It ‘s very interesting to see how authors plan and execute their work. There is no prescribed rules for success. You do what works best for you. This clearly emerges from author interviews. Recently I featured in one with Reshmy Pillai over at ” The Tales Pensieve.”
In the meanwhile, I wanted to interview authors myself, especially those like me, who write thrillers. The first writer to accept my invitation to be interviewed on this blog was Alex Shaw. Thanks so much, Alex, for sharing your views with me.
Here’s the full interview with this prolific writer ” who won’t be stopped now”, the author of best sellers like “Hetman” and “Cold Black”:
- Who are some of your favourite authors?
Stephen Leather, Alex Berenson, Vince Flynn and Tom Clancy are my four top authors. Stephen and Alex have both corresponded to me by email and been supportive of my own writing. All four write in the same genre that I do and have inspired me to continue writing.
- What do you think is the most difficult part of being an author?
Getting time to actually write. I have two small sons (four and two and a half years old). I usually write in the evening when they are in bed. Writing can also be a solitary existence, you work alone and have to get your ideas into words before they vanish into the ether. I have about five books in various stages of completion and need to get these finished over the course of the next year or so.
- How do you balance between character and plot in your stories? Which wins most of the
time?
As an author of thrillers my books are meant to be plot driven but I do pride myself on creating vivid characters that are real, three dimensional and not paper thin. I find that there is a synergy between character and plot as both develop.
- Which piece of writing gave you the most satisfaction?
When I finished my first novel ‘Hetman’ that was the most satisfied I had been with my writing at that stage but now that I have written more I am most satisfied with my second novel ‘Cold Black’. I feel that this is a much more developed piece and this has been getting better reviews.
- What are some of the projects you are working on?
I have just finished ‘Delta Force Vampire: Insurgency’ the first book in a new series of ‘military horror’ novels. This has been a new direction for me and has been fun to write. I am also writing the third Aidan Snow SAS/MI6 thriller. It’s called ‘The Dangerous Deadly Elite’ and should be finished early 2013. In addition to this I am also editing an autobiography for a Ukrainian based in South Africa. The writer has led an interesting if somewhat dangerous life and is still only in her 30s.
- Top tips you would give to aspiring authors…
Don’t let anyone tell you that you should not or cannot write. Read a lot and write what you love to read.
Alex, I wish you every success in your future writing. May the tribe of thriller writers grow!
Prem Rao : Stories from a Story Teller 