Natasha Mostert
" 'One of the most original voices on the literary scene...a master wordsmith' - Glamour Magazine  "

Female
100 years old
London,
United Kingdom



Last Login: 10/9/2008
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   Contacting Natasha Mostert

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/natashamostert  

    Natasha Mostert's Interests
GeneralI am an avid kickboxer and train five times a week. My trainer is Carlos Andrade, former WKA European Light-Heavyweight Kick Boxing champion and every Friday morning at eight he gets to kick me around in a full-on sparring session. Sadly, I broke my ankle a few months ago when I managed -- much to my surprise -- to kick his leg out from underneath him. For details of this heroic battle, please check out my blog entry: 'Broken Bones'.

 

Kickboxer

 

My other great love is music. Without it, I would not be able to write.
MusicI am passionate about music, so much so that I wrote a novel about it. Titled The Other Side of Silence, it tells the story of three friends trying to solve the riddle of The Pythagorean Comma – one of the oldest mysteries in the science of sound. But this is a mystery not meant to be solved...Read more about it on my website: www.natashamostert.com.

 

Who do I like? A few favourites:

 

Nina Simone: voluptuous sophistication and crystalline purity.
Leonard Cohen: Super sexy poet.
Shahin and Sepehr: My favourite background music when writing.
David Hykes and The Harmonic Choir: They do things with their voices that is not humanly possible - every time I listen to Hearing Solar Winds it takes my breath away.
Opera: My mother is a voice coach for opera singers and I was fed baby food while Casta Diva was playing in the background. That kind of indoctrination is hard to shake.
Loreena McKennit: She sings the way I wish I could write.
Tori Amos: Strange (wonderful) little girl.
Bruce Springsteen: He's the boss.
Dragonforce = Metal poets.
Borodin's second string quartet.
Pachelbel's Canon – the Leppard/English Chamber Orchestra rendition.
I'll take any Bach I can get. And any Mozart.
Vanessa Mae playing Classical Gas.
Ottmar Liebert
Francis Cabrel
The Killing Floor
Seal's Kiss of a Rose.
Any Hans Zimmer soundtrack.
The soundtrack to the Inspector Morse series
New Order. Crystal is best.
Razorlight
Incubus
R.E.M
Cengiz A personal friend. A cool guy making great music.
When I'm homesick I listen to Splash, Patricia Majalisa and the Dalom Kids - all great performers of South African Mpantsula jive.
MoviesToo many to mention. Old favourites that relax me: Gattaca, Lawrence of Arabia, Stakeout, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, Tootsie, Manon des Sources, When Harry met Sally, Children of a Lesser God, 84 Charing Cross Road, What's eating Gilbert Grape, Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightly). John Sayles movies. Alan Parker movies. Michael Mann movies. Kathryn Bigelow movies. Jackie Chan movies!
TelevisionInspector Morse, Battlestar Galactica, Ultimate Fighting Championship (I'm a huge Randy Couture fan – his first fight with Lidell is one for the ages – and the fight against Sylvia - Randy, you beauty!), Simon Schama on Power of Art, Firefly, Numb3rs, Shark - if only for James Woods. Best timing of any actor around.
BooksToo many to list. A few favourites: Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea.
Donna Tart's The Secret History (but not The Little Friend).
I am fascinated by Cormac McCarthy's use of language, if sometimes perplexed by his narrative.
Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris – how is it possible for any one to be this clever and erudite without being irritating?
Neil Gaiman: imagination to the square
Anything by Jorge Luis Borges.
William Gibson's Neuromancer. Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.
The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje. The Apothecary's Daughter by Patricia Schonstein.
Sports books: Robert Twigger's Angry White Pyjamas. Dark Trade by Donald McRae.
Suspense writers: Barry Eisler, PD James.
Horror: Stephen King.
HeroesPeople who manage to face up to everyday drudgery and routine with humour and determination. The nine-to-fivers whose lives may not have much heroic content but who stick it out for the sake of their families and still manage to see the funny side. The ones who, as the Neil Young song says, "never get to fall in love, never get to be cool," but who keep the faith.

     Natasha Mostert's Details
Status:Married
Here for:Networking
Hometown:Johannesburg
Body type:5' 3"
Zodiac Sign:Capricorn
Education:Grad / professional school
Occupation:Novelist



Natasha Mostert is working on the copy edits of her new book. Last chance to make changes...

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   Natasha Mostert's Blurbs
About me:
  • Author of four suspense novels
  • Brilliant, raven-haired psychic
  • Saw her first ghost at age four
  • Likes to take midnight rides on horseback and practices levitation twice a day
OK, the part about the levitation and the horses is made up. The 'raven-haired psychic' description might be slightly over the top as well. And I haven’t seen a ghost yet, but I plan to. The bit about the suspense novels is true.

