1 - Why did you first start writing? Was there a book that you read or a film that you saw which pushed you towards it? Have you stuck with the genre you began in?
I think I have always wanted to write – I have only had the peace of mind and motivation to actually finish anything I started. I have always been a reader. There’s no one film or book that I consider to be the ‘shining light’ but I most enjoyed Grisham, Dan Brown (the books, not the films) and Stephen King – I guess they are the biggest influences on my style. As a lawyer, I guess I like to write things with a bit of a legal angle, but I enjoy suspense and intrigue – a bit like my real life really.
2 - As an author you are well versed in stretching the truth. What is the most blatant lie you have ever told?
I lie a lot. We all do, but I recognise this and try to only lie when it is useful, or necessary, and when it is unlikely that I’ll be found out. I guess the biggest lie has to be ‘sorry I won’t be home for a while, I’m with another woman’. My wife knows me too well, she replied, ’No you’re not – you’re at bloody starbucks again writing, aren’t you!!!’
3 – Every author gets writers block at some point. How do you cope with this?
It’s not often I do not feel like writing, but when I do it’s usually because of a lack of tea, bacon or cheese (which was quite hard to get hold of when I lived in the Philippines). I will admit to a goldfish-like attention span. I can work for no more than 30 minutes without stretching my legs and drinking tea. I like getting up early in the morning, and working late at night – I don’t need too much sleep.
4 – If you could switch genders for a day, what would you do?
Being Female for a day might be fun. I guess I would try to do lots of naughty things that I couldn’t get caught for the following day. Very loud sex on the vegetable display in the supermarket with a stranger sounds like fun! Enough daydreaming. In reality I’d probably spend most of the day deciding what to wear. If my body shape would allow, it would be a ‘little black dress’ definitely. Err, I’m getting uncomfortable with this now.
5 – What are the most important attributes to give to a lead character, in your opinion?
I think believability has to be top of my list. Whether he or she is good or bad, the actions and character have to ring true, otherwise you will lose the respect of the reader. After that the character should either engender sympathy and liking, or contempt and loathing. The latter will probably make the book more ‘unputdownable’.
6 – What, outside of writing, do you consider your biggest success?
I think, as with most people, my failures have shaped me as much as mu successes, but without a doubt my biggest successes are my children. All four of them are a credit to me and bring me pleasure every day. They’re all grown up now. Maybe one day I will too
I think I have always wanted to write – I have only had the peace of mind and motivation to actually finish anything I started. I have always been a reader. There’s no one film or book that I consider to be the ‘shining light’ but I most enjoyed Grisham, Dan Brown (the books, not the films) and Stephen King – I guess they are the biggest influences on my style. As a lawyer, I guess I like to write things with a bit of a legal angle, but I enjoy suspense and intrigue – a bit like my real life really.
2 - As an author you are well versed in stretching the truth. What is the most blatant lie you have ever told?
I lie a lot. We all do, but I recognise this and try to only lie when it is useful, or necessary, and when it is unlikely that I’ll be found out. I guess the biggest lie has to be ‘sorry I won’t be home for a while, I’m with another woman’. My wife knows me too well, she replied, ’No you’re not – you’re at bloody starbucks again writing, aren’t you!!!’
3 – Every author gets writers block at some point. How do you cope with this?
It’s not often I do not feel like writing, but when I do it’s usually because of a lack of tea, bacon or cheese (which was quite hard to get hold of when I lived in the Philippines). I will admit to a goldfish-like attention span. I can work for no more than 30 minutes without stretching my legs and drinking tea. I like getting up early in the morning, and working late at night – I don’t need too much sleep.
4 – If you could switch genders for a day, what would you do?
Being Female for a day might be fun. I guess I would try to do lots of naughty things that I couldn’t get caught for the following day. Very loud sex on the vegetable display in the supermarket with a stranger sounds like fun! Enough daydreaming. In reality I’d probably spend most of the day deciding what to wear. If my body shape would allow, it would be a ‘little black dress’ definitely. Err, I’m getting uncomfortable with this now.
5 – What are the most important attributes to give to a lead character, in your opinion?
I think believability has to be top of my list. Whether he or she is good or bad, the actions and character have to ring true, otherwise you will lose the respect of the reader. After that the character should either engender sympathy and liking, or contempt and loathing. The latter will probably make the book more ‘unputdownable’.
6 – What, outside of writing, do you consider your biggest success?
I think, as with most people, my failures have shaped me as much as mu successes, but without a doubt my biggest successes are my children. All four of them are a credit to me and bring me pleasure every day. They’re all grown up now. Maybe one day I will too
7 – And the same question but in regards to your writing?
I guess my biggest success has to be publishing my first book, Deadly Election. There were times I did not think I would get all the writing and editing done. It was a relief when I first held the paperback in my hand. It’s a great feeling. I look forward to the next one, and the next time. Being a writer is, on the whole, very fulfilling.
