Interview with La Shun L. Carroll, Author of Chosen

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Chosen?

Well, after having been a Doctor of Dental Surgery for a while, I returned to graduate school two years before my daughter was born because I wanted to do other things. So, I earned my Ed.M. (Education Masters) degree from the University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education majoring in science and the public graduating with a 3.5 GPA. The program prepared me to teach, do research, write in academic peer-reviewed journals, and engage in science debate and communication (Like Bill Nye the science guy, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, etc.).

As an independent researcher and scholar publishing my work in peer-reviewed academic journals, while writing and researching one of my philosophical papers I had an idea about biometric traits being used to distinguish identical twins, supervenience theory, and haecceitism. From my questioning the possibility of non-qualitative differences my first story and foray into fiction novels was born! I thoroughly enjoyed allowing my mind to be free and I have two more ideas for novels, one of which I just completed entitled “Emotionul.”

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I tend to read more works of nonfiction geared toward learning and self-instruction. A

s for my favorite genre to write, while I love academic writing for scholarly publication because it allows for me to be myself and the first to contribute original, thought-provoking ideas to the literature to inspire and entertain others, since my creativity can run equally rampant writing varieties of fiction I may have found an additional outlet for self-expression allowing me to accomplish the same outcomes.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I have the Morpho Anatomy for Artists Series as well as a Guidebook on Information Consultancy on my list.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I would say that the scene in which the identical twins Ted and Chosen encounter each other was the most fun to write and explore. Having no siblings myself, it was fun to contemplate how I might interact with myself given the context of the story. The scene is very important because it establishes the pace and mood for the novel as well as foreshadows a lot of what is to come.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

While I love many kinds of animals, I have always been a cat person without question. I had four cats that were same-age sisters since my late 20s. They were my Golden Girls! Nonetheless, in my mid-forties now, over the last four years, three of them have passed away—Taz, Reagan, and Ashes. Even though I miss them all terribly, there is one surviving Golden Girl who will be 18 years old this August and her name is Baby. Although in her old age Baby does not do it as much, the Golden Girls all used to sit or lay with me while I wrote and studied as my muses. I also wear New York Yankees baseball caps for thinking and writing since I was born and raised in Greenwich Village in Manhattan, NYC!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Since learning reflects growth I try to learn something new about myself, others, and the world everyday.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Stories are like polygons in that they always have many sides. Sides are just perspectives, but perspective is the key to understanding everything!

La Shun L. Carroll is the author of the new book Chosen

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