Interrogating Bryan Thomas

My next interrogatee is a bit of a Scribbler

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

Saywhat? I thought that you would be asking me what my favourite colour is, who's my favourite pop star and such. If I roll over and play dead do I get to ignore that one? Nope, still haven't got a clue what it means... next question!

What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

Next!

Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

Initially, my first story idea was written on an A4 pad. I would write for an hour or more each evening and when the story was taking some kind of shape I would then transfer it to a Word document on my computer which would become a rough first draft. If I get ideas for characters, dialogue etc., when I'm just doing general everyday things I try to write them down on bits of A5 paper before I forget them.

How do you manage plot bunnies (ideas that invade your mind that aren't usually helpful to the story you're writing but breed like...er...bunnies)?

I look upon plot bunnies as furry little friends, popping up out of their little holes and running amok with ideas both good and not so good. Sometimes they are unmanageable but other times quite self-controlled. I wish I had more of them as their visits are infrequent.

How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you'd most like to be? Or be with ?

Until I started writing adult humourous fiction I don't think that any of me was in my characters. Now I might take certain aspects (quirks) or interests that I have and tweak them for a particular character. I wouldn't particularly want to be any of my characters apart from the rich Lotto millionaire, but I haven't written that one as yet.

What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I'm not a great reader, I read a fair bit when I was younger and then I discovered Heavy Metal/Rock music. Part of my pact with Satan was to stop reading novels, so I did just that.

What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I don't try to convince readers that my scribblings may have any factor from A-Z. I'm the worst self-promoter ever. If people are curious and take the time to read one of my short stories, of course, that's brilliant. If they enjoy the story then you can multiply brilliant by a hundred. I'm a low-profile person and a low-profile indie.

How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

That happened to me on the KUF forum! Although it wasn't spelling mistakes as I'm a grate spellar. Another author (who shall remain nameless) pointed out to me that my dialogue for different characters should always begin on a new line. I genuinely didn't know that was the rule and I had to re-format all of my stories. But I am eternally grateful to the lady who pointed it out to me.

What do you like most about visiting KUF/forums?

Joining KUF was a bit daunting, it's chock-full of very talented writers and as an unknown there's always a little thought in my head that somebody might just say: Hey! You don't belong here. Thankfully that hasn't happened (yet) but KUF is such a friendly place with a great 'vibe' to it. People are very willing to help out and they give good advice about any aspects of being an indie author that you care to mention. The other authors have a great deal of experience and they tend to the noobs like the little lambs that we are/were.

What is on your near horizon?

Nothing good.

Where can we find you for more information?

Did I mention that I am low-profile? I'm on Goodreads and that's only because Rosen (Trevithick) said, 'Hey, maggot, I can't find you on Goodreads'. Other than that I think that is about it.

Deadfall by Shaun Jeffrey

Deadfall is a zombie book.  Now I'm not really into zombies, but I am into Shaun Jeffrey books, so gave it a go.

It starts off like a Chris Ryan sort of book, but with a female lead.  Woman special ops type person leads a team of blokes all tooled up on what they think is a kidnap rescue mission, which turns oh so badly wrong.

Another reviewer mentioned they could imagine this as a film, but I was picturing it in my mind more as a video game.

Being not much of a zombie fan, at times I was "get on with the plot" but since to plot was humans v zombies, that was the plot lol.

On the whole, a decent enough story, if not quite my cup of tea.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004TGSYAE/?tag=jookuf-21

Friend Request by David Wailing

Friend Request is the third instalment in David Wailing's Auto series of (quite long) short stories, however you don't need to have read the others to enjoy this one.

The auto series is set a decade in the future and that particular near future is a very scary place where your life is kept on your "smart phone" and you are permanently connected.  This story is set at a party where secrets spill.

As with the other books, the tension builds up from someone just getting on with their life and then something goes wrong and you just don't know where the story could possibly go as you are not quite sure of this future.  In all the books I've felt myself getting closer and closer to the edge of my seat and reading faster and faster to find out the conclusion.

For a short story, there's a good chunk of story, you don't feel short changed.

I think I like this one best of the three so far, maybe it's because I'm now used to this new world, or maybe because the tension gets ramped up even more.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0094WIX3Q/?tag=jookuf-21

Interrogating A.E. Richards

Interrogating Abby Richards, the student who has started off her writing career with a stormer.

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I try to write page-turners because that's what I love to read, and I guess I'm lucky because a lot of people love thrillers that are hard to put down too!

What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

Psychological thrillers give me the opportunity to play with the reader's expectations; to plunge them into uncertainty and nudge them towards various possible conclusions, making it easier to build in a dramatic twist. 

Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

I have about a million note pads drifting about in drawers, on shelves, under the bed. Sometimes, when I can't switch my mind off at night, I scribble down ideas for future stories.

How do you manage plot bunnies (ideas that invade your mind that aren’t usually helpful to the story you’re writing but breed like...er...bunnies)?

I used to suffer from these naughty little bunnies, but haven't found them burrowing into my narrative lately. I used to deal with them by editing, editing and re-editing!

How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ?

I wouldn't like to be any of my characters - I like being me! My life is on the up and most of my characters are dealing with big issues. However, the old me can empathise with Lisbeth's emotional struggle at the start of Blackened Cottage. 

Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

Married to writing, yes! But to my characters - no way!

What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

Yep. I absolutely love psychological thrillers, but I also get a lot out of fantasy and normal thrillers too and I love Dean Koontz's horror/supernatural thrillers. 

What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I try to be as original and fresh as possible with different aspects of craft, including writing style, form and twists.

How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I feel like I should have noticed it first and I give myself a mental wallop!

What do you like most about visiting KUF/forums?

