Author Interview with Bernard Cornwell by Kelly P. (KellyP)

Bernard Cornwell is one of only three authors referred to by initials on the PBS Historical Fiction Forum (the other two are Elizabeth Chadwick (EC) and Sharon Kay Penman (SKP).) We also routinely talk about our favorite Historical Hunks – two of whom are Bernard Cornwell characters: Richard Sharpe from the Sharpe adventures and Uhtred, the main character in The Saxon Stories.

Speaking of Uhtred and The Saxon Stories, the 6th one, Death of Kings was released this past Janurary.  The very popular series begins with The Last Kingdom.

Mr. Cornwell has written over 50 books, and for many of us, his books rest lovingly on our “keeper shelves.” He was recently kind enough to answer a few questions from his adoring HF Fans:

Kelly P:  Several of us began our love affair with your books and characters with Richard Sharpe. I understand that you were pleased with BBC’s television portrayal of Richard and the Rifles.  Is there anything that you wish they (the BBC crew, etc.) had done differently?  Anything you were less than pleased with? How difficult is it for an author to turn over his own creation into the hands of someone else?

BC:  I was delighted with what the TV producers did!  There were some things I might have done differently, but there were many things that surprised and delighted me.  Casting Pete Postlethwaite as Hakeswill was a stroke of genius, as indeed was choosing Sean Bean to be Sharpe.  The films were always bound to differ from the books – mainly because the producers had budget restraints which didn’t affect me (it costs me nothing to create a French army), but within those constraints I think they did marvelously.  And was it difficult to turn it over?  Not in the least!  It’s always interesting to see what another creative mind will do with material, and I was just fascinated by the product.

Kelly P:  And, you will not be surprised to learn that current love affairs are with Uhtred! At the point that you started the Uhtred story, did you have the whole Saxon Chronicles already planned or has it evolved as you went along?  When you started the series, did you have a concrete notion of what would happen or just vague ideas as to how things would develop? 

BC: I can never plan a book, let alone a series!  E.L. Doctorow once likened writing a book to driving at night down an unfamiliar country road which winds tortuously, and you can only see as far ahead as the rather feeble headlights allow.  I start a book without knowing how the first chapter will end!  But I do know that Uhtred’s life will parallel the creation of the English state which means he’ll live to see the battle of Brunanburh which achieved Alfred’s dream of uniting all the ‘Angelcynn’ – the folk who spoke English in Britain, and thus created England.  I find it odd that the English are so ignorant of their nation’s birth – maybe because it happened so long ago. France celebrates July 14^th (why?)  and Americans have July 4^th, 1776, but the English are strangely oblivious of the events which made their nation.

Kelly P:  When we aren’t reading, we often amuse ourselves by matching up actors with characters – because, above all else, we want to see our favorite books made into great movies! So, if the Saxon Chronicles were turned into a movie, what current actor do you most envision playing Uhtred?  What about King Alfred or some of the other major players in the series?

BC: Oh dear – I have no idea!  The wonderful thing is that there are splendid casting directors and agencies who know all that stuff, which means I don’t have to think about it!

Kelly P:  Who are your favorite characters? Which of your characters/trilogies/ series are closest to your heart? I read that you had started a 4^th Thomas of Hookton book, but then put it aside. Do you still think about Thomas or is his story complete?

BC:  The next book will be another with Thomas of Hookton (though not the abandoned one).  I’ve started it and am about a fifth of the way in, and just beginning to see the dim outlines of a story.  My favorite characters?  I like them all, I suppose – but have a special fondness for Derfel and Ceinwyn in the Arthurian books.  Uhtred always amuses me, which is good.  Sharpe has been very good to me, and one day I’d like to write him again.  I adored Lady Grace in Sharpe’s Trafalgar and wish she could have been in more books. But my favorite series still remains the Arthurian trilogy: The Winter King, Enemy of God and Excalibur.

Kelly P: Also your battle scenes are always remarked upon. As one HF Forum fan wrote: “you really understand what happened … you smell it, taste it, feel it.” The question, then, is this: How does that happen? Along the same lines as character development, how do you take a battle scene and get it transcribed onto paper in such a way that even the most squeamish reader is caught up in the moment, completely and inextricably, cheering on their favorite hero? Do you draw out the battle scene, set it up with props or does it all come right out of your head and onto the computer screen or typewriter page?

BC:  Straight out of my head!   But battles are, by their nature, extremely complicated (the Duke of Wellington snarled at one writer that ‘he might as well write the story of a ball’ (a dance) as write about a battle, so the trick is to simplify it, or at least give the reader a bird’s eye view so they understand what’s happening, then focus in tight on one person’s experience of the chaos. The battle scenes tend to be written very, very fast, almost passionately, and then they need days and days of rewriting to make sure that the reader doesn’t get lost in the complications.

Kelly P:  Similarly, your dialog is just wonderful and something we all point to as just one more element that makes your books so enjoyable and memorable. The wit and slight irreverence that is part and parcel of your main characters must come from within, yes? Is there a Derfel and Uhtred residing in you … or vice versa?

BC:  Hmmm – maybe?  I do hear the dialog in my head.  When I’m writing a book I’ll often ‘hear’ conversations between my characters – most of which never make it into the book, but they’re fascinating (at least to me).  I’m intrigued by the relationship of authors to acting, and every summer I act in a summer-stock theater . . . and to say a line you have to understand it, and give it an intonation that explicates the meaning, and when writing you have to do the same.  And dialog should never be ‘bland’.  However inconsequential it might seem it should always serve the plot in some way!

Kelly P:  We have such an enormous respect for you and for your craft. We’ve all read enough bad books to recognize the good ones. How a book gets from the idea-stage and actually published and into our hands is a topic of great fascination to us. Please indulge us a little and let us into your day-to-day life.  What is your normal work day? Do you set aside a certain time of day to write … or a certain number of hours? Is it via computer or pen and ink? Do you work from an outline and proceed from start to finish? Is it easy to focus on the book at hand, or do you find yourself distracted and jotting notes for other books and other characters? Are subsequent rewrites and editing tasks enjoyable for you or is that the worst part of being an author?

BC:  I mostly write in the winter (because the theater takes up my summer), and I work a fairly normal five day week.  I start early – maybe around 7 am, and finish about 5 pm.  A lot of that time is spent staring vacantly into space (‘thinking’), some of it is spent reading (‘research’), but a lot of it is spent writing.  I wish I could work from an outline and I know some authors who do, lucky people, but I have to write to find out what happens.  That means a lot of wrong turnings, and junking stuff and starting again.  I liken writing a book to climbing an unfamiliar mountain – you get a quarter of the way up, look back and see a better route, so you go back, start again, and that takes you halfway up, when you look back, see a better route . . .  and so on.  I really do wish I could write an outline, but when I’ve tried it has never worked!  Rewriting is the best bit!  It’s quick and it’s enjoyable.  Working out the story is the hard bit!

Kelly P:  Are there any current and concrete plans for any of your books to be made into movies? If yes, what, when & who are the stars?

BC: There are plans – but will they happen?  I have no idea.  Agincourt looks the closest, but as far as I know they haven’t got close to thinking about casting.

