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Alex Scarrow
Ape
993 Posts |
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John Prigent
Homosapien
United Kingdom
8794 Posts |
Posted - 10 February 2006 : 9:00:44 PM
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What's to snigger at or deride? Well done Alex, you're there even before the book is published!
Cheers
John |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 11 February 2006 : 09:20:42 AM
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A great interview Alex nice one!!
I feel bad though i wanted to get the 1st one done...but life gets in the way...works a bitch!!
Still going to get the questions together...but in this case you snooze you lose!!
By the way I will go with B)
i admire anyone who can get their ideas down on paper and then get them published....i would love to be able to do it...
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Alex Scarrow
Ape
993 Posts |
Posted - 11 February 2006 : 09:38:01 AM
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| cheers guys. First interview....woohoo! |
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6782 Posts |
Posted - 11 February 2006 : 09:59:41 AM
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very well done, although the date is wrong at the top Feb 06 release...hmmm 
You know what i think about Thousand suns, here's hoping the buying public love it too eh??? then you'll have a great spring bored for EQ.
__________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
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Alex Scarrow
Ape
993 Posts |
Posted - 11 February 2006 : 10:24:09 AM
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| thanks Andy....although hopefully board, not 'bored' ;-) |
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6782 Posts |
Posted - 11 February 2006 : 10:25:26 AM
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yeah definalty, doh!!!! typing to fast and not proof reading.... 
__________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
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Stomachus Grossus
Homosapien
United Kingdom
1949 Posts |
Posted - 11 February 2006 : 11:40:32 AM
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How about you interview me Parm I might write a book at some stage and then you will have the first interview... of course i may never write a book then it would be a pointless exercise.
Vini Vidi Pizza
(I came, I saw, I ate Pizza)
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 13 February 2006 : 09:13:18 AM
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I get the feeling interviewing you at any time may prove point less!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Stomachus Grossus
Homosapien
United Kingdom
1949 Posts |
Posted - 13 February 2006 : 4:57:55 PM
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I dont know the knocks i have to take on here :-)
Urino -are!!!!
DIVE!!!
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felipe flop
Invertebrate
United Kingdom
138 Posts |
 Posted - 15 February 2006 : 5:02:20 PM
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What is it about coffee & Cafés? Didn't someone called Howling or Rowling write a book about a lad going to a grant maintained Wizard school, whilst drinking in a Starbucks? Does the type of coffee affect the storyline- Decaff for non fiction, Cappuccino for light romance? etc. What do the Bro's drink? More importantly how do you avoid getting thrown out for taking up space and not spending enough?
Felipe Flo p
P S do you have to give s/bucks a mention? |
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John Prigent
Homosapien
United Kingdom
8794 Posts |
Posted - 15 February 2006 : 7:06:47 PM
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S***bucks? Shudder. None of the coffee chains sell anything that can be described as proper coffee. There ar two choices: (1) join the Navy and get it their way; (2) search high and low for high-mountain Tanzanian coffee, medium roast, and enjoy _real_ coffee that hasn't been mutilated to the American taste. If you can't find Tanzanian, the Kilimanjaro coffe from Fairtrade is a close approximation though not quite as good. Even that one beats Jamaica Blue Mounttain into a cocked hat, and leaves the coffee shop varieties far behind for taste and enjoyability.
Cheers
John |
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Alex Scarrow
Ape
993 Posts |
Posted - 16 February 2006 : 09:01:48 AM
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Shoot...it does look like I've given ****bucks a namecheck. No...there's no sponsorship deal there. It's just conveniently located, and has these nice wide leather sofas. But if my books ever started to contain bespectacled little oiks with a talent for magic, I might find somewhere else to write.
John, I go for Fairtrade. Not a bad cup of coffee. |
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6782 Posts |
Posted - 16 February 2006 : 09:19:10 AM
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One thing i do know about Alex's place of choice is it's resonably quiet, with out the bustle of the usual ****bucks outlets, and those sofa's are particualry comfy!
