Leaving a stable 9-to-5 job to become a full-time author is a feat that not many can accomplish. Let us introduce you to Saad Goungaf, an author who did exactly that!
If you are passionate enough, nothing can stop you from becoming an Author. Saad Goungaf, who became deaf at a very tender age, used to work in the IT industry and then quit to follow his innate talent of writing.
Let’s dive in and find out more about this amazing writer!
About the Author: Saad Goungaf
Saad Goungaf is a Morrocan author who published his debut novel ‘A Smouldering Path’ in Septemeber 2019.
Saad comes from a modest family of teachers and literary cultural background. And his family has been supportive of him. Saad believes that their support has been the biggest drive to continue on this thorny path and strive for a bed of roses.
Author Saad Goungaf was born in Casablanca, Morocco in 1988. It’s the largest city in Morocco and hailed as the birthplace of many celebrities of cultural and sport backgrounds. It’s considered the economic pole of the country. His upbringing and growth were in middle-class districts.
Saad Goungaf shared his life experiences and his writing journey
What were you like at school? Any childhood memory you would like to share.
According to my parents and teachers, I was considered a calm, well-mannered kid endowed with a gift for academics. Mainly for science, since it was my favourite subject. I had a quiet, uneventful childhood (aside from becoming deaf at a very tender age).
What are your qualifications?
This might come as a surprise, but I am a certified computer sciences engineer. Before I started writing, I worked in the craft of making websites/mobile apps, mainly using Javascript libraries and frameworks. As for writing, it just comes naturally to me. I believe it’s my innate talent.
What is your biggest achievement till today?
Not losing my sanity.
I am joking. If I had to say something about this, it would probably be winning the gold medal in chess during the national university Olympic games in 2009 and reaching the finals of the cultural competition. My schoolmates lifted me in the air for a good five minute. Not falling down on the ground and dying was the biggest achievement.
Which writers inspire you?
I believe for the art of prose, it would be Hemingway, Chekhov and for Poetry, Poe.
Writing is stressful at times. How do you relax your mind?
I never write while stressed. If I am like that, I just watch series or read Manga or play video games.
What is your favourite motivational phrase?
None. Phrases like that don’t move me a single bit. I rather find them an excuse for laziness. I motivate myself by punching myself in guts and then say “All right, let’s do this”.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
“Don’t do dumb shit especially when you know it is a dumb shit. And being nice is fine, but give more value to yourself than others at times. The world is full of unscrupulous ScoundRels.”
What books do you like to read personally? What are you reading currently?
Personally, I would like to re-read the life and games of Mikhail Tal. It’s an autobiography of a certain amusing chess world champion full of funny anecdotes of the life of a dreamer and a player. I am reading nothing at the moment for personal reasons.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
None. I want to continue writing my own books.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I write during the night because it’s peacefully serene and not suffering from the annoyances of the kids in the schoolyard in front of my residence. An insufferable, tormenting cacophony that makes one wants to nuke the place.
But All right, let’s not get carried on, I don’t want the cops at my door. As for my day, I just spend it either gathering material for my novel or writing at night. I do sports at the weekend, mainly jogging and football.
About the Book: A Smouldering Path
A Smouldering Path is Saad Goungaf’s debut book which is a fictional story of a retired officer, Mr Vincent, who returns to his hometown after years.
While his old friends and family are happy to see, a group of young brats misbehaves with him. Vincent tries not to indulge into something serious with them but somehow finds himself at the center of their world!
The story has many well-written characters who do not make you feel like reading a debut book!
Coming Soon: A Detailed book review of A Smouldering Path will be published soon!
We continued our discussion about Saad’s book ‘A Smouldering Path’ and he shared his writing journey with us. Read his answers further.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing?
I had the general plotline and its outline in my mind for years but back then, I was working in IT. I once, during a book fair in 2016, had a date with a girl and told her what I had in mind. She told me to go for it, two years later, I did so.
What is the hardest & the easiest thing about writing fiction?
The hardest would be avoiding repetitive and overused ideas, especially in fantasy genre whereas in Slice of life/drama, that can be tolerated because of its realism, and I believe in realism, there are things that are bound to happen in several aspects of the daily life.
The easiest is writing these ideas down. I usually never make outlines. I just get in the zone and write.
How was the journey from the manuscript to a published novel?
An odd one. It’s an experience I have never felt like before. I would like to repeat it for years to come.
What was the inspiration behind the characters in your book?
“These are the days of our lives” by Queen is what gave me the inspiration to write relatable characters with their perks and troubles and problems. Of course, the main character and his general plotline is an exception given how he lived.
Any special experience about this book that you would like to share.
I once found myself engrossed in reading more of my book after taking a mere glance and laughing at my own written jokes. Pathetic.
Future Plans
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Becoming a world-class writer.
Are you working on your new project? What will be your next book about?
A fantasy novel. I won’t say anything more than that, but I guarantee it is ten times more exciting than “A smouldering path” and full of plot twists (and a bit larger). The cast is even more diverse. Stay tuned!
What does success mean to you as an Author?
Making a wandering whim I had one day during class at 15 a reality.
Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
No Idea, I will leave that to God.
Your opinion of Vowelor.
I’d say it’s a respectable service of renown with reasonable prices. Our meeting was fate as I didn’t particularly aim for it at first, but it seems very promising as I struggled to find an adequate promotional option.