Kelly P:  From King Arthur to the American Civil War – obviously, you are drawn to many different time periods. Do you have a favorite time period? What has been the most difficult? Were there any surprises that only revealed themselves after you started your research & writing?

BC:  The most difficult was undoubtedly Stonehenge – I was surprised by how much we knew from the archaeological record, but it still seemed like swimming through treacle.  My favorite period is usually whichever one I’m writing about, but I confess to a sneaking love of one period I’ve never described – the reign of Elizabeth I who, to my mind, was the greatest monarch ever to reign in England.

Kelly P:  We understand that you became a writer because after moving to the US, writing didn’t require a green card. How thrilling was it when you got your first book deal? Was there a single point in time when you said something along the lines of, “This is what I am. I am a novelist.” ?

BC:  I think it took some years before I thought of myself as a novelist.  There was a thrill in having the first book accepted (and an even greater thrill in having a contract for four more), but that thrill was tempered by the knowledge that the books had to work!  At least, they had to work if I wanted to stay in the US without a Green card and the American government, in its great wisdom, really didn’t want to give me a work permit.  I’m a citizen now, so phew.  But the whole thing seemed desperate – I’d fallen in love, had to come to the States if that love was to be pursued, had little choice but to do some job ‘under the radar’, and it worked.  33 years later we’re still married (hurrah!).

Kelly P:  How much time to do you have for personal reading? What kinds of books do you enjoy?

BC:  I read a great deal of history (surprise) . . . a lot of non-fiction; I just finished Michael Burleigh’s Moral Combat.  If I read a novel it’s MOST unlikely to be an historical novel (I spend my days writing them, why would I want to spend my evenings with them?), but I do love a police procedural; I adore John Sandford’s books!

Kelly P: Our hobby is reading; your career is writing – and we are grateful! What are your hobbies?

BC:  My hobbies?  The theatre (obviously), both acting in the summer and going to the theater whenever possible . . . and sailing!

Kelly P:  ”Education is the World’s strongest currency.” Very true words. Please share with us a little about the Sharpe’s Children Foundation.

BC:  The SCF was started by Daragh O’Malley, who played Sergeant Harper so splendidly in the TV series, and it really is his baby.  I am not involved, except to donate and cheerlead.  Daragh is working on opening a school in a deprived part of India, but as I said, it’s his project and I should take no credit.  Judy and I have our own charitable foundation, and that concentrates mainly on local charities on Cape Cod and helping with a splendid Aids project in Kenya.

NOTE:  Since doing this interview Mr. Cornwell’s publishers have announced the release of his 4^th book in The Grail Quest series, 1356 which will be in stores in the US in January 2013.

From Harper Collins web site:  Go with God and Fight like the Devil. A fascinating hero and the pursuit of a sword with mythical power – this is the remarkable new novel by Britain’s master storyteller, which culminates at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.

The Hundred Years War rages on and the bloodiest battles are yet to be fought. Across France, towns are closing their gates, the crops are burning and the country stands alert to danger. The English army, victorious at the Battle of Crécy and led by the Black Prince, is invading again and the French are hunting them down.

Thomas of Hookton, an English archer known as Le Bâtard, is under orders to seek out the lost sword of St Peter, a weapon said to grant certain victory to whoever possesses her. As the outnumbered English army becomes trapped near the town of Poitiers, Thomas, his men and his sworn enemies meet in an extraordinary confrontation that ignites one of the greatest battles of all time.

We want to thank Mr. Cornwell for taking the time out of a very busy schedule to visit with us. 

If you want to read more you can visit Bernard Cornwell’s website, http://www.bernardcornwell.net/ 

To join in an ongoing discussion, visit the PaperBackSwap Historical Fiction Discussion Forum http://www.paperbackswap.com/Somebody-Stop-Bernard-Cornwell-Rampage/topic/148541/ 

An Interview with Author Chris Everheart

The League of Delphi

Ten years after his father’s mysterious death, 17-year-old Zach secretly returns to his wealthy hometown in search of answers. Why did his mother—who recently died—move him away and change his name, forbidding him to ever reveal his true identity or return home? Desperate to reconnect with this seemingly ideal place, Zach is troubled when a grade school friend commits suicide and no one seems to care. Ashley, a local teenager on the fringe, piques his interest with whispers of a secret committee that runs the town and pressures kids into dangerous overachievement. Finding a hidden passage into the committee’s impenetrable headquarters Zach and Ashley discover a dark connection to Ancient Greece and the Oracle at Delphi. Their suspicions are confirmed, but the conspiracy is more terrifying and dangerous than they imagined, sending them running for their lives and praying to get out alive.

Cheryl: Thank you Chris for agreeing to this interview for our Blog here at PaperBackSwap, we are very excited to have you!

Chris: It’s a pleasure. Thanks for welcoming me to the PaperBackSwap family. I know how active and dedicated your community is and I’m really happy to be included.

 
Cheryl: You have led what seems to me, a very interesting life so far. Working as an archaeological illustrator, managing an art gallery, acting, film-making and now writing. Tell us a bit about your career journey and why you choose to become an author.

Chris: Well, first, thanks for saying “so far.” I’m getting a few gray hairs at my temples lately but I feel like I’m nowhere near finished with this journey. There are still so many things I intend to do.

Career-wise, it might be a feature of my artist’s temperament, but I’ve gone from one industry to another, working, watching, and learning. I’m just fascinated with the way the world works and how people behave – and why. I’ve followed my interests and have been exposed to a lot of different fields, which is cool. The mistake I made was believing that I was supposed to completely fit in at one of those places and stay in that company/job/career for the rest of my life. But I just have never been able to do that. 

I studied art for ten years from high school through college and I managed an art gallery right after I got my degree. Long before then, when I was in my first year of college at the University of New Mexico, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology and the US Forest Service hired me to illustrate an exhibit of an a Pueblo Indian archaeological site in the mountains. I got to spend a lot of time talking to archaeologists and researchers, digging around in their massive collections room, imagining and recreating what life was like so many centuries ago – that was a great experience! Later, when attending the University of Minnesota, I worked in the labs, doing illustrations of artifacts excavated from Mayan ruins in Central America.

I also studied anthropology/archaeology and have a lifelong fascination with old things and ancient times, which shows up in my books. Soon we’ll be releasing the first book in an action/adventure series about a 14-year-old archaeologist – basically who I wish I had been when I was a teenager.

Filmmaking is a field I have really loved because I enjoy movies and TV so much. I love writing scripts, working with actors, and helping other people make movies. I’m a fish in water on a film set. Acting is a part of that. You know the saying, “If you keep going into a barber shop, eventually you’ll get a haircut?” Well, if you keep hanging around independent film sets, eventually someone will say, “Hey, we need more bodies in this shot. Change your shirt and get in there.” But the schedules for movie production are brutal and I found that I couldn’t do it as a job long-term. So, instead, I make a short film now and again for fun. I’ve gotten a couple of awards for filmmaking, which is nice. 

 I decided to write books because I was working in an ad agency and not getting creative satisfaction, but didn’t have the money or time for film school. I found that I really enjoyed writing fiction. And my wife (who was terrified about reading my first manuscript) said it was pretty good, which was huge encouragement.

