What is your name, where were you born and where do you live now?
John Black, I was born in Yorkshire in the UK and now live
in Lincolnshire.
Did you always want
to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
No, as a dinosaur obsessed kid I wanted to be a
palaeontologist, then a doctor, then a photographer, then a physicist, then a
civil engineer and ended up as none of them (well I’m sort of semi-pro as a
photographer)
When did you first
consider yourself as a "writer"?
I think the first time I was actually paid for something.
What is the name of
your latest book, and if you had to summarise it in less than 20 words what
would you say?
My latest book is Work of Art. It’s about an artist
discovering the double life his fiancée led after she committed suicide.
How long does it
usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing
it?
Most of the time it’s years. Ideas get filed away on the
computer (or just the back of my head) and are dragged out later. Actual
writing takes about six months.
What can we expect
from you in the future? ie More books of
the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I’m currently writing a crime novel set in Nottingham. Also
have a science fiction novel pretty much plotted out that I hope to write later
in the year
How long have you
been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
I’ve been writing for a few years now. Many many years ago I
remember throwing a book at a wall because it was so bad (sorry, the title is
lost in the mists of time) and I just knew I could do better myself. However I
kind of messed around for a while without really producing anything. Doing a
post-grad course where I had to do a lot of writing (I had done engineering
first time around) was the main spur. I started on non-fiction and comics
scripting - and had a few bits and pieces published which encouraged me -
before moving on to short stories and eventually starting on novels
Where do you get your
book plot ideas from?What/Who is your inspiration?
Basically I start with characters and the main plot comes
from their interactions once I give them conflicting goals. Plot twists and
turns just tend to come with time. Once I’m fixed on something I’ll research
and read around the subject matter in books and newspapers, watch any
documentaries on television etc and interesting details will be added in or
will inspire me in new directions. There is a lot of thinking and pondering. With
Work of Art I already knew a fair bit about the art world as it’s one of my
major interests outside writing.
Do you have a certain
routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
Write sitting at my desk at my computer. Though I’ll write
notes and proof prints anywhere. I’ll usually listen to music when I’m writing
fiction to help kill the inner critic – at the moment it’s pretty random,
though for my novel Work of Art I actually created a playlist / soundtrack I
would listen to on repeat.
Do you have anybody
read your books and give you reviews before you officially release them?ie.
Your partner, children, friends, reviewers you know?
I had a friend read Work of Art.
Do you gift books to
readers to do reviews?
I’ve sent out some ebooks.
Do you read all the
reviews of your book/books?
Yeah, but I’m not had that many so far!
Would you ever ask a
reviewer to change their review if it was not all positive about your
book/books?
No
How do you come up
with the Title and Cover Designs for your book/books?Who designed the Cover of
your books?
I did the cover for Work of Art. You can read all about the
process on my blog, here:
http://www.johnblackwriter.com/2011/11/09/work-of-art-cover-story/
Do you choose a title
first, or write the book then choose the title?
The title usually comes pretty early in the process, even if
it’s just a temporary title. With Work of Art I changed the title I was fixed
on halfway through as a book with my first title (Blindsight) was published by
another author. I had to tweek a few things but I think it made for a better
book and now I would not have it any other way.
How do you
market/promote your books?
At the moment via twitter and my blog. Will be doing
something with Goodreads in the near future
What do you think
makes a book a really good/bestseller ?
I think a bestseller comes down to a bit of luck on whether
a good book can take off but good marketing can help. Once it reaches a certain
point then word of mouth takes over. A good book needs a sympathetic main
character who goes on an interesting journey as he confronts a difficult
problem – easy!
Have you ever
suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get past the
"block"?
On one level I’m permanently blocked as I never find it easy
to write. I try and tell myself that I don’t have to get it right first time
and rewriting will be easier – just get something down.
If I get really stuck it’s usually because I’ve gone in the
wrong direction or made some other sort of mistake. Soon as I work out what
(and that usually involves taking a break and thinking over what I’ve written)
and once I’ve changed it things start to flow again.
What do you do to
unwind and relax?Do you have a hobby?
The usual - reading, watching films and television, surfing
the net.
Have you ever based
characters on people you know or based events on things that have happened to
you?
I’ve based a character on anyone I know... though I’ve seen
strangers that look like my characters after the fact. That can be a bit disconcerting.
I took a couple of incidents in Work of Art from my real life. The roller
coaster scene in the first chapter actually happened to me and someone did
steal a door at student party I once went to (though the party itself was very
different!).
Which format of book
do you prefer, ebook,hardback, or paperback?
I like to own hardbacks by my favourite authors but they
take up a lot of space which makes ebooks very handy. I bought a kindle last
year and I think I read quicker with it which surprised me.
What is your
favourite book and Why? Have you read it
more than once?
My favourite book is The Bridge by Iain Banks. I’ve read it
several times and still see something knew in it each time.
Do you think books
transfer to movies well? Which is you favourite/worst book to movie transfer?
I think most novels suit television series better. It’s
often short stories that make the best films as it’s easier to expand plot than
crop if down
However Layer Cake is one of my favourite books and they
made a really good film out of that. Iain Banks had a good television
adaptation of The Crown Road but the film version of Complicity was terrible.
What are you
currently reading? Are you enjoying it? What format is it?(ebook, hardback or
paperback)
Cosa Nostra by John Dickie – it’s a non-fiction book about
the Sicilian Mafia that I got for Christmas. It’s more like a history book that
the usual lurid true crime. I’ve already got an idea or two for books of my own
from it!
Do you think ebooks
will ever totally replace printed books?
I think it’s going to be like the theatre. After cinema (and
television) came along people still went but not twice a week or more liked
they used to. And there’s no longer a theatre in every town. People will still
buy physical books but I there will be a lot less of them – certainly I think
mass market paperbacks will go.
Did you read a lot at
school and write lots of stories or is being a writer something newer in your
life?
I’ve always read a lot but actual writing came later.
What do you think
about book trailers?
I think they are a great idea, but very few seem to be very
good. Though that seems to be changing recently as the standard goes up.
What piece of advice
would you give to a new writer?
Just write and don’t expect it to be easy. For years I
laboured under the impression that somehow writers just sat at their desks and
it kind of flowed out, when it fact it’s a lot of grind and re-writing.
Do you or would you
ever use a pen name?
Your blog details
http://www.johnblackwriter.com
Your web site ?
http://www.johnblackwriter.com
Your Goodreads author
page?
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5457562.John_Black
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