Happy Hump Day! Shari Sakurai isn’t quite sure if she worked with a ghost or a human at a previous job, and feels a cat is a must-have for writers. Sounds like she’s my kind of people. Welcome Shari!
You’re in a horror movie. Are you the final person, the first to die, the comic relief, the skeptic, the smart one, or the killer?
I have pretty good survival instincts so I’ll say I’d be the final person. I do also have a wicked sense of humour so I would provide some comic relief too!
Creepiest thing that’s ever happened while you were alone?
I used to work in an old Georgian building which had a basement that went under the entire city and used to be part of the city’s jail. When I was working there it was used to store documents and files. Once I had to go down there to put some files away and there was an old man down there doing some filing. He said he used to work here and that he came back on a voluntary basis to help out. We chatted for a few minutes and then I went back upstairs. As I went by reception I told the receptionists about him. They looked a bit alarmed and said that he had been dead for years! To this day I don’t know whether they were messing with me or whether I actually spoke to a ghost!
If you were paid to spend the night in a haunted house, would you do it?
Absolutely! In fact I’d probably do it for free! I love being scared and staying in a haunted house would be an amazingly terrifying experience!
What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?
Laptop, music, an endless supply of Dr Pepper and a cat. Why a cat? They make great muses and writing companions. My cat Tash often sleeps on my laptop case and when I need a break she’s always wanting to be petted or play with one of her toys!
What’s your work schedule like when you’re writing?
It varies depending on what I am working on. I try to write something every day even if it is just a paragraph, but much of my writing schedule focuses on the weekends when I have more free time. At the moment the schedule is quite light. I’ve got my current work in progress and a little side project I’m working on. In a few months’ time I expect it to be heavier again as I’m also going to be starting the next novel in my Perfect World series.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on the sequel to my vampire novel Demon’s Blood. Determined to save his lover from the demon Kurai’s possession, Thane returns to Japan and begins his search for Takata Koji; Taku’s sire and the only vampire who has the knowledge to save him.
Immortal blood is precious and Kokawa Taku’s makes him especially unique.
After vampire hunters force them to flee Tokyo, Taku and his lover, Thane, try to make a new life for themselves in England. But three months later Thane is still tormented by nightmares of the fire that almost cost them their lives. This leads to carelessness and the discovery of one of his victims.
When faced with threats from all sides Taku tries his best to protect them although his actions are met with disapproval and anger from Thane. Unknown to his lover, Taku is also struggling to keep hidden the truth of what really happened three months ago.
However, it is only a matter of time before Taku’s past and bloodline catches up with him.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I11W9FE
Author Bio
Shari Sakurai is a British author of paranormal, horror, science fiction and fantasy novels that almost always feature a LGBT protagonist and/or antagonist. She has always loved to write and it is her escape from the sometimes stressful modern life!
Aside from writing, Shari enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to (loud!) music, going to rock concerts and learning more about other societies and cultures. Japanese culture is of particular interest to her and she often incorporates Japanese themes and influences into her work.
Shari loves a challenge and has taken part and won the National Novel Writing Month ten times!
Website: http://www.sharisakurai.com
Social Media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharisakurai
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharisakurai/
Books and Such 
Switch Dr Pepper and a cat for coffee and two dogs, and I’m right there with her. Wishing Shari all the best.
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I need Diet Coke, and the cat totally works for me, of course. Bond is a very discerning editor.
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Another REALLY creepy experience!!
And who doesn’t love a cat while writing. Tash is a great name.
All the best to Shari.
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It made me think of the first Ghostbusters movie with the ghost librarian shushing them, lol. Cats made books better, in my opinion.
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This sounds like a great read. I have to admit, I’m a sucker (heehee) for a vampire story.
I guess if the coworker was “alarmed” that the dead man was down there working, then it wasn’t a joke but a real ghost! Wow, what an experience!
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I’m also a sucker (couldn’t resist it since you mentioned it) for a vampire story, Priscilla. I’d probably have gone back to see if the ghost was still there.
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That sounds like quite a creepy meeting with a ghost. Nice to meet Shari and learn about her book.
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Kind of makes you wonder if its happened to you and you just don’t realize it, Robbie.
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My cat hates my laptop. She continually jumps on my lap then off until I close it down so that she can have the spot, lol. What kind of cat fo you have, Shari?
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She’s a black and white domestic short-hair. I called her Tash as she’s got a little white bow under her nose that looks like a moustache! What kind of cat do you have?
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Our cat also has a white mustache. He’s a tuxedo cat – Mr. Bond, or Bond for close friends. He likes to walk across my laptop to see what damage he can do.
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Mr Bond sounds adorable!
lol! Tash does that occasionally too! She once pressed a key that changed some settings and it took me ages to figure out what she had done and how to undo it!
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She sounds gorgeous! I have a tortoiseshell named Harley. She has as much attitude as her namesake, too!
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I love torties! Harley’s a great name! That’s awesome she lives up to her namesake too!
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My son just adopted a totoiseshell a couple of months back – adorable and loads of attitude.
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Harley’s mom was a Siamese. You can see it in the size of her head and her temperament, lol
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My cat is a mixed bag with writing for me. Sometimes, she just cuddles up and purrs. A lot of the time though, she just tries to pull me away from the screen 🙂
Still, it’s great to see another Brit-living author writing LGBT characters in the run 🙂
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Cats always want all the attention, don’t they, Matt? Until they find something else they’d rather do.
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Yup! No sense of humour either. Once they do something silly like fall over or miss a jump, that hate it when you laugh.
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My cat is the least graceful I’ve ever had – and yes, he strikes back when I laugh!
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LOL. Mine likes to follow you, wait for you to sit down, then sit in front of you so you can see her turn her back to you.
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At least that’s a more passive approach. Bond literally wraps his paws around your leg and tried to take a bite.
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LOL. Striking back rather than just trying to make you feel bad.
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Absolutely love the tunnel story. I got to visit the Shanghai tunnels in Portland, and I can see that happening down there.
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Can’t say I’ve been in any tunnels like that, but I’d sure love to visit.
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I’d swap the cat for two Cardigan Corgis and a pot of English Breakfast tea.
Great to meet Shari. I loved her creepy true story about the old man in the basement. That’s a whole book in itself.
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Corgis are adorable! I’m not a tea or coffee person – just give me a Diet Coke. And you’re right, Hugh – that’s a good start for a book.
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide.
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Really interesting interview. And of course, the cat!!
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I usually have a furry friend beside me when I write, also, Sue. He’s a very discriminating editor.
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LOL. I love that 🙂
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