Charles Casha
Malta
Charles Casha: ‘I am inspired a lot by the characters of people’
Prolific writer Charles Casha, creator of Fra Mudest, tells all in our Q&A
31 December 2020, 8:18am
by Laura Calleja
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The prolific writer and creator of Fra Mudest first published his first novel in 1968 and has been one of Maltese literature’s major contributor. The accident-prone monk Fra Mudest was created for the school magazine Children’s Own in 1967 and has become an icon of Maltese Literature for children.
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What’s the first thing yoU do when you wake up in the morning?
Prepare breakfast and check my emails.
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What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
If you are sure of what you are doing, go right ahead.
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What do you never leave the house without?
My keys, wallet and mobile.
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Pick three words that describe yourself
Reserved, altruistic, anxious.
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What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Raising a family.
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What is your guiltiest pleasure?
I don’t really know. Can’t think of anything.
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What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Never give up.
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Property and cars aside what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?
Computer.
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What is one thing you wish you knew when you were younger?
I would have loved to know my grandparents.
Who’s your inspiration?
I am inspired a lot by the characters of people.
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What has been your biggest challenge?
Finding a satisfying medium between writing, work and family life.
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If you weren’t a teacher what would you be doing?
Probably a clerk in the Civil Service.
Do you believe in God?
Yes, I do. I also believe that at some time in life feel the presence of God even if we don’t realise it. I refer to this belief in one of my novels.
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If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Julia Roberts.
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What’s your worst habit?
Daydreaming.
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What are you like when you’re drunk?
I can’t tell. I am a very moderate drinker.
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Who would you have play you in a film?
I don’t think that would make much difference as probably I would end up in a crowd scene.
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What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Hypocrisy and injustice.
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What music would you have played at your funeral?
‘You raise me up’ (Brenden Graham/Rolf Levland) and ‘Abide with me.’ (Henry Francis Lyte/Will Henry Monk).
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What is your most treasured material possession?
My publications.
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What is your earliest memory?
Living in a world of fantasy while playing on the roof of the house where I was born
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When did you last cry, and why?
When I encounter a very bad experience, I do not cry but tend to become silent or shocked.
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Who would you most like to meet?
Paulo Coelho – the Brazilian author.
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What’s your favourite food?
Pizza, home made meat pies and chicken cacciatore.
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Who’s your favourite person on social media right now?
Celaine Buhagiar of Campus FM.
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If you could travel in time, where would you go?
To France in the Art Nouveau era (1890-1910)
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What book are you reading right now?
‘Prison Diaries 2’ by Jeffrey Archer.
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If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
A power to stop all wars.
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What’s one thing you want to do before you die?
See my grandsons grow.
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What music are you listening to at the moment?
Irish folk music and music by André Rieu’s Johann Strauss orchestra.
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In the shower or when you’re working out, what do you sing/listen to?
I just listen to the sound of the water – with which I have a love and hate relationship. Water and wind are two main elements that feature a lot in my poems.
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