I love finding out what readers REALLY enjoy as it helps me to craft more entertaining stories

What is on your near horizon?

An edgy psychological thriller about a ten year old girl called Verity who is selectively mute.  It's early days yet but I'm beginning to get to grips with the plot and I'm about 10,000 words into the writing.

Where can we find you for more information?

My Facebook page for 'Blackened Cottage' is at www.facebook.com/blackenedcottage and I've just started a blog at http://abbyrichards.wordpress.com

The Cupboard Under The Stairs by Roger Knowles

This was not quite what I expected when I voted it and it won the kuforum bookclub choice of the month in October.  I can't remember what I expected, but this wasn't it :D

It's quite a surreal police procedural.  I liked the police characters and I liked that we got to know a bit about the about-to-be-victims.  Smelly Harry was certainly a strange character.  I did wonder how involved he was in it all.

This book is written in quite a course way in parts and so might not be for everyone.  It is certainly an 18 rating.

I've read other books by Roger Knowles and they are all really different and enjoyable.  I did like this one.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006H6NSOQ/?tag=jookuf-21

Matchbox Memories by Ray Kingfisher

Matchbox Memories by Ray Kingfisher is the tale of Ian who has escaped his family by moving down South, but has to return to look after his mother who has Alzheimers while his father is in hospital and his siblings are unavailable.

This is a very gentle comedy.  At times I was fed up of reading about Ian having to wait for his mum to put her coat on when they go out, but I presume this was deliberate to show how frustrating it can be when someone forgets the simplest things like have they been to the loo before going out and the many repetitions a carer must go through in one day.

I found the start a bit plodding, but as the secrets start to unfold it got more and more intriguing.

Altzheimers is a horrid disease to live around and although this is in the main a gently comedy, there was no looking down on his mother, the topic was treated with respect.

I definitely recommend this to bring a smile to your face, even among all the frustrations

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007WJ9VAC/?tag=kuffbl-21

Interrogating Damien J. Nash

If you don't enjoy this interview with Damien, he'll come and steal your blood

What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

Fantasy as a genre is great for writing the story I want to write. The rules of the real world can be broken to fit the story that wants to come from my mind. I tried writing a story once based in reality, but it didn’t work for me. I wanted things to happen in a way that would not happen, characters I had created weren’t believable, so I started again and created my own world. I like to stretch the rules in everything I do. I’ll even push my luck at work if I think I can get away with it. Writing fantasy lets me do things my way.

Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

I have never really been one for note taking, it just isn’t me. I am blessed with an incredible memory, especially for trivial information like names and numbers, so I tend to keep everything in my head. I work in a hospital, which is a great source for new and unusual names and I have loads in a long list tucked away in a corner of my mind ready for future use. 

How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the one you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ? 

Before I started on Firestone, I read somewhere that one’s first novel tends to be somewhat autobiographical, so I deliberately set out to write something as far away from that as possible. I wrote it in 2003 and locked it in a drawer for nearly a decade. Reading it back through after such a long time, I can see different aspects of my personality embedded in each of the characters. A story of your own is a part of you, no matter how hard you try for it not to be.

Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

He’s used to it by now. I can get a little bit obsessive at times but he’s incredibly supportive of what I do, even if he hasn’t read my book yet. Fantasy is not his cup of coffee (he doesn’t like tea either).

What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I do like fantasy, but I like a lot of things too, including literary novels. I read Lord of the Rings when I was 9 years old after a childhood diet of Roald Dahl and loved it. My teen years were full of Terry Pratchett novels, and I met David Gemmell in my early 20’s and was sad when I heard he passed away a few years ago. You won’t catch me reading 50 Shades of Grey though!

What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

Well I have just bought Tricks of the Mind by Derren Brown haha! I don’t think you can ever convince someone your book has the X Factor. It is all subjective. All you can do is believe in yourself and your own ability to write a good story and hope people like it. 

How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I am very grateful. Not just for pointing them out, but for taking the time to read my novel and pay enough attention to it to notice any errors in the first place!

What do you like most about visiting KUF/forums?

It’s somewhere to go when I want to chill out and pass some time without getting up from the sofa. Everyone is friendly and I’ve learned a lot, even in the short time I have been a member.

What is on your near horizon?

Back to work tomorrow morning. Urgh! It pays the bills but it really holds back the creative juices sometimes! I currently have two projects on the go. The first one is the sequel to Firestone and I am also working on a dystopian fantasy set in an alternative London, which is turning out to be a lot of fun!

Where can we find you for more information?

I have a blog at djnashfiction.wordpress.com and I am just learning to embrace Twitter (@djnashfiction) for the first time.

Frozen in Crime by Cecilia Peartree

Ah, a new Pitkirtly book from Cecilia.  I'm in heaven.  Until I finish it, then I'm waiting for the next.

I really love this series of books.  I love the "are they going out?" of Amaryllis and Christopher and  I love the interaction between the characters.

This story is set amongst the heavy snow of Christmas-time.  The village is cut off and there's been a robbery.  Of course Amaryllis wants to stick her nose in it and Christopher wants a quiet life.  Chief Inspector Smith gets more of a part in this one.  I like him.

I think this is one of my favourite of the Pitkirtly novels.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009L9F24U/?tag=kuffbl-21

Charlotte and the Unicorn by Bryan Thomas

Charlotte and the Unicorn is a dinky little children's story about Charlotte and the Unicorn (It does exactly what it says on the tin)

I often read older children's books and this is a much younger read than I'm used to, but I felt like I wish I was reading it to a child.  It was that nice.  I thought it was a good read and probably one that a young child would want to read again and again. It certainly made me smile at the innocence and adventurousness of the young girls. 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007VQE7N2/?tag=kuffbl-21