__________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 16 February 2006 : 09:20:51 AM
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(name dropper) LOL!!
just to be different...I hate coffee...dont even like the smell!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6782 Posts |
Posted - 16 February 2006 : 09:29:05 AM
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How can i be name dropping if i've been there myself anwyays??? LOL
Hmm, you work in IT dont you Parm????? and you dont drink coffee, i thought that was sacrilige!!!!
__________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 16 February 2006 : 10:15:19 AM
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I have to make do with coke for my caffine fix!! that or a sugar buzz!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Stomachus Grossus
Homosapien
United Kingdom
1949 Posts |
Posted - 16 February 2006 : 3:24:30 PM
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Recommend Navy coffee the best in the world!
I enjoy starbucks coz i like poncy coffee. At home i roast my own Jamican blue mountain. (I have a friend who is out there on missionary work and gets the beans on the cheap for me)
Urino -are!!!!
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Nikki Sudden
Single Cell Organism
United Kingdom
18 Posts |
Posted - 17 February 2006 : 5:46:15 PM
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I stopped drinking coffee a good seven or so years back. Keith Richards said that coffee was the most dangerous thing you could put in your body and I thought, "Well, he's tried everything else, so..." John Barry, my bass player remarked that a 24" steel bayonet could be worse, but...
Since stopping I feel no better and no worse, but at least I have no reason to frequent Starbucks or the like. Alex isn't there a nice 'greasy spoon' with beans on toast you could frequent? That'd be my preference. Alas, I am based in Berlin and the chance would be a fine thing.
Nikki |
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Big Dave
Dinosaur
United Kingdom
234 Posts |
Posted - 25 February 2006 : 02:52:01 AM
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That means you can go to all them great cafe bars! Our if your near go to the Kebab cafe/bar opposite the back entrance to Ost Banoff, we stayed near there on holiday in Berlin and went there every night for mini kebabs and beer, great!
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Chuck Norris likes to knit sweaters in his free time. And by "knit", I mean "kick", and by "sweaters", I mean "babies". |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 26 February 2006 : 10:53:12 AM
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..tsk tsk kebabs...now officially the most unhealthy fast fiood in the country...worse than 6 bigmacs and fries!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 27 February 2006 : 12:59:18 PM
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http://parmenion-books.co.uk/view_doc.php?view_doc=18
Alex was kind enough to consent to another interview and the questions and answers are at the following link.
or Just read below:
1) Alex you have said you grew up in " Hertfordshire. Raised mostly in Essex,
but lived in Hong Kong, the Bahamas, a short time in San Francisco (I was a toddler then)."
Did this have an effect on you that has carried over to your writing?
Do you think this travelling gives you a more rounded look at the world?
It can't help but to have helped. It has definitely allowed my writing to have a more international flavour. Growing up, I lived with kids who came from all around the world, different accents, different languages etc etc
2) You have said you have written some screen plays...
any chance these will get turned into books down the line?
Or do you have plenty of ideas without looking back at old work?
The screenplays I've written, I'm sure I'll go back to and either update, or rework in some way. But then there are always new ideas coming along. In fact, I keep a little black notebook on my person at all times, in which any random ideas I have get put. It's getting quite crammed in there right now.
3) Do you have any plans to emulate Simon and write an historic novel?
Not really. Although I enjoy history, there's no particular period in which I would consider myself knowledgeable enough to write on extensively. I think the fear of getting too many details wrong and inducing the wrath of historical purists is what's keeping me away from the genre, actually.
4) A Thousand Suns and Ellie Quin look like very different types of books.
What kind of genre would you ideally see yourself following? If any?
Contemporary thrillers with a strong sense of social commentary is my line of business. ELLIE QUIN is something else, a real departure, the first in a series that's really hard to define.
5) Where did you get the idea for Thousand Suns?
From a tagline. I woke up in the early hours one day a few years ago muttering 'on April 29th 1945, the allies secretly surrendered to Nazi Germany...' It was from that bizarre little nugget that the whole idea eventually grew. First as a screenplay, then later, my first manuscript
6) Before you made the switch to writing did you take advise from Simon?
and did he try to put you off based on the hardships involved in getting published?