Once I started writing, I began to understand that my short attention span makes long-term career building impossible, but qualifies me perfectly as an author. I can jump into a subject, learn all about it for a short time, write about it, and move on to another subject and story.

God bless my darling wife, Patsy. She’s been so generous and patient with me over the years. And now that writing is really starting to pay off, she gets to see a return on her “investment” in me.

Cheryl: You have written a series, The Recon Academy. Can you tell us a bit about them?

Chris: I developed the Recon Academy graphic novel series for Stone Arch Books, an imprint of Capstone Publishing. I really believe in Stone Arch’s mission to publish books for young, struggling and reluctant readers – because I was one of those (and although I’m no longer very young, I still struggle a bit with reading).

They asked me to create a series that a middle-grade boy could relate to that has a high-concept theme with a lower reading level. I pitched them several ideas and we Frankensteined a couple together to make Recon Academy. One of them won a Moonbeam Award, which I am proud of. A cool thing is that I wrote those books when I lived in Minneapolis and when I moved to East Tennessee I went to library and found them on the middle-graders’ shelf here.

Cheryl: And about Superman Toys of Terror?

Chris: Stone Arch Books partnered with DC Comics to create a series of partially illustrated chapter books for young readers. While I’ve never been a huge comic book reader, I have deep admiration for the genre. I’m very aware that not many people can say they’ve officially written Superman so it was quite an experience getting that call.

Cheryl: Your newest book, The League of Delphi, is a Young Adult Thriller that left me shouting for more!

Chris: Yes, I loved your mildly profane message to me when you finished The League of Delphi! It put a smile on my face.

I get bored easily so if I start reading a book, watching a movie or TV show but the concept, plot, or characters are weakly developed or poorly expressed, I’ll abandon the book, turn of/walk out of a movie, or quit a TV series. When I’m writing, I have an internal drive to make the plot interesting, the situations exciting, and keep the story moving or it won’t be worth reading and I simply won’t want to write it.

With The League of Delphi, the main character, Zach, is 17 years old, alone, confused, and uncovering a deep, dark mystery in his own hometown – where he thought he would be safe and welcomed back! Instead what he finds are secrets, deaths, deception, and mortal danger to himself and the other kids in the town. It’s out of his control and the writing and plot have to take advantage of that mood.

There will be at least three books in the Delphi series because Zach’s story can’t be told in one volume. He’ll encounter more danger and secrets on his journey to what he thought was home. So, you asked for more and you will definitely get more!

Cheryl: My favorite sentence from the book: Wrinkled and grooved buildings stand rooted low to the ground as if someone planted a single brick on each plot three hundred years ago and they’ve been growing slowly ever since, twisting upward each night toward the light of the moon.

Chris: That was a real Ray Bradbury moment. The 300-year-old college campus in The League of Delphi is a character unto itself – especially the library that no one is allowed to use. It’s the headquarters of evil and the only place Zach will find answers.

One thing I love about libraries and college campuses is how open they are. Everyone is there to learn and grow, to meet and talk and share an experience. I thought it would be interesting to flip that and make this town’s college foreboding and unfriendly. So, every moment Zach is on this campus, instead of feeling inspired he feels scrutinized and suffocated. The look and description of the campus reflects what’s going on inside him.

The description in that passage is based on a couple of very old buildings on the University of Minnesota campus, where I finished college. These ancient brick buildings stand on narrow, winding streets and their windows are big and vacant and stare down at you as you walk past. They seem alive, like huge old trees that were on that spot long before you came along and will be there long after you’re gone.

Cheryl: Is young Zach, the protagonist in your book based on someone you know?

Chris: Zach is not based on a specific person I know. Like most of my characters, he emerges from the circumstances in the story. My stories are very plot-driven and I usually don’t get to know the characters until I put them in these dreadful circumstances and they start to act and react.

In that sense, it’s very much like meeting someone for the first time. You have impressions of who they are based on how they look and talk. But as you live in the same world together and things happen, you see aspects of them emerge – sometimes admirable, sometimes repugnant – and they become more and different than you imagined them to be. If you stick around long enough or if the things that happen are strenuous enough, you’ll get to see a broader spectrum of their character and see major changes.

This is what writing a book is like. I don’t entirely know who the characters are, but as the story develops the readers and I get to know them. This is one reason big concept thrillers are so gripping and exciting – the compacted circumstances force the characters to do something and you get to know them and identify with them quickly.

Cheryl: In his adventures in this book, Zach is searching for his truth, his background and for answers about his life that he could never get from his family. This search surely will resonate with your readers, young and adult. Is there a similar search you have been on?

Chris: Zach is a teenager fighting the forces and circumstances around him that are blocking him from finding his true identity. So, in that sense, he is inspired by practically every teenager (and many adults) I’ve known – and also by myself. For me, the pain of growing up is still very fresh. I did not have an especially happy childhood and being a teenager was … well, let’s just say that, if you invented a time machine that could transport people back to 1983, I wouldn’t get in that damned thing!

Story is universally important to us because it can express what we don’t fully acknowledge and understand. Telling Zach’s story – as he discovers what the League of Delphi is doing to his town and is compelled to do something about it – is a way of dealing with vital teen issues like identity, rebellion, isolation, abandonment, pressure, romance, and risk.

Having helped raise a child, I can see these stages and themes more clearly, but I wasn’t aware or the least bit analytical of them when I was going through them myself. I also didn’t sense at that time that teenagers have likely gone through these phases and changes since the dawn of time. The plot, stakes, and circumstances in The League of Delphi are all amplified into a thriller story, but the themes are timeless and universal.

Zach’s not entirely sure why he’s doing what he’s doing. He’s afraid that he might be clinically insane. His mother stole him away from everything familiar when he was seven years old. He has returned to his hometown under a false name. Emerging from hiding, he is becoming a different version of himself. His parents are gone and he never really knew them. He wants his home to be ideal, but it’s deeply dysfunctional – even dangerous. He feels unable to love but connects with this damaged girl who reflects his suspicions about life and this place.

So inspiration for the character of Zach is in each of us and I hope readers will identify with him and connect with the subtle themes he’s encountering in addition to his terrifying and exciting story.

Cheryl: Tell us a bit about the Oracle at Delphi, and why you chose this theme for your book.

Chris: Ah, Delphi is such a fascinating place! For more than a thousand years, this mountainside site in Greece was the most important religious and cultural spot in the Western World. Starting in 1400BCE, royalty, aristocrats, politicians, military leaders, and commoners from all over went there to consult the Pythia – a woman who sat deep in a temple, breathing noxious fumes from a crack in the earth, babbling answers to questions. Decisions about romance, finance, and empire were made based on her famously – sometimes cruelly – cryptic prophecies. One emperor, for example, asked the oracle if he should invade a neighboring country. The oracle’s response was, “If you go to war, a great empire will be destroyed.” So he went to war and was unpleasantly surprised when he lost and it was his empire that was destroyed! (See more on Delphi at my Brain Burgers Blog at ChrisEverheart.com)

I had a story concept about a town where everyone somehow knew what was going to happen ahead of time. The conflict was they weren’t like other people because of their special knowledge and they fought amongst themselves about how to handle it. Because I love old-time radio, I was contemplating producing it as a web radio show – a sort of drama/soap opera.

