Richard: I don't sit at my
laptop for more than an hour at a time, even if the words are flowing. I get up
and prowl around like a caged beast for ten minutes or so, muttering phrases and
ideas so that I don't lose the flow. To stop news of my insanity from leaking
out, I make sure I'm alone.
Paul: What types of books do you like to read? Who
are your favorite authors? Why?
Richard: I especially enjoy
quality spy and crime novels and some literary fiction, though most Man Booker
winners are over my head. I admire John le Carré for his superb intellect and
flawless plotting, Patricia Cornwell for making a dry subject like forensic
pathology so readable and Albert Camus for his deep psychological insights.
Paul: If someone had the power to step into your
creative mind what would they see?
Richard: They would see a pretty
scary ant hill where hordes of tiny ants drag incoherent ideas to the top of
the hill, dump them unceremoniously and leave poor old King Ant to make what sense
he can of them. Sadly, His Majesty isn't always able to deliver, so the wretched
ants have to start all over again.
Paul: How do you find
the time to write?
Richard: I admire those authors who,
because of a full-time job or bringing up kids, have to squeeze in their
writing when they can. For me, time isn't normally an issue. I took early
retirement a good few moons ago, though I still do some journalism and charity
work. I can write more or less when I please, though my brain often protests that
it has done enough thinking for one lifetime and deserves to be put out to
graze.
Paul: What is one thing
you hope I do not tell the readers?
Richard: I hope you refrain from telling
them I'm grey-haired. I always think "distinguished" sounds so much
better, don't you? Or feel free to say I've had my locks tinted grey (but not
fifty shades!).
Paul: If you are self-published, what
led to you going your own way?
Richard: I was close to being taken on by a London
literary agent (honest!) but it didn't quite work out. On balance, I would still
like to find a traditional publisher but I'm more than happy to self-publish,
especially as print publishers take so long to get your book out there.
Paul: Do you plot your stories or do
you just get an idea and run with it?
Richard: If I just ran with an idea, I'd be out of
puff in no time. On the other hand, I don't do a lot of plotting. In fact, I
feel guilty when I hear of authors who write lengthy outlines and detailed
character plans. I store my plot outlines and character sketches in my
long-suffering computer of a brain and hope they don't get deleted in error.
All I have when I start writing are some notes on my main characters and an indication
of where each scene or chapter will begin and end.
Paul: Do you do a lot of editing or
do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?
Richard: I've been a writer of sorts for most of my
life, so it flows more easily than it once did. I review and edit after each
chapter to ensure that the storylines and the characters are still playing out
consistently. I'm also a finicky self-editor. I hate typos and grammatical
booboos, so I weed them out after every chapter (Please God, don't let there be
any in this interview!).
Richard: The Girl with the Haunting Smile, my
first novel, is a love story with a 'difference'. It's about a young Scot who
is smitten by a photo of his American pen pal, stays hooked on her and, after she
disappears from his life for many years, heads for the US to track her down.
The 'difference' is that he has had Tourette's Syndrome ever since he was a kid
and has never told her about it. Even if he finds her, will his secret destroy
his chances of happiness?
Paul: What inspired you to write this book?
Richard: I'm always on the side of
the guy or girl who is subjected to abuse, mockery or bullying. In my career in
education, I met many young folk with Tourette's and saw what unfair treatment
by other people did to them, socially and psychologically. I'm only aware of
one other novel whose main character has Tourette's, so the theme hasn't
exactly been done to death.
Paul: Do you also write any poetry,
non-fiction or short stories?
Richard: I'm afraid I don't have enough soul for
poetry. If I did, I would make all my poems rhyme and be in iambic pentameters.
I've written non-fiction galore, mostly yawn-inducing reports on sport, education
and law. Two of my short stories made it into national anthologies.
Paul: Do you have any pieces of work
that will never see the light of day?
Richard: Yes, mostly short film scripts of yesteryear
(there was a time when I thought I was destined to write the next 'Casablanca'
or 'Rear Window'). When I revisit these mini-screenplays now, I feel I owe it
to humanity to ensure they never see the light of day.
Paul: How much marketing do you do
for your published works or for your ‘brand’?
Richard: As a newbie, I've mainly focused on
developing my blog and building a sizeable presence on Twitter and Goodreads. I'm
also a fan of the World Literary Café and of good guys like you who give
writers like me valuable publicity. On average, I spend around three hours a
day spreading awareness of my 'brand' and The
Girl with the Haunting Smile.
Paul: What do you do when you’re not
writing? Do you have any hobbies or party tricks?
Richard: I
help my son, who recently set up his own financial recruitment business, to
source new clients. I serve on the board of a charity for young people with severe
and complex needs. I can place my thumbs behind the knuckles of my forefingers.
Paul: Thanks so much for the interview, Richard. I wish you every success for the future.
Richard's Blog: Richard Louden
Richard on Twitter: @RichardLouden
Richard on Facebook: Unavailable
Richard's latest book: The Girl With The Haunting Smile (Amazon)
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