Not at all. He was very encouraging. He nagged me to turn the screenplay into a novel.
7) Given that you have probably read alot of interviews in papers magazines etc down the years
(sorry that makes you sound old!) is it bizarre being on the other end of an interview?
Not really. It's just like chatting with a very interested reader.
8) Do you still read alot? or do you try to avoid reading for the same reason most authors do..
(IE Plagiarism and the fact that you spend as much time reading as crticing the writing style)?
I read way too little. But that's not because my life is filled with other activities...it's just that I do struggle to find books that keep me engaged. Since writing, I've become very fickle and unforgiving of most writers, including myself. I think in the past year I've only managed to finish two of the ninety-odd books that I've started. And so many of those, I tossed irritably aside after only three or four chapters. The problem I think, frankly, is that a lot of very poor and unoriginal books are being published....way too many books. Which means wading through a lot of dross to find the gems. And I'm getting to the point where the wading is tiring me out.
9) Do you have any celebration planned for the launch of A Thousand Suns
Yes, Simon and I are launching/signing three books between us at Jarrolds of Norwich, a big, old-fashioned department store. It should be great fun. I'm looking forward to talking about my debut novel and reading something from it.
10) Who decides on the artwork for your book and do you have alot of input?
As some one who has worked in computer game design did you try to take over on the designing of the cover?
I did contribute some mock-ups I put together using my CG skills. I think it helped get the ball rolling, and gave some directions to the art people used by Orion, but in the end the cover concept they came up with, was most definitely their idea. I can't take credit for that, sadly.
11) At alot of book signings you get to hear the tales of rejection letters,
do you have any of these, was it hard to get the book taken on? are you keeping the
letters to remail to those people when the book hits the best seller lists?
I was very, very lucky. I think A THOUSAND SUNS was picked up by the first publisher who received it. Orion got it first. They took their time over it, meanwhile my agent passed it on to three or four others, who were looking it over when Orion came back with an offer. So, I haven't had to endure the depressing treadmill of rejections that many other hardy writers have. But, let me fair, as an aspiring screenwriter, sheeeesh...plenty of rejection with that, I can tell you.
14) I read to relax...what do you do as reading must seem like work?
I play with my son, Jacob. He's 8, and beginning to present a challenge at board games, computer games, card games. I strum some guitar chards, play a few CDs. I'll be honest, my life to date has been filled with work. Either as a struggling musician, or as a struggling animator and CG artist - I've never really stopped long enough to develop any hobbies as such. I do need to find something soon, that I can do between books.
16) When you're in a bookshop do you ever have a peak to see who's browsing Simons work
and will you be doing this for yourself when your book is released?
Yes..I suppose I do, a bit.
17) If someone was to enter a shop where you were,
how would you persuade them to consider one of your novels over someone else and how would you
persuade them that your work is different to other authors?
I think the best bet is to let the cover, the tagline and the blurb on the back do the work. If you can't get a sale on the strength of those things, then I think you need to go back to the drawing board. But I suppose, to draw attention to my book on the shelf, I could be tempted to pluck it up enthusiastically and 'coo' over the fantastic description on the back. I'd stoop that low.
18) Out of the characters that appear in your work do you have a singular favourite and please explain your answer?
Chris Rowland, the main character. I like that the guy is a very ordinary guy - just a plain old photographer, nothing remarkable to look at. And when he finds himself in a sticky corner, he doesn't miraculously find he can punch his way out past a pack of hardened hitmen, or fire a machine pistol from the hip with perfect accuracy, or suddenly speak a second language, or know how to 'hack into the mainframe'...like many other, dare I say, cheesy protagonists seem to. I hate that. I hate chisel-jawed superhero protagonists. And in the same way, I hate pantomime antagonists, you know the ones that are so evil they'll sell their grandma into slavery. That's just....arrgghh! I hate that so much. I hope Chris and ALL the other characters in the book come across as living breathing people, some nicer than others, but none as cardboard-cutout stock characters.