That project never came to be, but I read about Delphi somewhere and realized that the mysterious knowledge could be coming from this mystical place – and the magic “What if …” questions emerged. “What if the Oracle at Delphi was the source of secret knowledge? And what if one of their own had a reason to tear the lid off it all?” By this time, I had started writing for young readers and asked the final important question: “What if that insider with something to prove was a teenager?” And Zach was suddenly thrust into this dark mystery – the poor kid never saw it coming.

Cheryl: Zach and his new friend Ashley discover some frightening secrets and encounter a dangerous truth in your book. Both cope with these truths very differently, yet compliment each other very well. Will there be another book with Zach and Ashley?  Will this story continue?

Chris: Zach and Ashley are at the center of The League of Delphi. It was originally only Zach’s story, but I was surprised by how important Ashley became while I was writing it. She is on the inside of this cloistered town culture, but she’s also on the fringe. Ashley is Zach’s bridge into the mystery. She’s broken – in and out of the psych ward her whole life – but she’s the only person courageous enough to acknowledge the truth of what’s going on in this town. Zach can’t help but notice this because he’s looking for the ideal place that his mother stole him away from and instead finds a bunch of mind-numbed robots who can’t even acknowledge the suicide of a local high school kid.

They complement each other in several ways: Zach believes he is inwardly insane; Ashley is known to be outwardly insane. Zach is on his own and lonely; Ashley is surrounded by people but totally unable to connect with any of them. Zach is living under a false identity; everyone knows exactly who Ashley is. Zach is secretly trying to figure out the weirdness going on in this town; Ashley has gotten locked in the psych ward for talking about it. Zach doesn’t know who he is and feels he needs to get inside the mystery of the League of Delphi to figure it out; Ashley knows who she is and wants out so she can be herself.

They are soul mates on this journey to break the grip of Delphi and express who they really are. Of course, Delphi is not onboard with that and the battle that ensues tears them apart – inside and out. It’s pretty grim for these two teenagers.

And yes, this is only the first of at least three books in this series. I originally conceived it as a trilogy and I can see opportunities for more sequels as well as any number of prequels and historical fiction series based on the theme. The history of Delphi goes back over THREE THOUSAND YEARS – that’s a lot of stories to tell!

Cheryl: What books and authors do you read for fun?

Chris: I read a wide variety of subjects and authors – nonfiction, history, archaeology, true-life adventures, self-development, philosophy, scripture of many traditions, thrillers, some mysteries, and YA. I know a lot of writers, so I read their books.

I love to read Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books and Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series. When I really just want some brain candy, I read Clive Cussler. His books have a good blend of action, thrills, history, and archaeology – they’re pure entertainment. Lately I’ve been reading zombie books – by Jonathan Maberry and Max Brooks. I’ll start the Hunger Games series soon because I love what Suzanne Collins has done with teen stories – can the concept get any sharper than “Kill them before they kill you!”?

One frustration for me is that I still read very slowly so I know I will never get to everything that I would like to read.

Cheryl: Is there a book or books that influenced you as a young person?

Chris: A Louis L’Amour dime-store Western from my dad’s shelf stands out in my mind. I can’t remember the title now, but it was about a teenager who started out on a cattle drive with his father. Dad broke his leg and died from gangrene – gruesome! – and the kid had to fight some rustlers and finish the adventure by himself. It was a stock story, but it left an impression on me that this young man could rely on himself when he most needed to.

I also had an excellent Humanities teacher in high school who showed me Shakespeare, Dante, Plato, and Homer and got me out into a big, fascinating world beyond network television. I’m very grateful for that education.

Cheryl: What is next for you?

Chris: I have a number of books coming out in e-book and paperback in the next few months: ZomProm: a high school zombie romance (yes, it’s what it sounds like); Seti’s Charm: A Max Carter Adventure (the first in my action/adventure series about a 14-year-old archaeologist); Hub’s Adventures (a series of futuristic techno-mysteries about sixth-grader Hub and his robot best friend, Crank); a possible short film project; and writing the next book in The League of Delphi series. Is that enough? Because sometimes I feel lazy.

Cheryl: And now for some fun questions:

Coke or Pepsi?

Chris: I failed the Pepsi Challenge – COKE!

Cheryl: Mountains or beach?

Chris: Mountains. It took me 15 years to get to East Tennessee and I’m not leaving!

Cheryl: Cake or pie?

Chris: Cake – because I’m pretty sure brownies are in that category.

Cheryl: Television or movies?

Chris: Ugh! I seriously can’t choose – I’m one of the rare people who openly admits to loving television. I wouldn’t want to live in a world where I had to choose between Smoky and the Bandit and Dukes of Hazard.

Cheryl: Cats or Dogs?

Chris: Used to be exclusively a cat person until Molly came along. Now I’m a dog person – but it’s gotta be the right dog!

Chris Everheart is an award-winning author of books and short stories for middle-graders, young adults, and adults and an occasional filmmaker. A lifelong reluctant reader, TV junkie, and movie lover, Chris infuses the pacing and thrills of visual storytelling into all his stories. When not writing he can be found hiking in the mountains near home, watching television, or learning about history, science, and archaeology. He’s a Minnesota native living in East Tennessee with his family.

Connect with Chris at:

Facebook: facebook.com/chriseverheart.writes

Twitter: @ChrisEverheart

ChrisEverheart.com

Chris Everheart has generously offered an autographed numbered paperback copy of his new book, The League of Delphi to a member who comments here on the Blog. A winner will be chosen at random. Good Luck!

An interview with Author Elizabeth Ashworth by Kelly P. (KellyP)

I recently read and enjoyed The de Lacy Inheritance by Elizabeth Ashworth. It is a short book, and seems to embody everything I like about historical fiction – historical accuracy, real-life characters, an interesting plot, good conflict between the characters and just the right amount of romance. After visiting her website and reading some of her blog posts, I knew I wanted to know more about this author. She graciously agreed to an interview and I am delighted to share our conversation with the PBS community.

Kelly: Thank you, Ms. Ashworth, for this interview. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Elizabeth: I live in Lancashire, in England which is a county filled with history and beautiful countryside. I used to be a primary school teacher, but about ten years ago I became a full time writer, although I still teach creative writing to students of the Open College of the Arts. I have a cat who is 17 years old and demands a lot of my attention and a grown-up son who demands almost as much, but who is invaluable as a research assistant, chauffeur and proof reader.

Kelly: You are a writing consultant, non-fiction author, novelist and short story author: it’s obvious that if words can be strung together, you can do it! Do you have a favorite type of writing? What are the individual challenges of writing non-fiction? What about fiction?

Elizabeth: I’ve always written, from being a small child, and even before that I think I was making up stories in my head. I don’t favour one type of writing over another, but they are different. Non-fiction is about setting out facts in an interesting and accessible way, whilst fiction is about creating characters and other worlds that readers can believe in. I suppose it’s a matter of making facts into a good story and making a story seem believable. My historical fiction novels take the best of those things and mix them together. They are based in fact and then the gaps are filled with fiction.

Kelly: Your first full-length novel, The de Lacy Inheritance, grew out of the research for one of your non-fiction books. Do you enjoy the research necessary for your fiction & non-fiction books? How important has the internet become for the type research you do for your books?

