Over the next few weeks I ’ll be posting interviews with the authors who will be taking part in our Book Fair: http://www.narberthbookfair.co.uk/.
There are forty authors, so, obviously, there are many genres for both adults and children. There will be talks an writing and books, creative writing workshops for adults workshops & talks and fun workshops for children, activities for the children Children’s Page and a fun book trail through Narberth, the gorgeous little market town in Pembrokeshire. Location.
All free!!
And, of course, there will be the chance to chat with all the authors and to pick their brains on all aspects of writing. Even to buy their books and have them personally signed.
And, as usual, there will also be the writing competition: this year is a poetry competition: competition . Submit a poem, in any form, of 20 lines or less, on the subject of : –
BOOKS AND READING.
Having outgrown our previous venue we have been lucky to hire the Queens Hall: https://www.thequeenshall.org.uk/ who have been very generous in their support of the event.
Although, five years ago, I started organising the book fairs on my own I was soon joined by Alex Martin: http://amzn.to/2hZCgt2 and Thorne Moore: http://bit.ly/2rc5qyA. Unfortunately Alex has moved on to pastures new (although is still a great supporter), so Thorne and I have been joined by Elizabeth Sleight. Elizabeth is involved in the charity we are supporting through our raffle; The Harriet Davis Seaside Holiday Trust For Disabled Children: http://bit.ly/2sNyeKQ .
Our author today is Colin R Parson who writes Children’s and Young Adult fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy
Hi Colin, Please tell us first, why you write?
Because it makes me happy, and that is precious.
What do you love most about the writing process?
That moment… the part of writing, that lights you up like a firework. Nothing else quite compares. It’s when you’re in a writing frenzy, and nothing else matters.
What is the ultimate goal you hope to achieve with your writing?
To be recognised and appreciated for what I do. Everyone wants to be famous – and… so do I, but, I want to make a mark too. I don’t know if I am supposed to do this, but I enjoy it and want to get as high, as I possibly can in this field.
What book that you have read has most influenced your life?
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. And, because it got me reading when I was a kid. I think it was ingenious of someone to write about a piece of furniture that became a time portal. Also, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Just because of chapter 5 Danse Macabre: where humans and ghosts danced together in the town square – that… blew me away.
Who is your favourite author?
Kenneth Oppel, a Canadian children’s author, but hold on Neil Gaiman, oops, Derek Landy, sorry, there are so many.
Are your characters based on real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
A bit of both I think. Recently, from people I know, but in the past my imagination.
Have you thought about joining with another author to write a book?
I almost did once, but it never came to fruition. There are obvious artistic problems that can pop up, so not sure if I’d actually do it.
If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?
I think JRR Tolkien. He eventually took the world by storm with his amazing series. No one was doing it, and he took the bull by the horns, and never looked back.
If you could write about anyone fiction/nonfiction who would you write about?
I don’t know who he is, but the guy who invented the fridge. That appliance changed the world. As a guy, he must have been really cool!
Do you have any writing rituals?
Yes, I have to have a writing pad in my bag, and a gel pen. Batteries die, but paper and pen don’t, and they don’t glitch out either. Also, when starting a novel – I will set up twenty or thirty word files, with a title, and then fill them up, with a 1000 words each. I also never know where I’m going in a plot.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
It varies. I run a lot of school visits, and can only write, when and where I am on that particular day. When I’m not doing schools, I’ll walk to my local library and spend the morning writing there. Or, pop into my study and try and keep off Facebook, and just write.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
I don’t think so. I’ve always written stuff as a kid, but didn’t get into being an author until my early thirties.
What do you think makes a good story?
I think something that grabs your attention, right from the start. Plenty of fast-paced action, with a large dollop of danger, and situations that are almost impossible to escape, but you just manage to get out of.
How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?
Eleven books to date. None are my favourites, as each one was as exciting to write as the next.
Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book and why it is a must-read?
D.I.S.C. Direct Interface Shadow Control is about Joseph Lanes. He’s bright, funny and scared. He leaves school at the end of each day, only to be bullied by the Mackenzie Brothers. They beat him up, and throw him in the mud. Lying in the mud one sunny day, he discovers a disk. This changes him forever. It takes him to Ether World where he meets other emotionally and physically bullied kids. They have to save the earth, and he has to confront the bullies in the end. This book has everything you need to enjoy a good adventure.
In three words, can you describe your latest book?
Warriors, robots and friendships.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reins of the story?
The characters define the story. They take over me. I write the story around them. I could have an idea for a character, but the protagonist will reveal how he or she will behave.
If you could spend time with a character from your book who would it be? And what would you do during that day?
Zade – from House of Darke. He’s really cool, but also vulnerable. I think we’d explore deep in the depths of somewhere, battling wild creatures and menacing robots.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I get emails sometimes, and messages from excited readers. They tell me how much my work, makes them happy, and inspires them to write themselves. I get tons of feedback after a workshop in a school. They are enthused.
Do you have any hidden or uncommon talents?
I can make myself invisible when its time to do the garden.
Hahahaha!! I bet! What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I always use my Fisher Space Pen (manufactured by NASA) to sign books.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love walking. I love watching movies, and go to the cinema whenever I can. Also, tennis and rugby and formula one are my favourite sports.
What is the most amusing thing that has ever happened to you? Not particularly to do with your writing
I went up the mountain and built a house out of ferns, when I was a kid. Not actually realising that when it started to pour down with rain, that my friends and I would get wet (we thought the ferns were water proof). We all ran down the mountain, laughing out heads off, until mam saw us soaking wet, and made us have a bath, while she washed our clothes.
Give us a random fact about yourself.
I don’t like the furry outside of peaches. It goes through me when I eat them, so I don’t.
Links to Colin:
hich, in 2001, took over the running of the Gun Tower Museum in one of the two forts built to defend the Royal Dockyard. John became the Museum Trust’s first chairman.
es. There will be three competitions this time: an adults short story competition, one for teenagers and one for children. Details to be announced separately in May through the media.
Judith Barrow 