 

I live in London and I write dark, psychological thrillers with a strong dash of mysticism and the paranormal.

 

My fourth book, Season of the Witch, is a modern gothic thriller about techgnosis and the Art of Memory and is now available in the UK and the US.

 

It received a starred review in Kirkus, which describes it as a 'brain- squeezing thriller' and another starred review in Publishers Weekly, which calls it 'goth SF at its finest'. The novel has also garnered praise from writers such as Mo Hayder who describes it as 'a mesmerising blend of alchemy and sexuality'.

 

I have lived in South Africa, New York City and London. Previous jobs include selling shoes, teaching Afrikaans at a South African university and moonlighting as a project coordinator in the publishing department of a public television station in New York City. I now write full- time.

 

To read an excerpt from Season of the Witch, click here .

 

Note for book clubs: Please visit my website at www.natashamostert .com for discussion questions on Season of the Witch.

US Booklaunch

 

Season of the Witch launch party in NYC. The lovely lady in blue is my editor, Julie Doughty.

 

NEW! I have added a discussion board on my website and would love to hear your ideas. This is a free-wheeling discussion board, which is not just about my books but is open to anything that excites your imagination. You are welcome to start your own topic or add your voice to some of the other threads. Please jo in us!

More praise for Season of the Witch:

 

'Renders suspense, an atmosphere fraught with eroticism, and compelling characters. Fans of Anne Rice and Joyce Carol Oates should appreciate Mostert's take on mysticism, magic and the ancient art of memory.'
Booklist

 

'saturated in beauty, with wonderful observations, insights and eroticism...a bewitching book.'
Ian Watson, author of The Jonah Kit and the screen story for AI.

 

If you'd like to know more about me and my work, please visit my website: www.natashamostert .com

Memory game: Try it out!

 

To promote my new novel Season of the Witch, my website includes an interactive memory game with prizes to be won. The game is now live, so please visit my site and check it out. It won't work on your Playstation 3 or X Box and there is no fake blood or things that blow up but it's a pretty cool game anyway...:)

 

The site also features a synopsis of the novel and I have posted notes that will give you a behind-the-scenes peek at how I plotted this book. Click here to visit the site: www.seasonofthewit ch.com.

Why mysticism?

My interest in mysticism started in early childhood when I was growing up in South Africa. My aia (nanny) was a Zulu woman who introduced me to African legends and the world of the insangoma (witch doctors). For many years I thought she was the coolest person on the planet and tried to emulate her in every way. I remember exasperating my mother by insisting on stacking several bricks below each corner of the bed to keep out of reach of the tokkelosh – an evil gnome with an enormous head but very short legs! Years later I would write about this in The Midnight Side. The concept of witches and witchcraft would surface again in Season of the Witch.

A different kind of woo woo

Even though I write about subjects, which many people consider far-fetched and fey, I always embed them firmly within a realistic, every-day framework. The ghost in The Midnight Side does not drag chains or howl outside windows - she finds it more amusing to manipulate the stock exchange. My witches in Season of the Witch do not use boiling cauldrons as their tools, but computers and code. By carefully blending hard fact with paranormal conjecture, I hope to seduce my reader not into a 'willing suspension of disbelief' but into accepting unquestionably the veracity of the world I build in my books. My research for my novels is intensive and rigorous.

Praise for Natasha Mostert's novels

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'Bedtime reading for the brave'
The Times (London)

 

'A unique, wild imagination'
Bangor Chronicle

 

'Classy psychic thriller...original, unsettling... kicks the usual preconceptions into shape'
The Literary Review

 

'absorbing psychological detail... climactic surprise, a humdinger'
Kirkus Reviews

 

'hauntingly elegant'
Booklist

 

'a brilliant tale in the thriller genre with little dots of spirituality here and there'
Cape Times

 

'Highly accomplished'
Toronto Globe and Mail

Who I'd like to meet:
  • Oscar Pistorius: fastest man on no legs
  • Aung San Suu Kiy
  • Thomas Friedman
  • Neil Gaiman
  • Joyce Carol Oates
  • Archie Moore if he were still alive (imagine still being the world light heavy weight boxing champion at age 49.)
  • NASA's Voyager 1

   Natasha Mostert's Friend Space (Top 23)
Natasha Mostert has 1429 friends.
 Authors of Myspace 


 Carlos 


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 Lulu in NY... 