For an exclusive excerpt from 'Deadly Election', please read on...
8 –Why is a raven like a writing desk?
I have never been any good at riddles. Neither, apparently, was Lewis Carroll who never convincingly answered his own riddle. Ok, I’ll have a go. A raven is like a writing desk because they both have quills (an old writing desk would have quill pens, made from a birds feathers) – that’s the best I can do.
9 – Do you have any regrets?
A million, but I do realise that we learn from EVERY mistake so I guess I should be grateful for all the missed opportunities, the opportunities I WISH I’d missed, the people I should have paid more attention to, and the time I’ve spent regretting the past. I try to be positive and usually manage to start the day with a smile.
10 – Who or what really makes you laugh out loud?
The Office. I know, I know, it’s weird. But it really is my sense of humour, and for those readers who are old enough, Monty Python, and if you’re ancient –‘ that was the week that was’ (google it!). I have a weird sense of humour, or so my wife tells me.
11 –I have heard that you are personal friends with Godzillas step brother, what’s he like?
He’s pretty cool, the scalies get a bad press on the whole but if you hang out with them for a while you can see through their tough exterior, they’re quite soft underneath. After a couple of pints at the local he’s up there on the karaoke with the best of them, in disguise, of course.
12 – What is your favourite story that you have written, about?
I’m in the middle of it It’s about Ivory smuggling and the killing of elephants. It starts in central Africa, but the action soon moves to Somalia and China. It has a big environmental slant. I have long been against the slaughter of animals except for meat, so it is a labour of love.
13 – How can people get in contact with you?
I’m all over the social media:
Website: http://www.arthurcrandon.com
Blog: http://www.arthurcrandon.com/blog-blog-blog.html
Email: mailto:[email protected]?subject=Enquiry from Deadly Election Ebook
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arthurcrandonauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/arthurcrandon
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/arthurcrandon/
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/arthurcrandon
Instagram: deadlyelectionbook
Amazon: http://amzn.to/19cKjsP
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/17S1guI
If all of that fails: Take a trip to Hong Kong, you’ll find me at Joe Bananas most nights.
14 – Do you like to be interviewed?
I really, really enjoy author interviews. They are my favourite thing in the whole world. I think I better revisit the question about my biggest lie.
I guess my biggest success has to be publishing my first book, Deadly Election. There were times I did not think I would get all the writing and editing done. It was a relief when I first held the paperback in my hand. It’s a great feeling. I look forward to the next one, and the next time. Being a writer is, on the whole, very fulfilling.
For an exclusive excerpt from 'Deadly Election', please read on...
8 –Why is a raven like a writing desk?
I have never been any good at riddles. Neither, apparently, was Lewis Carroll who never convincingly answered his own riddle. Ok, I’ll have a go. A raven is like a writing desk because they both have quills (an old writing desk would have quill pens, made from a birds feathers) – that’s the best I can do.
9 – Do you have any regrets?
A million, but I do realise that we learn from EVERY mistake so I guess I should be grateful for all the missed opportunities, the opportunities I WISH I’d missed, the people I should have paid more attention to, and the time I’ve spent regretting the past. I try to be positive and usually manage to start the day with a smile.
10 – Who or what really makes you laugh out loud?
The Office. I know, I know, it’s weird. But it really is my sense of humour, and for those readers who are old enough, Monty Python, and if you’re ancient –‘ that was the week that was’ (google it!). I have a weird sense of humour, or so my wife tells me.
11 –I have heard that you are personal friends with Godzillas step brother, what’s he like?
He’s pretty cool, the scalies get a bad press on the whole but if you hang out with them for a while you can see through their tough exterior, they’re quite soft underneath. After a couple of pints at the local he’s up there on the karaoke with the best of them, in disguise, of course.
12 – What is your favourite story that you have written, about?
I’m in the middle of it It’s about Ivory smuggling and the killing of elephants. It starts in central Africa, but the action soon moves to Somalia and China. It has a big environmental slant. I have long been against the slaughter of animals except for meat, so it is a labour of love.
13 – How can people get in contact with you?
I’m all over the social media:
Website: http://www.arthurcrandon.com
Blog: http://www.arthurcrandon.com/blog-blog-blog.html
Email: mailto:[email protected]?subject=Enquiry from Deadly Election Ebook
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arthurcrandonauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/arthurcrandon
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/arthurcrandon/
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/arthurcrandon
Instagram: deadlyelectionbook
Amazon: http://amzn.to/19cKjsP
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/17S1guI
If all of that fails: Take a trip to Hong Kong, you’ll find me at Joe Bananas most nights.
14 – Do you like to be interviewed?
I really, really enjoy author interviews. They are my favourite thing in the whole world. I think I better revisit the question about my biggest lie.
