Last week, friend and author Thomas R. Manning tagged my blog for the hop, so today it's my turn to answer those all important questions!
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| Remember, whatever the question, this is always the answer.... |
1. What are you working on right now?
I am about 30,000 words into New Light, the third book in my Benjamin Knight series. Aside from the prologue, the story continues minutes after the cliff-hangers at the end of book 2, answering the questions (I hope) the readers were asking when they closed those last few pages. I hit a bit of a wall a month or so back, and with family holidays and my honeymoon (yay!) I have written little in this last month. Now I am back though, and I hope to crack on with impunity!
2. How does it differ from other works in it's genre?
The Benjamin Knight series is a story that defies the attempt to categorise. Just when you think it's Science Fiction, I throw a Steampunk wrench into the works. When you're comfortable with Steampunk, it develops fantasy elements. Then there's the political intrigue and a murder plot, a lot of action and adventure, all wrapped around a complex war story. It's not referred to as 'Lord of the Rings for the Call of Duty Generation' for nothing!
3. Why do you write what you do?
Benjamin Knight's story has been with me for over 20 years, and it has refused to go away. I first started his story when I was at university, and despite not putting pen to paper for over fifteen years, he still refused to stay quiet. Now he's getting his wish, and the first big chapter of his story is almost complete (the first 3 books of The Chronicle of Benjamin Knight tell one story, but there are many more stories to be told). After this is done, I have 2 other stories currently fighting with me over which will get written next.
4. How does your writing process work?
I tend to know the overall plot of the story, along with the important scenes that progress the plot, but a lot of the in between in fluid. I like to sketch out timelines for characters on bits of paper, and then fill in the gaps as I go along. This can lead to some interesting problems, but also some interesting revelations (I didn't realise what Alexander's true motive was until I wrote it!). I've tried to plan out in meticulous detail, but I found this just interfered with the creative process. I like the detail to come out in the writing as the individual characters speak to me (which they do, Alexander sounds like Malcolm McDowell).
Well, thanks Tom for inviting me to do this. Next week it's the turn of Bryan Miller, author of Kyrathaba Rising, and also an excellent proof reader. Check out his post next week!
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