Elizabeth: Yes, I do enjoy research – and history has so many stories to tell that it’s difficult not to be constantly side-tracked by a new idea or to spend so much time researching that nothing ever gets written.  The internet has certainly made life much easier for researchers.  It means I can access lots of things that I used to have to go to the library for. But there is a lot of poor research and misinformation on the internet and you have to be very careful that what you use is from a credible source – so I still buy lots of books and do research in libraries as well.

Kelly: I very much enjoyed The de Lacy Inheritance and appreciate that you lifted many of the characters and the basic storyline from actual history. And the same is true for your new book, The Honourable Estate. How important is it for your historical novels to be grounded in fact, using real-life characters?

Elizabeth: I’m fascinated by the stories of real people and I find that those are the ones I want to tell.

Kelly: Speaking of fact versus fiction: authors will frequently change dates or locations to enhance the overall flow of a story. And some authors shamelessly play fast and loose with the facts. As a historical fiction novelist, what is your responsibility to historical fact as currently known? Where do you draw the line on the acceptability of rewriting/revising history all for the sake of a good novel?

Elizabeth: I think there is a fine balance between providing readers with facts and creating a good story. I’m not in favour of changing well-known facts, although what are regarded as facts can sometimes be challenged. For example, many people think that Richard III was a hunchback because that is how Shakespeare portrayed him, but there is no evidence that it is true. In The de Lacy Inheritance I made Johanna Roger’s sister whereas the primary documents of the time suggest that it was his daughter who married Geoffrey de Wallei.  But I did make this clear in my Author’s Notes.  As a novelist, my first intention is to tell a good story, but I’m also aware that I have a duty not to mislead or misinform my readers, or to do a disservice to the people whose stories I am telling. So, on balance, I think it’s important to keep as close to the truth as possible.

Kelly: In The de Lacy Inheritance, the characters were all well-developed and believable. However, Richard was about as near perfect as one could hope for in a leading character and brother Roger was singularly lacking in humanity. Is this how they “grew”; or did you intentionally want that comparison of “good” and “not so much”?

Elizabeth: Richard is lovely, isn’t he?  He ‘grew’ from my idea of a man seeking redemption for his sins. The character of Roger on the other hand was based on contemporary evidence.  One source says that he was nicknamed ‘Helle’ because people feared him. I did want to draw a contrast between the two men, but I sometimes wonder if I was too hard on Roger.

Kelly: To open The de Lacy Inheritance with the Mass of Separation is very powerful and gives the reader a sharp and undeniable idea of what it meant to be shunned as a leper. How an author begins a novel fascinates me. At what point did you know this was how you wanted to start this story? 

Elizabeth: I think it was when I read the words of the Mass. I imagined what it would have been like to hear those words being read out to you and I realised what a good opening it would make to the novel.

Kelly: And now, The Honourable Estate is out! Congratulations on that! I am looking forward to reading it as soon as I can get a copy of it. Were there many differences in your approach to writing this one versus The de Lacy Inheritance? What was the most challenging aspect about writing each of these books?

Elizabeth: When I began to write An Honourable Estate I felt more confident that I could complete a full length novel. I learned a lot about pacing a longer story from writing The de Lacy Inheritance and this one was much easier to write. I think the most challenging aspect of The de Lacy Inheritance was researching the family history of the de Lacy family. But for An Honourable Estate I found a booklet in the Lancashire Authors’ Association library where a historian called T.C. Porteus had researched the legend of Mab’s Cross and compared it with the historical events of the time. So most of the groundwork was done for me and I relied heavily on his excellent work to drive my plotline. I think the most challenging aspect of An Honourable Estate was deciding where to begin the story. I wrote it and then added more at the beginning. Then decided that it was unnecessary and took it out again. In the end I decided to use it as a short standalone prequel that I’ve published as an ebook called The Lady of Haigh.

Kelly: If you could give us just one teaser about An Honourable Estate, what would it be? What is the one thing that will whet our appetite?

Elizabeth: What would you do if your husband was outlawed and presumed dead, your lands were seized by the king and the only way to protect yourself was to marry a man you hated?

Kelly: How are your days constructed? Do you follow a fairly set routine? Do you have an outline before starting a novel or just the basic idea of who and what you want to write about?

Elizabeth: I don’t have a set routine except that I like to get my student marking completed before I begin my own work. I can never settle if I know there’s marking waiting. I usually begin the day by checking emails and messages and trying not to spend too long on Facebook chatting with friends. Then it’s student marking, or any project I’m working on for a client followed by my own writing. I begin by reading and revising what I wrote the day before and then getting on with adding more words.  I usually begin a novel with an outline of the plot, although it often changes as the work progresses.

Kelly: When you aren’t busy with your own work, what kinds of books do you enjoy and who are some of your favorite authors?

Elizabeth: I read widely and I’m always willing to try something new. A lot of my reading is non-fiction research for the book or books I’m working on.  I enjoy reading historical fiction by other authors – Elizabeth Chadwick and Bernard Cornwell are two writers I like. I read many genres and like the work of Elizabeth Gaskell and other classics as well as modern day authors such as Hilary Mantel and Margaret Atwood.  It’s hard to pick favourites as my tastes are very eclectic.

Kelly: What is your favorite historical era to read about? Write about? Research?

Elizabeth: I seem to be drawn to the medieval period. I don’t know why. It seems to hold a fascination for me and there’s a romantic feel to all those castles and tournaments even if the reality was brutal and often bloody.

Kelly: What are you reading right now for pleasure? 

I’ve just finished Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel, which is the sequel to Wolf Hall and follows the story of Thomas Cromwell. Her style of writing is not to everyone’s taste but I enjoy the way it plunges the reader right into the centre of the story. I also enjoy her subtle humour and her vivid descriptive writing.

Kelly: Do you have a “Keeper Shelf”? What’s on it?

Elizabeth: One book I would never throw out is a tatty second hand edition of a story called Mist Over Pendle by Robert Neill. It’s about the Lancashire Witches. I first read it in my early teens and realised that novels didn’t have to be set in exotic places and that the area where I lived was rich with stories and legends.

A more recent book about the same story is Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt.  Mary is from the USA but now lives near me in Lancashire and the fresh perspective she gives to the story of the witches is fascinating.

I also have some books by the Brontes – Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and others that I like to re-read from time to time.

Middlemarch by George Eliot will keep its place on the shelf as will North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I read North and South many years ago and then went back to it after the BBC TV drama was shown.

More recent books I’ve kept include The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick which is the story of William Marshall, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, and  Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

Kelly: What are some of your non-literary hobbies and interests? 

Elizabeth: I like to go to visit old houses and gardens. The countryside and wildlife are important to me and I enjoy walking and bird watching.

Kelly: We hate to be greedy, but what are you working on now?

Elizabeth: I have another finished novel, By Loyalty Bound, which I hope will be published in 2013. I’m negotiating a contract for it at the moment so can’t say much, except that it is about Richard III and the woman who was the mother of his two illegitimate children. No one knows for sure who she was but I have a theory and it will be interesting to see what reaction it gets from Richard’s many fans.

