Today I am pleased to present to you all the 98th in a series (of 100) of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the short-fused, crowd-hating, AFN Clarke, and our conversation went something like this:
Paul: I like to start my interviews by asking if you have any writing rituals?
AFN: Not really. I can write just about anywhere
at any time regardless of noise or location. I guess the only thing I do on a
regular basis when I'm not "feeling" the next part of the plot is I
step away from writing, go for a walk, watch TV or do something totally
different as it's only then that my brain can figure things out for itself
without me forcing anything and I get that fresh "aha" experience
when I sit down again and let the words flow.
Paul: What
types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?
AFN: I love all sorts of books. I grew up on the
classics but if I had to choose one author to highlight it would be JP Donleavy.
His books like "The Gingerman", "A Singular Man", "The
Onion Eaters" and others opened my eyes to the fact that creative writing
is a living organism. When you write creatively you have the ability to invent
in many ways, both grammatically and with vocabulary which, if it works,
creates a vivid colorful and satisfying result. Donleavy turns convention on
its head, leaves out verbs, uses words in a visceral or visual rather than
"correct" way and it's an amazingly freeing experience to read him.
Paul: If someone had the power to step into your
creative mind what would they see?
AFN: I think they'd see something that resembles a
really large, intricate, interconnected spider web. Because I write in a
"stream of consciousness" style, my stories evolve organically. This
means that I continually have all of the characters, events and sublayers in my
mind all the time. This creative soup is "processed" 24/7 into
intricate patterns that find their way onto the page each day. The web is woven
in my head first, so that's what readers would see - it's a bit like chaos
theory - there actually is order in what appears to be total chaos.
Paul: Do
you have a favorite character in each of your series, aside from the lead? If
so, which one and why?
AFN: In my new series The Orange Moon Affair one
of my favorite characters is Julie. Most "male dominated" thrillers
avoid strong female characters, but why? In my opinion women often have greater insight and that quiet strength
of character that men often lack when they only resort to brute force to solve
problems. They're also more unpredictable. Julie weaves all those
characteristics, a fierce loyalty and hidden abilities into a dominant role in
the story resulting in a highly surprising ending. I like her sensitivity, her
soulfulness and her gutsiness.
Paul: In
all the years you’ve been publishing your work, what is the biggest mistake you
made that you could share so others can avoid making it?
AFN: Fortunately, my first book Contact (a memoir)
was a bestseller but then I made a rookie mistake that I've never made again.
My publisher said "so what's your next book?" and I said "what
book?" Oops - wrong answer! It took
a while to get that initial momentum back. My advice? Don't let the limelight
get to your head - take your ego, box it up, and get back to work! Now I always know what my next book is going
to be… and the next… and the next.
Paul: How do you find the time to write?
AFN: I think every writer is, to some
degree, self-indulgent as to be successful we simply have to sit and write no
matter what else is happening around us. Or that's how I feel, anyway. I'm
lucky to be writing full-time but have to acknowledge that my amazing wife
bears the brunt of handling the demands of everyday life so that I can actually
spend each day at my computer. I let go of a lot of things normal people
do - I become more of a hermit and far
less social but the consistency pays off and I think my books are better for
it.
Paul: What is one thing you hope I do not tell the
readers?
AFN: Ha, that's a very
funny question! I have to admit I have a short fuse with people who won't think
for themselves or refuse to "think outside the box". I am insatiably
curious, read tons, and love to have heated discussions. That's when I feel
most excited and alive and so I am baffled by some people who seem to live life
on automatic and never question anything. Or people who just want to sit on the
sidelines of life and "watch". Sadly we've become too much of a
"spectator society" instead of getting in there, boots and all, and
participating.
Paul: If
you are self-published, what led to you going your own way?
AFN: My first 6 books were traditionally
published, but I've stepped out of that system in more recent years. I found I
had to do most of the marketing myself anyway, so why not take back control and
reap the rewards? So I did, I got my
rights back and released all my work as ebooks in the Amazon Kindle Store.
Interestingly, after 30 years Random House agreed to hand back the rights to my
bestseller Contact as the book was supposedly "too old". I am glad to
say I have proven them wrong! It's still one of my bestsellers and resonates
with readers all over the world. I love the freedom self-publishing brings,
though would still work with a good publisher on a more equal footing if that
were possible.