Excerpt-
smarturl.it/DEADLY
As Virgil entered the cave, the crate slipped from his grasp, he stumbled to his knees. The sudden pain in his left side sapped his remaining energy. His emaciated old body crumpled onto the dusty stones. A trail of blood seeped out from under him—the close range shot had shattered his kidney and punctured his lung. Kodama, the young officer, pointed his Nambu pistol at one of the younger men cowering in the corner. “You! Pick it up.” The lad scrambled forward to take Virgil’s place in an effort to stay alive, at least for a few more minutes. Breath came in short, painful gasps for Virgil, but he could see what was going on around him. The screams of his youngest daughter, Racquel, filled the air. “No. Please, I beg you, no. No hurt me, please.” Her broken sobs fractured her feeble English. She was less than ten feet from him, but there was nothing he could do for her. She lay on the ground in a state of near undress, with firm hands holding her struggling body. The young sergeant and his three men laughed, as if drunk. Two of them held an arm each. She’d lost her blouse in the struggle a while ago and her young breasts wobbled as she struggled. This amused the men to no end. “Hold her still. How can I do it if you won’t keep her still,” barked the Sergeant. Virgil’s head now lay on the floor with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He was facing the rape. The third man wrestled with her skirt, but her squirming made it difficult and he lost patience. His dagger made short work of the faded cotton fabric. Bunching the skirt and panties at one side with his fist, he sawed through the material of both in a few seconds; the nakedness of the girl was now visible to all. She sobbed with shame at her nudity, in pain—the man had cut into her side as he stripped her—and in fear. Sergeant Hito now stood in front of the girl with his breeches around his ankles and his manhood sticking out proudly, like a flagpole. Two of the men pulled the young girl’s legs apart. They didn’t need telling, they had done this many time before. Virgil did not die soon enough. As his sight faded, he saw the Sergeant’s swollen member plunge into his daughter’s body—she screamed out loud in agony with every thrust until he was completely inside her. The other men cheered as their boss thrust himself harder and harder into her, and argued over who would take the next turn. “Look, we’ve got a virgin!” exclaimed the sergeant, pointing down to the blood seeping from the violated girl. It took him just a couple of minutes to finish. “That was a tight one,” he said, smiling. He wiped himself on the discarded skirt as one of the others, a shorter, fatter man took his place. After twenty minutes all four men had used her body and she lay curled up. She raised her head to see the now lifeless body of her father, and sobbed even louder. “I sorry, father, I so sorry,” she wailed.
smarturl.it/DEADLY
As Virgil entered the cave, the crate slipped from his grasp, he stumbled to his knees. The sudden pain in his left side sapped his remaining energy. His emaciated old body crumpled onto the dusty stones. A trail of blood seeped out from under him—the close range shot had shattered his kidney and punctured his lung. Kodama, the young officer, pointed his Nambu pistol at one of the younger men cowering in the corner. “You! Pick it up.” The lad scrambled forward to take Virgil’s place in an effort to stay alive, at least for a few more minutes. Breath came in short, painful gasps for Virgil, but he could see what was going on around him. The screams of his youngest daughter, Racquel, filled the air. “No. Please, I beg you, no. No hurt me, please.” Her broken sobs fractured her feeble English. She was less than ten feet from him, but there was nothing he could do for her. She lay on the ground in a state of near undress, with firm hands holding her struggling body. The young sergeant and his three men laughed, as if drunk. Two of them held an arm each. She’d lost her blouse in the struggle a while ago and her young breasts wobbled as she struggled. This amused the men to no end. “Hold her still. How can I do it if you won’t keep her still,” barked the Sergeant. Virgil’s head now lay on the floor with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. He was facing the rape. The third man wrestled with her skirt, but her squirming made it difficult and he lost patience. His dagger made short work of the faded cotton fabric. Bunching the skirt and panties at one side with his fist, he sawed through the material of both in a few seconds; the nakedness of the girl was now visible to all. She sobbed with shame at her nudity, in pain—the man had cut into her side as he stripped her—and in fear. Sergeant Hito now stood in front of the girl with his breeches around his ankles and his manhood sticking out proudly, like a flagpole. Two of the men pulled the young girl’s legs apart. They didn’t need telling, they had done this many time before. Virgil did not die soon enough. As his sight faded, he saw the Sergeant’s swollen member plunge into his daughter’s body—she screamed out loud in agony with every thrust until he was completely inside her. The other men cheered as their boss thrust himself harder and harder into her, and argued over who would take the next turn. “Look, we’ve got a virgin!” exclaimed the sergeant, pointing down to the blood seeping from the violated girl. It took him just a couple of minutes to finish. “That was a tight one,” he said, smiling. He wiped himself on the discarded skirt as one of the others, a shorter, fatter man took his place. After twenty minutes all four men had used her body and she lay curled up. She raised her head to see the now lifeless body of her father, and sobbed even louder. “I sorry, father, I so sorry,” she wailed.