Kelly: You have an impressive website and blog (www.elizabethasworth.com). You also twitter and prepare video trailers for your books ( http://youtu.be/b4mLgPJqr88)?  How important is social media networking in promoting an author’s books? And, do you enjoy it? How do social media efforts compare to old-fashioned book signings and appearances/interviews? (And, can I take a minute to say I really love your website – you share lots of great information in a friendly, very readable style!)

Elizabeth: I’m pleased you like my website. It draws in lots of visitors and I enjoy sharing my research with readers.  I think that what the internet and social media has provided is a far wider geographical reach than book signings and appearances, which have been mostly local events.  Each has its place. I enjoy meeting readers face to face but it would be very hard to bring my work to an international readership without sites like Facebook and Twitter, where you can follow me @elizashworth.

Kelly: I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Ms. Ashworth!

An Interview with Author Rosemary Harris by Diane G. (icesk8tr)

Diane: Thank you for allowing us to interview you for the PaperBackSwap Blog! I really enjoyed reading Slugfest, it was one of those books that was cleverly written and fun to read!

Rosemary: Thanks and I am glad you enjoyed the book.

Diane: How long have you been writing?

Rosemary: Wow…I guess it’s close to eight years now. My first book came out in 2008.

Diane: Slugfest is the 4^th book in the Dirty Business mystery series, for those new to your series can you tell us a little about it?

Rosemary: It’s a traditional mystery series featuring an amateur sleuth named Paula Holliday, who happens to be a gardener.

Diane: How would you describe Slugfest to someone who has not read any of your previous novels? 

Rosemary: The book is set in the chaotic, neurotic and in this case, homicidal world of trade shows, Slugfest is a funny, behind the scenes look at some of the less than genteel characters at a legendary flower show.

Diane: Where did you get the idea for Slugfest?

Rosemary: I’ve been a volunteer at the Philadelphia Flower Show for over a decade and although I – happily – haven’t witnessed any murders, I have seen some pretty strange behavior and I thought it was a perfect setting for a mystery.

Diane: Why did you start writing gardening mysteries? I understand you have an interest in gardening yourself, did this play a part in that decision?

Rosemary: A body was found not far from my home in Connecticut and when I did some research I thought it would make a good story. It was natural for me to have my heroine be a gardener since: 1) it’s helpful if your amateur sleuth has a job that throws her into contact with lots of different types of people and 2) when you garden in the northeast you can really only do it six months out of the year – so she has plenty of free time to solve crimes.

Diane: What is a typical writing day like for you and what are your writing habits?

Rosemary: I have no typical days. Ever. All I can say is that I write with a pencil on a yellow legal pad (and I’ve done it everywhere from a tent in Yosemite to a ferry out of Dar es Salaam.) Eventually I enter it all on the computer and rewrite for as long as they let me.

Diane: What projects are occupying you at the moment?

Rosemary: My husband and I – with the help of many generous friends have built a library in Tanzania and we go there every year or so to visit. I’ve cleared another 1/4 acre of woods on my property so I’m slowly building the new garden which is anchored by shade-loving, flowering shrubs.

Diane: Are you working on another novel?

Rosemary: I have a work in progress that I hope to have finished this summer. It’s not a Paula Holliday book and may not even be a mystery…

Diane: How has your work or life experience affected your writing? Is there an incident that has changed your life and influenced your writing?

Rosemary: Of course one’s work and experience influences everything. I tend to put a lot of humor in my writing – but I see the humor in a lot of things. I sometimes think if I’d never seen that tiny article about the body that was found I’d never have done any of this. That’s what I get for reading the New York Times!

Diane: You recently self published Slugfest as a paperback yourself. What did you learn in the process? Will you self-publish more books?

Rosemary: Ask me in a few months! Seriously…I thought that since the first three books in the series had been released in paperback the fourth one should be too. It was ridiculously easy to do – and maybe the emphasis should be on the word ridiculous. Despite strong reviews for Slugfest, without a retail presence it’s very difficult to grow awareness for a book that isn’t soft-core porn, written by an established bestseller ala Stephen King – or free.

Diane: Thanks again for your time. I enjoyed Slugfest and also have picked up some of your earlier books and am enjoying them as well.

If you would like to learn more about the Chalula Library Project – a community library in Mvumi, Tanzania you can visit http://rosemaryharris.com/clp.html

An Author Interview by Jerelyn (I-F-Letty) with Lucinda Brant

I became aware of Lucinda Brant through a facebook/goodreads group.  She writes romantic historical fiction.   There is real scholarship here and the writing is well crafted.  Lucinda calls herself a Georgian Junkie and is one of the principle contributors to a blog by that name.  I was looking for sedan chair images for my Pinterest board, and near the bottom of the Google search page was a photo of Lucinda with a quote. 

“When not bumping about Georgian London in my sedan chair or exchanging gossip with perfumed and patched courtiers in the gilded drawing rooms of Versailles, I write historical romances and crimances with wit and adventure.”   

I am a history nut, unapologetically, so I can relate to this statement.  I would like to thank Lucinda Brant for agreeing to this interview.

Jerelyn:  Would you tell us a little about yourself?

Lucinda:  I, too, am a history nut! Have been since a little girl. History was my favorite subject at school and at university and I taught history at a girls’ boarding school until very recently. My daughter, who is in her first year of university, has also decided to major in history. So my husband has to contend with two history nuts in the family! We’ve been together now for 28 years; we met at university. I have an Italian greyhound Bella and I spend most of my day in front of a computer screen, as I am now writing full-time, which is heaven.

Jerelyn:  From the sources I could access it looks as if you released five full-length novels in 2011, is this because that is when they were released in the US and UK?

Lucinda:  Six full-length (100,000+ words) eBooks have been released worldwide since September 2010. Five Georgian Historical Romances and the first book in my Georgian Historical Mystery series are now available in Trade paperback, Hardback and eBook (all formats). DEADLY AFFAIR: A Georgian Historical Mystery has just been released as a Kindle eBook and will be available in all other formats from July 2012.

Jerelyn:  Was Salt Bride of Noble Satyr, your first book?

Lucinda:  NOBLE SATYR: A Georgian Historical Romance was my first book. It won the $10,000 Random House/Woman’s Day Romantic Fiction Prize and went on to be published as THE DANGEROUS GAME in Australia, and was a finalist for the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year. Random House changed the name (head of publishing didn’t know what a satyr was!) and I changed it back to its original title upon re-publication.

Jerelyn:  I just read Noble Satyr; I was wondering if you have a favorite male lead? I admit Roxton is rather a dish.

Lucinda:  He is, isn’t he! ; -) That’s putting me on the spot! Actually, I love all my male leads. Each in their own way is a dish best served hot!

Jerelyn:  Did you struggle with the age difference between Roxton and Antonia?

Lucinda:  Not at all. In the 18^th century it was common for noblemen in their 30s to marry women much younger than themselves. Noblemen were expected to go on the Grand Tour, experience life and “sow their wild oats” before settling down and marrying, hopefully an heiress, and having a family. Girls on the other hand were kept in the schoolroom until “launched” into Society around the age of 17 years, some were married off as young as 15 without a chance to even have a Season. If a girl from the aristocracy wasn’t married by the time she turned 21 she was seen as a failure and “on the shelf” and to be pitied.