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 Mat Black 


 Lisa 


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 wally 


 Ros 


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 lupinelady99 


 Witchy Woman 


 Barbara 


 Barry Eisler 


 Poor Man's Guru 


 Paul H. Smith 


 The Village Bookshop 


 Paul the Innocent 


 david 


 morrighan 


 Lisa Kessler Writer 





Natasha Mostert's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 907 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Travis Little





Oct 9 2008 12:16 PM

Hello, still busy?
Hope it's going well. If you get a minute could you take a quick look at my latest blog and tell me what you think. Cheers, keep well.
C.R. Moss





Oct 7 2008 4:23 PM

Thanks for the add & MySpace friendship! & Don’t forget to check out my blog!
=)
C.R. Moss
CJ West





Oct 5 2008 3:01 PM

Hey.

I haven't been by in a while and thought I'd stop in and say hi. Hope you're having a relaxing Sunday. The Pats and Red Sox are playing, so I know I will.

A Demon Awaits will be out on October 14th. I'm excited for the release, the screenplay and the new book I started about a month ago.

What's happening in your world?

CJ
♦Tigerbay♦





Oct 3 2008 3:08 AM

Hi Natasha,

How are you & how was your week?

Thank you very much for accepting my request... I am thankful for the friendship.

Wishing you a great start into the coming weekend.

Big hug

Ta xoxox
Morgaine added new pics





Sep 29 2008 11:52 AM

I don't know if I'd describe myself as a female martail artist. I used to do pro wrestling as well as martail arts but can't much now as I am always at work when my classes run. I will be interested in your new book after finishing reading Season of the Witch.

It is funny that you say Morgaine would have been a great name for a third witch sister as I keep thinking I would probably make a good basis for a character in a book based on my own life. I follow an egyptain influenced style of witchcraft, but as my ancestors are mainly Scottish and Irish I feel the pull of the celtic gods. However the egyptain Bast made it clear early on in my path that I was to follow her. I also live near a community of orthodox jews. A branch of my family were jewish and as it is from my mam they consider me jewish so keep trying to get me to join them. I should get writing about me in a fictional context. Lol.

Thanx for accepting my request
Jenny loves Johnny





Sep 28 2008 11:41 PM

I just finished Season of the Witch, and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to your next book!
Lisa Kessler Writer





Sep 28 2008 4:55 AM

Hi Natasha -

I hope the edits are going well!

Have a great weekend!

Talk to you soon...

Lisa :)
Michelle S aka Lady Snowolf





Sep 28 2008 4:12 AM

Have a Wonderful Sunday =)
My Motto:
'Whatever you do today, do it with Greatness and Pride'

Lots of Love,
Michelle
Christopher Geary





Sep 27 2008 11:42 AM

Have a great weekend Natasha.
M.I.A [midget in action]





Sep 24 2008 3:50 AM

Thanks! I'm sure someone will be BUYING me a cake, but probably no baking lol. That's probably for the best anway ;)

School is going well and writing is going well also. Working on various different things!

Thanks again for the comment! I hope you have a great day tomorrow!

Jess
Lil Ninja





Sep 19 2008 9:15 PM

Thank you for the comment!! By the way your one awesome writer. Question thought, can I be nosey and ask what's the next book your writting?
Samantha





Sep 19 2008 1:00 AM

Thank you for adding me. I love Season of the Witch because it was so original. I read so much and it seems I can always find a book simmilar to the one Im currently reading. Thank you for keeping it original and writing such a wonderful story.
MagickCircles.com





Sep 18 2008 11:43 PM

We will overcome!;)
brendaf





Sep 16 2008 7:02 PM

Thank you kindly for accepting my invitation...your support is well needed...thanks again...www.authortree.com/brendaf
philosopherswalk





Sep 14 2008 3:58 PM

I love a book I can become obsessed with! Can't wait to read more... Have you read any of Graham Joyce's work?
morrighan





Sep 13 2008 6:52 PM

Hi Natasha! Touching base here... Been busy with purchising a house etc, etc. Closing's coming and up and all the "fun" things that go with moving. I'm trying to get back to the daily life. The only thing holding me back is the flu. LOL Hope you're doing well.
Christopher Geary





Sep 13 2008 8:08 AM

Thank you very much for yoiur kind words. It is nice to meet you:)
Jeremy





Sep 12 2008 7:37 PM

Thank you, thank you, Im hoping for a good year. how have you been?
Cricket Yoki





Sep 12 2008 6:50 PM

Hello Natasha, how are things? I hope all is well for you and yours! Enjoy your weekend!
Cricket
Tricia





Sep 11 2008 1:34 PM

Thank you for the add.
Krom 69





Sep 11 2008 12:01 PM

thanks for the comment,
i like to write poetry,and short stories,but i'm not very good at it.

it did help me get through college lit classes though.

God bless you
Jody Cole