Author interview with John Connors

Author interview with John Connors

 Hi John, welcome over at The Book Plank and for taking your time to answer these few questions for us

BP: First off, could you give us a short introduction as to who John Connor is? What are your hobbies, likes and dislikes?

JC: Hey, how are you? I live in Liverpool, UK a stone’s throw from Penny Lane! I’ve got a full time job and apart from obviously writing I do quite a bit of gardening and I’m interested in politics and films. I also review things on my blog thiswayup (www.thiswayup.blogspot.co.uk )

BP: Elemental is your debut into the fantasy fiction, when and where did you decide that you wanted to become an author?

JC: Probably about ten years ago. I’d forgotten children’s books after I grew up but when the Harry Potter books started to become widely talked about I did an article about them and ended up reading them and then likewise with the Dark Materials books and it reconnected with my childhood somehow. Then I thought `I’m sure I can write something along those lines but different.

BP: Writing a debut is daunting task, how did you went about it and plan it?

JC: Basically I wrote it in my spare time, weekends and occasional evenings. I ended up writing it about five times till I was satisfied it worked. The advantage of that approach is that I ended up also working out the plots for several other books.

BP: What gave you the idea behind the story of Elemental?

JC: It started when global warming was becoming a big news topic and led me to thinking about the idea of everything in the world being connected. We’re on this small planet and though we often don’t think about it, things we do affect the world when you add them up. I also felt it gave a credible method by which the main character can do the things he does. It’s not magic or myth, it’s the planet itself.

BP: Elemental was released in April earlier this year, if you would have to sell it with a single sentence how would it go?

JC: Read Elemental if you like exciting, imaginative, powerful stories for children of all ages from 9 to 90!

BP: Did you encounter any specific problems so far in writing Elemental?

JC: The main problem was the length of time it took to write, across so many years. By the time I’d finished I’d almost forgotten the start!

BP: What has been the hardest part in writing Elemental?

JC: Getting the tone right and trying to imagine what sort of age would read the story. I’ve pitched it as a children’s book but some people have told me it’s more of a young adults book. Also the children’s dialogue was difficult; it’s a while since I was that age so I had to guess how they talk. The other thing was all of the changes in technology. Smartphones and Twitter didn’t exist when I started the book!

BP: Besides the hardest part, which chapter/scene did you enjoy writing about the most?

JC: The most fun part was writing the dialogue for Lord Pennington who talks in a very old fashioned way; the exchanges between him and Mrs Brackley were fun. Also thinking up the action sequences; I imagined what they’d be like if it was a film.

BP: If you would be given the chance to retract Elemental and make one final adjustment, would you do so? If yes, which parts and why?

JC: I suppose I might make Tom a bit more Cockney but that’s about all; it went through so many drafts that most of the issues were ironed out. Plus I would remember to add page numbers!!

BP: Elemental is the first in a trilogy, do you have any other plans or projects that you wish to pursue in the near future?

JC: Actually its more than a trilogy. I have got other books in the works as well, one completed first draft and another idea though that wouldn’t be a children’s book.

BP: Everyone enjoys science fiction and fantasy in their own way, what do you like most about it?

JC: For me there has to be a basis of reality in it something that I can identify with which is what I’ve done with Elemental. If you start with something normal like a village and then have something odd happen, then something stranger and so on I’m with that story then wherever it flies. Whereas if it starts on the planet Zeng it’s a harder sell for me. I do like Dune but that’s something of an exception for me.

BP: If you would have to give your top 5 favorite books, which would they be?

JC: They wouldn’t all be sci-fi or fantasy actually. I like Charles Dickens’ books because they are so vivid. I read a lot of non fiction too because I think a writer needs to stay connected to the real world. I would certainly put Dark Materials up there in a top five though and probably Dune.

BP: And just lastly, can you give us a sneak peak as to what will be in store for the readers of Elemental and possibly the direction of a possible sequel?

JC: The next book is set in the winter time and I’m writing it now using words like frozen and chilled and its close on 30 degrees outside! What the second book will do is explore the main characters a bit more by placing them in a perilous situation from which they can’t easily escape. There is some scarier stuff in there as well.

BP: Thank you for your time John and good luck with your future writing!
JC: Thanks, all the best.