And there is my own life experience. My mother was 18 yrs old when she married my father, a career soldier who was in his late 30s. He had never married, was a British soldier during World War Two who fought in Europe, and finally got around to marrying and having a family in the 1960s; so age difference was not something I thought about.

Jerelyn:  I loved Salt Bride; it had the feel of a classic romance novel but with the heat of a modern novel.  Do you struggle with the love scenes?

Lucinda:  I’m so glad you enjoyed Jane and Salt’s story! I don’t struggle with love scenes because they are an integral part of the story of how two people express their feelings for each other emotionally and physically. If by love scenes you mean sex scenes, well I don’t write sex scenes. It’s the highly sensual, emotionally charged moments leading up to the act itself that I explore. The actual mechanics I leave to the reader’s imagination. : -)

Jerelyn:  Your newer books are the Alec Halsey series you describe as crimance.  Will you tell us about those?

Lucinda:  I decided that Crimance (crime + romance) – crime with lashings of romance –is the best way to describe the type of historical mystery I write. There is a crime or crimes and a mystery to solve but romance is just as important to the story. That’s an irresistible mix.

In DEADLY ENGAGEMENT – my amateur sleuth Alec Halsey has to sort out his feelings for two women as he tries to solve a crime and a couple of interrelated murders. In book 2 DEADLY AFFAIR, Alec investigates the suspicious death of shabby vicar and at the same time his love life is falling all to pieces.

Jerelyn:  You are one of the Georgian Junkies, what draws you to this time period?

Lucinda:  Now I could rave on all day about the eighteenth century! : -)

The fashion – all that gorgeous embroidery work on silk bodices and gowns, gentlemen in velvet and lace, the neat, simple lines of Georgian townhouses, the vast wealth of the aristocracy, and then there is the breathtaking Louis XV style of furnishings and furniture.

The 1700s was a time of adventure and discovery on the high seas, revolution and freedom for the American colonies, scientific discovery and the rise of naturalism and humanism – all talked about and discussed in London’s elegant drawing rooms and the gilded salons of the Parisian elite. Exciting times!

To see what I’m talking about visit my Pinterest boards: http://pinterest.com/lucindabrant/

Jerelyn:  So which country do you most prefer to set your books in France or England?

Lucinda:  I don’t have a preference, although, most of my books are set in England with occasional crossings to France. I do love the court of Louis XV and the rococo splendor of Versailles. But as a political scientist, I am fascinated by eighteenth century English politics.

Jerelyn:  Would you share your educational back ground with us?  I’d wager you were a history major.

Lucinda:  I graduated from university with a double major in History and a double major in Political Science (honors level).

Jerelyn:  Do you miss teaching?

Lucinda:  I miss the classroom. Interacting with the girls – teaching them new and interesting things about times past, people and places. Seeing their enthusiasm for the subject was very rewarding.

Jerelyn:  What was the first romance novel you read?

Lucinda:  The Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault as retold by Shirley Goulden. I was 5 years old. I still have the book – it’s folio size and illustrated in the 18^th Century manner.

In my early teens I would sneak into the Senior Section of the School library to read Jean Plaidy, Taylor Caldwell and the Angelique novels by Sergeanne Golon (which were classified too racy for 13 year olds!). Katherine by Anya Seton was and still is one of my all time favorite historical romances.

Jerelyn:  When did you know that you had to be a writer?

Lucinda:  I’ve always been a writer. : -) I wrote stories from a very young age and in high school, during math classes, I wrote an historical romance novel and distributed chapters to my classmates to read and appraise (thanks, Donna!).

Jerelyn:  Who inspired you?

Lucinda:  First? My father. He wrote all the time – mainly diary entries. Once he showed me his collection of wartime regimental magazines (I have them now). They were full of articles, cartoons and the like to help maintain morale amongst the men during World War Two. My father was a regular contributor – he wrote a series of laugh-out-loud pieces (very Goon show) and he was also a wonderful cartoonist.

In high school it was Jean Plaidy/Victoria Holt/Philippa Carr. I devoured her historical novels as Jean Plaidy, and of course her Georgian Saga novels and those set during the reign of Louis XV are my favorite.   Later, during university, I read Georgette Heyer and became a devoted fan, not only of her Regencies but also of her detective novels.

Jerelyn:  What drew you to the mystery/thriller genre?  I have always liked a mix of romance and mystery.

Lucinda:  Me too! Romance and mystery are an irresistible mix, aren’t they?

I’m a big fan of amateur sleuths. Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries and Margery Allingham’s Albert Campion mysteries are my all time favorites. I’m also a huge fan of Kate Ross’s Julian Kestrel Regency historical mysteries.

Jerelyn:  The second book in the Alec Halsey series has just been released, would you tell us about it?

Lucinda:  DEADLY AFFAIR: A Georgian Historical Mystery sees amateur sleuth Alec, Lord Halsey investigate the death of a poor vicar who up and dies, literally at Alec’s feet, during a party-political dinner. But the vicar is hiding a few secrets, not least of which is his true identity. And just to complicate his life, the woman Alec loves, Selina Jamison-Lewis, has decided not to marry him, won’t tell him why, and he doesn’t know what to do about it. Of course this impacts on his investigation because while he is trying to solve a murder, at the back of his mind he is thinking of possible reasons why Selina won’t marry him.

Jerelyn:  I would like to thank Lucinda for taking the time for the interview, and would like to wish her luck with Deadly Affair.   If you want to know more about Lucinda you can find her at the Georgian Junkie http://georgianjunkie.wordpress.com/ or http://lucindabrant.com/ follow her on face book at https://www.facebook.com/LucindaBrantGeorgianHistoricalRomanceandCrimance on Twitter (@LucindaBrant) and on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lucindabrant/

Lucinda:  Thank you so much for inviting me to do this interview. It’s been fun. : -)

Book List
Salt Bride
Noble Satyr (Roxton 1)
Midnight Marriage (Roxton 2)
Autumn Duchess (Roxton 3)
Deadly Engagement (Alec Halsey 1)
Deadly Affair (Alec Halsey 2)

Mirah’s (mwelday) Interview with John Shors

Several years ago my husband and I moved from Hawaii to Japan and I was a little obsessed with novels set in the Pacific. And being a Navy spouse, a book with a military connection would be the jackpot. I found ‘Beside a Burning Sea’ by John Shors, a novel set during World War II and centered on an American nurse and an injured Japanese soldier.  I was so impressed by the book I had to read more.  I ordered ‘Beneath a Marble Sky’ and was blown away.  I thought it was remarkable and I quickly added ‘visit the Taj Mahal’ to my bucket list.  Put simply, John can capture the essence of a location and characters in a way that allows readers to connect with people and places much different from themselves. He has quickly become one of my favorite American writers and I know his books will stand the test of time.   In addition to these two works, John is the author of ‘Dragon House’, ‘The Wishing Trees’ and ‘Cross Currents’, which will be discussed in this Q & A.

