Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Not intentionally, as I didn’t start out with one, but overall the theme is one of redemption. The idea is that true love often stays, no matter how clouded it gets with the darkness of the world. It usually takes a shock or a loss to unearth it, and in this case the world itself had to end before the protagonist could start to make sense of it all, but no matter how many loose ends he had left, they simply untied themselves. He didn’t have to go back and fix them all, he just had to remember who he was before he’d created them.
How much of the book is realistic?
I tried to make it realistic enough to be just about believable. I looked at what kind of disaster could cause such havoc worldwide, the effects it would have and how we could attempt to counter them, and how people would be ushered to safety. The idea was to add just enough poetic license and unexplained coincidence to fit the main character’s slightly dream-like view of the world, where he sees magic in everything. Hopefully the reader will never be 100% sure how much is in his perception, or even imagination.
What are your goals as a writer?
Mostly to evolve. Not only do I want to make this my life and my living, I want to be the best I can possibly be at it. It’s been a few years but I feel I’m only just starting down this path, taking my first uncertain steps. I want to start striding purposefully. Maybe swagger a little too.
Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?
I’m actually still reading The Book Thief at the moment. I’m liking it so far, although his use of language seems slightly forced on occasion (pot calling the kettle black there I’m sure). Overall his style makes it a very engaging read though, and given the theme and the setting and the array of characters, I would say it’s one of the more intriguing and interesting novels I’ve read in a while.
What are some of the best tools available today for writers, especially those just starting out?
The explosion in self-publishing has opened a whole plethora of tools for writers. There are now accessible services in editing, publishing, marketing, design and everything else that you would once have needed a traditional publisher to take care of. I’m sure many of us have used the likes of Smashwords, Createspace and/or Lulu at some point – they’re great for starting out. On top of that, there is far more free software for converting your manuscript into ePubs and for structuring your stories, and the web has an abundance of how-to guides. I think new writers would do well to explore them all, and see how many things they have the time and talent to do themselves – even if you’re going the traditional publishing route, anything you can do yourself for free is going to come in handy someday.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre - Apocalyptic fiction
Rating – PG
More details about the author and the book
Website http://robertdavies.co
0 comments:
Post a Comment