of personal responsibility, fixing mistakes and doing the right thing even when it isn\u2019t the easy thing.\u2019<\/p>\n Although Michael is an SEO specialist by day, storytelling has been his calling for as long as he can remember \u2026 and laughs about how his imagination practically has a life of its own. In fact, when he doesn\u2019t write, or can\u2019t express himself, he gets grumpy. The stories basically beg to escape.<\/p>\n \u2018The stories are there in my head, and if I don\u2019t let them out, then I get all cranky. I\u2019m not the boss. The stories and the characters are.\u2019<\/p>\n In contrast, his happiest moments are when readers get his work \u2026 catching the details he thought no one would notice. In fact, he was over the moon when a reader from the USA posted a review of A Prophecy of Flowers and Lightning<\/em> earlier this year.<\/p>\n Michael describes his driving force as half passion, half pure spite. Yes, he\u2019s living the writer\u2019s dream fuelled by love for the craft and a desire to thrive in full view of anyone who ever doubted him. (So long, haters!)<\/p>\n \u2018My life motto is \u2026 do not speak quietly about the things that set your soul on fire. Shout them so that even the uninterested will have no choice but to hear you.\u2019<\/p>\n When he\u2019s in creative mode, his home office is his sanctuary. It\u2019s stocked with coffee, chocolate, a large monitor, his fave keyboard and most importantly, peace and quiet. But if he needs a change of scenery, you\u2019ll most probably find him at Mugg & Bean or The Daily, happily tucked away in a cozy corner with a latte.<\/p>\n Right now, he\u2019s already working on the third and (maybe) final book of his Luciferian Mythos series, and he always has a few short stories in the works, which he releases throughout the year.<\/p>\n From where he stands, Michael\u2019s already living his dream. Four years ago, he couldn\u2019t have guessed the amazing journey he was embarking on, and he\u2019s eternally grateful.<\/p>\n Now, he\u2019s just hoping for even more opportunities, ready to seize them with both hands, both feet \u2026 and maybe some coffee or chocolate in hand. Watch this space, because his story is only just beginning.<\/p>\n Details: Follow @michaelkweziferguson on Insta and TikTok<\/em><\/p>\n Any quirky writing rituals?<\/strong> The best way to beat writer\u2019s block?<\/strong> How do you breathe life into your characters?<\/strong> What do you do when you\u2019re not writing?<\/strong> What does your ideal fantasy Christmas look like?<\/strong> You can find his books at Bargain Books, Wordsworth Books and Exclusive Books from around R275. If you want a signed copy, go to Bargain Books at Woodlands Mall and Wordsworth Books at Castel Gate.<\/em><\/p>\n Text: ALANICKA LOTRIET. Images: SUBMITTED.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Follow the trail of empty coffee mugs, chocolate wrappers, and the fragrance of scented candles, and you\u2019ll likely find Michael Ferguson, local author and unrepentant people-watcher. For the past four years, Michael Ferguson\u2019s been channelling his observations \u2026 the quirky auntie, the outspoken artist, the annoyed little brother, your normal oak doing a good deed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":21498,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,20],"tags":[8729,8725,7128,8726,2609,8724,8730,2945,8727,8728,7356],"class_list":{"0":"post-21495","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-a-god-of-flames-and-monsters","10":"tag-a-prophecy-of-flowers-and-lightning","11":"tag-alanicka-lotriet","12":"tag-ephemera","13":"tag-get-it-pretoria-magazine","14":"tag-michael-ferguson","15":"tag-novelist","16":"tag-novels","17":"tag-short-fictions","18":"tag-the-acrimonious-paranormal-fictions","19":"tag-writer"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2024\/11\/Michael-SMALL-2-400x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2024\/11\/A-Prophecy-of-Flowers-and-Lightning-Cover-267x400.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/pretoria\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2024\/11\/A-God-of-Flames-and-Monsters-Cover-267x400.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
\nHahaha! I am quirky by nature so, yes. My favourite time to write is at night. I take a shower or a bath with some of my favourite products from places like Lush or Rain. There is something about what I call \u2018washing the day off of myself\u2019 that really resets my brain and gets me into that creative space. I love music and create playlists that I feel match the vibe of what I am writing. I also like to burn a scented candle while I am writing. Also chocolate! My books were written on top of mountains of empty Cadbury Whole Nut slab wrappers.<\/p>\n
\nI don\u2019t believe in writer\u2019s block. There is only writer\u2019s doubt. But, if a writer ever feels \u2018blocked\u2019 there are three things that might help. The first thing is to write through the problem. Get whatever you can down on the page. You will either solve the problem this way or you can come back to it later. Secondly, walk away and do something else. Whatever you are struggling with in the story will be resolved and pop into your head while you are doing the dishes or in the drive thru line at Burger King. Lastly, talk about the story. Call a friend or your mom or even just talk to yourself and tell them your story out loud. This sounds strange but it really helps and it\u2019s like a lightbulb will go off in your head with all the answers you need.<\/p>\n
\nI do use bits and pieces from people in real life (or even situations people have found themselves in) to give my characters life and believability. I have so much love and respect for women, and I can only hope that comes across in my writing. I find women a little more interesting to write about than men. They have a nuance to them – in my mind anyway – that make them more enjoyable for me to write than my male characters. They can be powerful while also being beautiful, dangerous and at the same time beguiling in ways that men just can\u2019t be.<\/p>\n
\nMaking a fool of myself on social media, reading, watching TV and spending time with friends, family and of course my partner, Berno. We have three sausage dogs who keep us busy, too. Tammy is geriatric at 14 years old and only moves when food is put in her bowl. Merry and Pippin are eight months old and enjoy causing chaos wherever their paws carry them.<\/p>\n
\nI absolutely adore Christmas. I go all out every year. Decorations everywhere. A perfect Christmas is time with family, good food – roast chicken! – that is prepared and eaten together, good wine (white preferably in the Summer \u2026 especially Leopards Leap Chenin Blanc and De Grendel Cap Classique Brut). And don\u2019t forget, lots of books under the Christmas tree. As far as I am concerned nothing beats a good book as a Christmas present, to give or receive.<\/p>\n