The name is Katz. Daan Katz. Looking for breathtaking stories packed with trauma and suffering? Look no further. Daan’s got you covered!
What got you into writing your own stories? That's a hard question to answer, because, quite honestly, I can't really remember. I just know that I've always loved stories and started writing my own shortly after I'd learned how to spell. Then I discovered I loved writing so much, I never stopped.
What genre do you write?
I write poetry and speculative fiction. My fiction includes elements of classical fantasy, magical realism, sci-fi, horror, psychological thriller... So, it's a bit hard to pin down, but I think the most important thing readers should know about my stories is that they are always very character-focused. And I say character-focused, and not character-driven, because I like to delve deeply into the psychology of my characters.
Tell us about your WIP.
I'm currently working on the second book of my series "Curse of the Fathers". Although I’m not very far in yet, the story is already shaping up nicely. We’re following Bel as the main protagonist now, and Niels as the secondary protagonist, but we’ll also get to know our villain better, and we’re following Lori in her struggle to come to terms with what happened to her in Night’s Reign.
How would you describe your writing style?
To me, it's just writing, but others have described my writing style as elegant, easy, and engaging, so I'll go with that.
What comes more easily, plot or characters?
Characters, hands-down. My characters usually just come to me, introduce themselves, and as I get to know them better, they tell me their stories and allow me to get to know them even better. I've never sat down to do character worksheets or anything, and don't think they would even work for me.
Do you cross over genres or do you only stick to one?
As mentioned above, my style doesn't fit neatly into one particular box.
What is your "writer's den" like?
My writer’s den is my living room. I have a nice spacious desk with a nice desktop computer, which I hardly ever use. Instead, I usually sit on the couch, surrounded by my cats, as I write on my laptop. Though I would like to work at my desk more often, the reality is that my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome often prevents me from doing that. But there a special charm to trying to write a story with your cats attacking your fingers… 😉
What are you most grateful for as a writer? When I write, I can be the person I truly am. Complex, caring, analytical and detail oriented. I can lose myself in my special interests, without anyone thinking anything of it. I’m a writer, after all, and need to do my research. Also, writing helps me deal with all the nastiness life likes to throw at us. I can pick it up and throw it right back at life through my writing.
Do you have a day job? What is it? My day job is being chronically ill. And don't be mistaken, that IS a full job. People often overlook how much time and energy being chronically ill gobbles up, and some even say out loud that it must be nice not to have to go to your job to earn your keep. Strangely, when I ask them if they'd want to switch places with me, they always decline my kind offer.
Has a real-life experience informed your writing? Share the scene it inspired. All my writing is solidly grounded in real life. It's not just one scene, but just for illustration, let's just have a look at Bel. Like me, she's wheelchair-dependent, and also like me, she doesn't let that stop her from doing the things she truly wants to do. Also like me, she's a classical singer - only she's a professional, and I a passionate amateur.
Do you read the same genre you write? Why, or why not? My reading is not restricted to one genre - just like my writing can't truly be confined to one specific genre. Some of my favourite writers are Robin Hobb, Joanne Greenberg, Ernest Hemingway, Anne Frank, and the Brontë sisters. I need no special reason to read widely. I just read what I like.
Do you read fellow indie authors' works? Why or why not? Yes, but only if I like their writing. I always download samples first, and if I don't enjoy what I read, I DNF. My time is too precious to waste on writing I don't like.
Give us three fun facts about yourself. 1) Complete strangers sometimes call me Max Verstappen when they see me racing my wheelchair. 2) I broke my ankle when I was fourteen, and still managed to run on it. I didn't realise it was broken until my mum had me X-rayed at the hospital.
3) I love playing scales on the piano.
What is something about you that few people know? If I told you that, many people would know it...
Do you have any hobbies? I'm a passionate amateur musician: a classical singer first, and a pianist second.
Do you have pets?
I have three cats. The oldest of the three is 11-year-old Thalia, a Maine Coone mix - though looking at her size, you'd never be able to tell. The other two are my 5-year-old Norwegian Forest Cats Rafaela and Mozart. They are BIG. All three are incredibly social and want to be by my side as much as possible. Fun fact about my cats: Thalia is named for the Muse Thalia, Rafaela is named for the painter Rafael, and Mozart... well, I don't think I need to tell anyone who he's named for. And he lives up to his name. He loves music and is an absolute enfant terrible.
Featured books: Night's Reign
Why would you like to feature this book?
Night's Reign is my debut novel and introduces the reader to my worlds and characters.
What's your favorite review of this book?
It's hard to choose just one favourite review, but this one by Rebecca Fuentes definitely made it to the top of my list:
I greatly enjoyed Katz's book. He hits the right notes on several fronts. His prose is clean and straightforward, with a light touch on description that still gives us a good impression of this world and characters. The world of Night's Reign has modern technology: vehicles, DNA testing, and advanced neurosurgery, but still gives the feel of high fantasy, because it also has magical medallions, mysterious, long-lived races, and dragons. Katz dribbled the worldbuilding through so each new reveal feels both proper and surprising. Like any book, my favorite part was the characters. Niels and Bel are likable and engaging. Their relationship works well together, and I love Bel's family. The family relationships on both sides were a big draw for me. I love any book that brings a whole family in to take on the BBEG in the final scene, and if I could add any quibble, it would be to draw out and make the last battle more epic.
"He will live. He has to. I’ll personally kick his holy arse back to life if he dares die on me."
Who was your favorite character to write and why? Why are you asking such hard questions? I loved writing Niels. I loved writing Bel. And Leks, and Dragomir... They're all such interesting characters. How can I choose but one?
What was your favorite scene to write and why? That would be the scene by the stream in the woods. Yes, that one. Niels' reaction was priceless!
What's the message you worked into this book?
If there's one message I'd like my readers to take away from this book, it would be that being disabled doesn't mean being inferior. But there's quite a few other messages as well, and it's really up to the reader to find them, or not. I'm perfectly fine with my readers simply enjoying the story on its own merit.
Find out more about Daan here.