Tag Archive: Author

1. Simon David Eden – Playwright, Screenwriter, Artist, Lyricist and Author

   June 4, 2012 6:39 pm Leave a Comment

   I was recently asked by a reader to interview a screenwriter or playwright rather than just authors of novels. It was coincidental that as I was asked this question, I was in discussion with Simon David Eden who is an author, playwright, screenwriter, artist and lyricist. Is there anything this gentleman cannot do?!

   Although this may appear to be longer than most interviews that I have written here, I am hoping that you all read it fully and find this interview interesting and inspiring.

   I wanted to be a writer from a very early age. At a Waterstone’s book signing recently (for my debut novel ANIMALIAN), I was asked a question by a 12yr old girl: when did I first start writing? I was actually around 12 years old myself. I grew up on a council estate in Brighton, we were quite poor and had little spare money for comics and books. There was however a wonderful shop called the ‘Comic Exchange’ where you could swap 2 used comics for 1 new ‘used’ comic. I had a friend who swapped a couple of comics for a first edition Spiderman and kindly let me borrow it. Imagine! All the movies and franchises to come! In those days we didn’t even know what it was. I was amazed and didn’t want to give it back, though I knew I had to. So what I did was draw a frame by frame copy of it so that I could keep it. My imagination was so fired up by Stan Lee’s world that I then borrowed his main character and wrote my own Spiderman story, this was before I knew about copyright issues of course! I invented a villain – Dr Mystery, and Dr Mystery was able to morph into the X-Men. (more…)

2. Peter Lovesey, An Interview with a Crime Author

   May 24, 2012 8:32 am Leave a Comment

   After driving to the beautiful Cathedral City of Chichester, I walked a short distance to a coffee shop. I entered through the glass fronted wide doors as a wonderful aroma assaulted my senses. Considering that I was early for my meeting I purchased a drink and chose a seat in a quiet corner of the wood encrusted cafe where I waited for Peter Lovesey.

   Okay, so I am no author, it was fun trying though!

   Now, back to business, for those of you whom have not heard of Peter, he has been an internationally published author since the 1960’s whose books have been occasionally adapted for television and film as well as being translated into 30 different languages. I had a lovely conversation with Peter about his journey through the years that have led to his latest novel Cop to Corpse.

   I initially asked Peter to tell me a little about his self and to explain what he does for a living.

   Well I am a crime writer but do some sports writing on the side for magazines, I started off writing a sports book. I started writing articles about the history of track and field for magazines eventually I turned most of the articles into a book 1968 called The Kings of Distance which was named as the sports book of the year in one magazine.  After publishing that book I did not think there was anything else I could do. (more…)

3. Interview with Author Gabrielle Kimm

   May 13, 2012 12:57 pm 2 Comments

   For all of you who have dreamt of writing, I had the great pleasure in speaking to a lovely lady, Gabrielle Kimm author of His Last Duchess and The Courtesans Lover. Gaby spoke about how to find an agent, trials and tribulations on how to become a published writer and many more interesting topics.
   

   Please tell the readers a little about yourself. What started you off wanting to write?

   I first knew I wanted to write a novel when I was twelve.   I wrote all sorts of things throughout my teens and twenties (short stories, poems, articles etc), but didn’t feel confident enough to tackle a full-length novel for many years – not until my younger daughter started school, in fact.  At that point, I began to feel I could indulge what was fast becoming less of a wish to write a novel, and more of a need.

   I did an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Chichester between 2005 and 2007.  This was a revelation!  Not just because the tuition was absolutely wonderful, which it was, but because for the first time I was working with people who really understood what it’s like to be pretty well obsessed with a desire to write.  I suppose doing the course validated all the time and effort I was putting into my writing at this point – it certainly gave me confidence to know that the tutors (writers whom I admired a great deal) thought that what I was producing was OK.

   The inspiration for my first novel – His Last Duchess – came from a Robert Browning poem (My Last Duchess), which I had first met and loved as an undergraduate.  (more…)