Q&A with Author, Charles Ta

Charles Ta – Author Bio

Charles Ta is a writer, illustrator, and educator based in Union City, NJ. His short story “Tough Luck, Kid” was previously published as part of a short story anthology in the book BLAST by author Robert Blake Whitehill, the latest entry in his Ben Blackshaw action/thriller series. He has also had stories published in Sci-Phi Journal (“Xenogram: A Chronology Of The Global Erasure Of Vowel Number Three, And The Merger Of Man”), and 365 Tomorrows (“To the Bitter End”), as well as written freelance nonfiction pieces for clients on Linkedin. When not immersed in a good book or traveling to strange, often alien worlds, Charles teaches special education students in West New York, NJ. 

Q&A

What is it about dragons that you love so much?

For me, my love of dragons comes from their beauty, mystery, and majesty– the fact they have always evoked in me a sense of wonder since childhood, the possibility of another world unlike ours. Yet their terrifying power and the legends and myths surrounding them have also left a permanent mark across human history, art, and culture, giving them a larger than life feel to them, as if they are a symbol of something greater, something we don’t quite understand. Plus, dragons are just awesome and epic– who hasn’t fantasized about riding one across the sky?

Why do you enjoy writing about dragons?

I actually haven’t written about dragons that much in the past, but I particularly enjoyed writing my most recent story (Tales from the Dragoning) because I was interested in exploring the societal, political, economic, and cultural effects of dragons emerging in our world, specifically in the colonial late 18th century. Depending on the myth or source material, dragons are such magical creatures that if they were to be introduced into our world, they would fundamentally alter human civilization forever, and change our view of ourselves as well as our conception of history. 

What are some of your favorite books to read featuring dragons?

I’ve always liked the dragon from the epic poem Beowulf– the descriptions from the text make the dragon feel almost like a force of nature, and highlight its monstrous qualities. Yet its death is at the hands of Beowulf and Wiglaf is almost portrayed as tragic. I also find the description of the Jabberwocky from Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem very memorable. Furthermore, I enjoy reading about dragons from myths and legends (Asia, Persia, South America, etc).

What got you into writing?

I have always enjoyed creative writing since I was very young, and was encouraged by my English teachers (and even Science teachers) to seriously pursue it. I started submitting my writing in high school, and after finding early success with poetry, and some fiction, decided to study both subjects in college, and work on my craft in my spare time. For me, the writing process and the act of worldbuilding and imagining stories to tell is an intrinsically meaningful process that deals with the very essence of humanity. We are a meaning-making, storytelling species, and could not have gotten very far past the Stone Age without first creating drawings on cave walls, or telling myths and tales to each other to rationalize and make sense of the world around us!

If there was one piece of advice you could give to other writers, what would it be?

Perseverance and practice are key to success as a writer. Being able to stomach rejection (and it will happen by the way– even the best writers were rejected dozens of times before their first big break), edit your piece when necessary, and improve yourself and your craft constantly will put you above others who will give up at the first sign of difficulty. The life of a writer is not for the faint of heart, and not for the dispassionate. If you cannot see yourself as anything else but a writer, and continue to push on and pursue your dreams no matter what people say or do, or how many rejections you receive, then you are born to be a writer. You have to keep going, and NEVER give up, as well as understand success does not come right away (it rarely does for any field, not just writing). But when it finally does, the sense of accomplishment is so worth it. 

Where can readers follow your writer platform?

Readers can follow me on my Instagram (@charlestaart or https://www.instagram.com/charlestaart/) and my Threads (https://www.threads.net/@charlestaart) where I post both my art and writing, my personal website (charlesta.com), my Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesta/), and my Twitter/X (https://twitter.com/CharlesTaArt). I am most active on Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn, not so much Twitter/X or my website unless I update it. Therefore if anyone has any questions for me or wishes to follow my work, they should definitely keep their eyes peeled for updates in the three sites I have mentioned.