Author Interview - Tony Lewis
My interview guest this week is Author Tony Lewis.
I hope you enjoy Tony's short and witty answers to the interview questions. Some of them may even make you laugh out loud. I know I did, especially to the answer for question 14.
Thanks, Tony, for participating in Author Interviews.
About Writing/Books/Being an Author
1. Do you remember the first book you read that had an impact on you - in what way and what was the name of that book?
When I read Les Miserables for the first time I wept. I won't give spoilers but it's very emotional.
2. When did you first realize you wanted to write?
I can't remember exactly, but it's a long time ago. I always wrote long, rambling stories for English homework so that's a good starting point, I suppose.
3. Who is/are your favourite author(s)?
Terry Pratchett, James White, Terry Goodkind, Lillian Jackson Braun, Stephen King, Thomas Mann, and loads of horror writers.
4. What is your favourite thing about writing? What is your least favourite thing about writing?
I love the entire process. There's nothing I dislike about it.
5. Where do your ideas come from?
Ah, the favourite author question. Anywhere and everywhere
6. I’ve often found that creative people have more than one talent, what is yours?
I'm not a bad singer and can grow rather a nice beard.
7. If you could jump inside a book for one day (as an observer) what book would it be?
Hospital Station by James White. It's set aboard a vast, intergalactic hospital where beings of all types come for treatment.
8. When you create characters, are they completely made up or do they resemble or remind you of people you know?
My characters are made up, but I will see aspects of their personality in people I know. I suppose I subconsciously incorporate them in.
9. Have you ever created a character “out of thin air” only to run into someone in real life that reminds you of that character either in personality or their features?
Yes. One of work colleagues is a werewolf.
10. How do you come up with titles for your books?
A play on words will strike me as funny, and if a story fits it, I'll use it.
11. What are you working on now and can you tell us about it?
Further books in the Skullenia series. I love the characters so much.
12. Have you won any awards for your writing/books and if so what?
I got an A+ for a story I wrote about being shipwrecked. I was eleven.
A Little More Personal
13. What is one thing you haven’t done but would like to do?
Marry Darcy Bussel, but I think she already is. Oh, so am I. Forgot about that.
14. Can you tell us about an embarrassing/funny moment?
I was at the cinema. I needed the loo and when I got up my jeans had slid down. I mooned the entire audience. Ironically, we were watching Beauty and the Beast.
15. Have you ever experienced something weird you could not explain?
The continuing success of Ed Sheeran.
16. Are you superstitious? Do you have any rituals for good luck?
No, I'm not superstitious, touch wood.
17. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten?
A Fisherman's Friend. He was livid.
18. Do you have a favourite vacation spot? Where?
No. I'm not much of a traveller and I have a terrible sense of direction. I need a map to get to bed.
19. Can you tell us about one of your favourite childhood memories?
Christmas was always brilliant
20. What makes you happy?
Lots of things, but the thought of the eventual demise of the human race because we've peaked as a species allowing the planet to wipe the slate clean and start again always makes me smile. And kittens.
21. If you aren’t writing (or doing anything associated with writing), what are you doing?
Thinking about writing, listening to music, saying inappropriate things to people.
Tony’s Links
Twitter: @skullenia