Paul: Do you plot your stories or do you just get
an idea and run with it?
AFN: I am more of a "stream of consciousness'
writer. Although I have a clear idea of the plot and a definite focus I simply
start and then the book takes on a life of its own. The characters are, after
all, people, and how they react to different situations determines what happens
next - and so as my characters grow they help develop the twists and turns of
the story in a way that often surprises even me. I think this gives my writing
a greater immediacy, vibrancy, and feeling of being "real" even if
it's a highly fanciful story.
Paul: Do
you have to do much research for your stories?
AFN: I am always researching but I am blessed with
a "colorful" life as fodder for my books as well. My father was an
MI6 operative and I've been a Captain in Britain's elite Parachute Regiment, a
race car driver, pilot, screenwriter, computer programmer and proud father of 4
daughters. I've lived in Hong Kong, India, Iran, Libya, Europe, the UK, USA and
Australia and so have been immersed in different cultures, political and
religious systems. This blend of my background, insatiable curiosity about
everything and my ongoing research is an important part of every book, so that
the boundaries between what is real and what is not are always intriguingly
blurred adding, I hope, a depth and breadth to my work.
Paul: What is your most recent book? Tell us a
little about it.
AFN: The Orange Moon Affair is the first of a new
thriller series featuring Thomas Gun, ex-special forces, who is dragged back to
his old life of international intrigue and danger after the brutal murder of
his billionaire father. What tears at his soul most is whether the abhorrent
conspiracy he uncovers was actually his father's creation. In trying to find
the answer he risks losing all he holds most dear, including his accomplice Julie,
who constantly surprises him with her insight and abilities. Though fast-paced
and action packed it's also thought-provoking in its exploration of the abuse
of power and position for personal gain.
Paul: What
inspired you to write this book?
AFN: My inspiration is the person the book is
dedicated to - Terry Forrestal, ex-British SAS, brother-in-arms and a dear
friend, may he rest in peace. His life read like a Hollywood movie and he had
that streak of larrikin in him so I think he would enjoy this book. He - like
myself, and the central character Thomas Gunn - was always torn between the
"trained killer" part of himself and the more caring, emotional part
that simply wanted a more "normal" and peaceful life. That inner
turmoil is an integral part of the book and what makes Thomas so vulnerable. It
also makes for an interesting relationship with Julie.
Paul: What’s
your favorite / least favorite aspect of your writing life? Has anything
surprised you?
AFN: What I love about writing is living in and
creating whole new worlds in which my readers and I can lose ourselves. Editing
is what I dislike most! For me, when I
write the last word I'm done. Enter my long suffering wife and first-line
editor. She puts on her suit of armor and delivers her forceful feedback. Despite
my relentless kicking and screaming, her insistence slowly works its magic and
I do indeed succumb, making changes that are essential to the success of the
book. You'd think I'd learn, but the next time, it's the same again, round and
round we go.
Paul: What do you do when you’re not writing? Do
you have any hobbies or party tricks?
AFN: I am not naturally a sedentary person, so I
spend my relaxation time being physically active. My favorite thing is to sail
out on the ocean alone when the sky is blue, sun warm, and let the wind blow
the cobwebs out of my head. My wife and I take long walks and we enjoy
traveling off the beaten path. I used to be a race car driver so watch all
sorts of motor racing and just about every kind of sport you can imagine. I
also really enjoy cooking and make a huge mess in the kitchen. No party tricks
I'm afraid, don't go to them - am not a fan of crowds.
Paul: Thanks, AFN, that was most interesting. I wish you every success for the future.
About AFN Clarke: AFN CLARKE is the son of a British MI6 operative, pilot, sailor, screenwriter, father of four who’s lived all over the world, served in the British Army and recovered from the physical/emotional traumas of war. His bestselling memoir CONTACT was serialized in a British newspaper and made into an award winning BBCTV film. He’s insatiably curious, loves heated discussions and has a rascally sense of humor. He now writes fiction of various genres – political thrillers (AN UNQUIET AMERICAN), human drama (DRY TORTUGAS), humor/satire (DREAMS FROM THE DEATH AGE; ARMAGEDDON), horror (COLLISIONS) and THE ORANGE MOON AFFAIR, the first of a new Thomas Gunn thriller/suspense series with more coming soon.