I am so honored John agreed to answer some questions about ‘Cross Currents’, his most recent work.  The novel’s setting is beautiful Ko Phi Phi, Thailand and he weaves the stories of Americans Patch, Ryan, and Brooke with locals Lek, Sarai, and their family.  All of the characters deal with family conflict and find themselves fighting for love, family, and survival.  I was wary at first to read a fictional account of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, not sure how someone could write about such a tragedy and remain respectful to those who experienced it. I shouldn’t have been worried; John handled the scenes with grace and sensitivity. 

MIRAH:  Before we get to ‘Cross Currents’ could you describe how you became a novelist? How did you get on that path?

JOHN:  I grew up reading several novels a week and at some point (I believe in high school) I decided that I wanted to become a novelist. Of course, it’s a tough profession to break into, so the process of doing so wasn’t an instant one. After graduating from college, I became an English teacher in Japan, and later a newspaper reporter in my hometown of Des Moines. I worked on my first novel, ‘Beneath a Marble Sky’, at night and during the weekend. Under those confines it took me five years to finish the novel, but fortunately, it was embraced by readers after its publication and became an international bestseller. The success of ‘Beneath a Marble Sky’ (which tells the remarkable story behind the creation of the Taj Mahal) allowed me to quit my day job and become a full-time novelist.

MIRAH:  I love to travel and your novels are set in various countries and cover such diverse topics. I really enjoy this because it allows to me to travel to new locations without even leaving my house! How do you select your next book topic and/or location?

JOHN:  Well, first of all, thank you for the compliment. In terms of how I select my next novel, I identify a place somewhere on the globe that I have been to and believe is special. I then try to wrap a story around that setting. For instance, I am currently putting the finishing touches on a novel about Angkor Wat, which is a legendary temple located in Cambodia. One of my goals as a writer is to take my readers on a journey to some of the world’s most beautiful and unique places. These are the kinds of novels that I like to read, and I couldn’t imagine writing about anything else.

MIRAH:  Your novels seem very comprehensive because you tap into local mannerisms, dialects, and customs. What is involved in your research for a novel?

JOHN:  I spend quite a bit of time within each setting that I end up writing about. I get to know the local language, food, music, dance, topography, climate, people, etc. I don’t stay at tourist hotels, but at small places near where the locals live. It’s really important to me that my novels accurately portray the culture that I am trying to reincarnate on the page. Spending several weeks at a particular site allows me to create novels that are authentic.

MIRAH:  I love that you write in a way that brings the location to life and it becomes another character. But in ‘Cross Currents’, Thailand (specifically Ko Phi Phi) and the ocean both become characters. How did you prepare to write about the tsunami?

JOHN:  I first visited Ko Phi Phi in 1994–long before I was a novelist. Upon landing on the island’s shores, I was convinced that I had stumbled upon one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I was lucky to return to the island several times after that. I fell in love with the place and the people. Years later, when the tsunami tore through Ko Phi Phi, I was quite upset. I wanted to help, but wasn’t able to return until long after the event. When I did get back, I spoke with locals who had survived the event, had stayed, and were rebuilding. I was so impressed with their stories, with their perseverance, that I decided to write a novel that would bring the strength of the human spirit (which they all displayed in such a profound way) to vivid life. Once I began the novel, I again returned to Ko Phi Phi to interview survivors, ensuring that I was accurate in terms of how the tsunami swept across the island.
MIRAH:  You traveled to Ko Phi Phi before and after the tsunami. Can you describe how your feelings were different each time?

JOHN:  Ko Phi Phi is one of those places that was truly a paradise. It still is, though there are many more hotels, boats, and people than there used to be. It’s been a bit painful for me to witness this transition, but again, the island remains a special place. The waters, the cliffs, and the people are unchanged. In terms of my post-tsunami experience, I was impressed with how the Thais had rebuilt everything. Something like 7,000 tons of debris were removed from the bay by hand–an amazing accomplishment. I was also delighted to see children from all corners of the world running along the beach, laughing with each other.

MIRAH:  Patch and Ryan seem to be two very different brothers in the beginning but throughout the book I perceive them becoming more alike. Did you know the fate of both brothers at the start or did that reveal itself to you as you wrote?

JOHN:  I wasn’t sure how the relationship between Patch and Ryan would evolve. I wanted there to be conflict and love within their relationship. I wanted it to be tested. But I had no idea how the tsunami would affect them. It really wasn’t until I started writing those final scenes that I decided what to do.

MIRAH:  The love/hate relationship between locals and tourists seems to exist everywhere, to some degree. Lek and Sarai love living on Ko Phi Phi and understand tourism keeps them there but they obviously work day and night to make ends meet and they aren’t always treated well by tourists. During my trip to Ko Samui, I felt very welcomed by the locals but at the same time I felt tourism was taking over the island and I felt some guilt about that. How do you feel about the small islands of Thailand becoming more dependent on tourism?

JOHN:  I’ve been to many places where tension exists between locals and tourists. I don’t feel that way in Thailand. I’m not sure why this is other than the Thais don’t take life too seriously and realize that tourist dollars help them build new schools, hospitals, and roads. Yes, tourism leads to the creation of hotels and an infrastructure to support countless foreigners. But that same tourism enables the Thais to maintain good jobs, to live in beautiful places.

MIRAH:  Which character did you enjoy writing about the most in ‘Cross Currents’ and why?

JOHN:  My favorite characters were the Thai characters. I enjoyed writing about the three-generational family that runs a resort on the island. I tried to bring the joys and difficulties of their lives to life, as I had witnessed those highs and lows during my travels to developing countries. Such families often struggle to find balance. For instance, the Thai mother and father in ‘Cross Currents’ struggle with the fact that they need their children to work in order to help pay all of their bills. Of course, they want their children to go to school, to play and be happy. But they also depend on the productivity of their children. Consequently, they often muse over the finding right sort of balance between work and play. For me, as a writer, putting such issues down on the page allowed me to examine them within my own life and family.

MIRAH:  Through reading your novels I know you donate to various charities, including proceeds from your books, and try to get the word out about the charities you support. What groups are you currently involved with and how can we learn more about them?

JOHN:  All of my novels have gone to support various charities. I’m most proud of the work that I have done with the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, which is located in Vietnam, and supports homeless children. The sales of my novels have allowed me to help buy complete sets of school books for about 1,300 homeless kids in Hanoi. This outcome has thrilled me. Additional information on the charities I support can be found on my website at www.johnshors.com.

MIRAH:  And one final question, can you give us a sneak peek into your next novel, ‘Temple of a Thousand Faces‘?

JOHN:  ‘Temple of a Thousand Faces’ is an epic work of historical fiction centered around Angkor Wat. It will be full of action and intrigue, love and betrayal. I’m quite excited about it, though the novel won’t come out until February, so I have to be patient. For updates on that book, and other elements of my writing life, please friend me on Facebook or Twitter.

In closing, I would like to thank John for his time and willingness to answer my questions. I am a passionate reader and it’s a dream come true to be able to connect with a writer I admire.   It’s really been exciting for me to have the opportunity to communicate with him about ‘Cross Currents’.  So, if you’re in the mood to learn about another culture, delve into the emotions of the human spirit and be transported to amazing locations, pick up ‘Cross Currents’ or another of John’s books.  Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

To learn more about John and his books, visit his website at www.JohnShors.com or follow him at facebook.com/JohnShors or twitter.com/JohnShors.