19) How do you view feedback to your work and how do you react to negative input?
I take negative feedback appallingly, deride, curse and spit venom at those that don't love every single word I've pecked out for them. Ahh well, maybe not. Like every writer, you like to think you've hit the spot every time, but clearly that's going to be impossible. I do find it very hard to judge my own writing, so I rely heavily on a cadre of beta-readers who are quite merciless in their assessments.
20) What advice would you give to debut novelists to encourage them?
Find something NEW. Whether it's a story idea, a type of character, a writing style, a location. The idea's the thing. You get a good, original idea, you're halfway there. If you've got nothing new to offer, you may have the most wonderful ability to put together prose....it just isn't going to happen. The ideas....that's what it's all about.
21) When you've spent hard months working on a novel have you ever gone back and
read your work and have you ever been able to enjoy it? or are you an author who hates to read his own work?
I don't read my work much. By the time it's done, I've seen enough of it. That said, I'm sure in five or ten years time, I'll happily sit down and give A THOUSAND SUNS another good read.
22) When buying a new book what genre are you most drawn to?
Mainstream...and thrillers. I'm basically scoping the competition right now ;-)
23) how would you react if someone was to see you in starbucks/bookshop etc
and ask you to autograph their book, simpy out of the blue? how would cope with this fame?
With consummate ease. I think I'd adjust to the fame thing alarmingly well. Mind you...why not ask me that in five or ten years? I'll probably be fed up with it and looking for a rock to hide beneath.
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6782 Posts |
Posted - 27 February 2006 : 2:02:18 PM
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Nice interview, little plug there i noticed Alex although must remember to be nice about my comments, don't want to get on your bad side now do I??? hehe.
_________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
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Mark_Warren
Dinosaur
United Kingdom
226 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2006 : 08:35:54 AM
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| The 3 book launch celebration sounds like it will be a blast and plenty of work for you both. Pity Norwich is such a way from Bristol. |
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2006 : 10:17:37 AM
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Hey im going, and Newark is at least as far!!, you just need to hit the M4 and drive like the clapper mate!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6782 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2006 : 10:52:15 AM
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So your going then Parm???? weren't too sure last we spoke?? hehe. There's a Premier Travel Inn about 5mins, walk from the store, with rooms at about £50 a night i think.
_________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2006 : 11:00:06 AM
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i just have to convince the wife, should be easy!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6782 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2006 : 12:00:01 PM
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lol, lets hope your misses doesnt read this site
_________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2006 : 12:06:07 PM
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nah she wont...thinks we are all geeks!! ...pssish..and thats coming from a gooner!!
whats the weather like down there, i heard you had a bit of the cold white stuff today!!
better be nice in june!! these motels boil you in winter and freeze you in summer!! no middle ground!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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AndyCanty
Homosapien
United Kingdom
6782 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2006 : 12:26:23 PM
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yeah plenty of the white stuff although not too bad not but the temperatures supposed to drop tonight so prob get another couple of inches overnight.
This travel Inns brand new opened about 3months ago. so should be all AirCon.
_________________________
If all the worlds a stage?
Where's my script???
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Parmenion
Homosapien
United Kingdom
14676 Posts |
Posted - 28 February 2006 : 12:37:27 PM
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So thats the signing sorted, well almost (once the wife is convinced) Alex do you and Simon want to go for a drink afterwards? ...im not sure what andy has lined up for the night its self, but if you fancy going to the pub afterwards and talking Pub rubbish afterwards...promise to avoid discussing books too much , we can keep the conversation on normal bloke stuff, ..life the universe and ...well for me it would be football, but not sure about you!!?? LOL!!
oh and a refusal will not offend, you may be shattered after your first book launch!! all that nervous energy getting burned!! LOL!!
LASCIATE OGNE SPERANZA, VOI CH'INTRATE
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An online interview
