Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
“Did you see that?”
Mum wanted me to reply with something to do with the beautiful ocean we were driving past. However, what I saw was a knight fighting a dragon. Eagerly I turned the page in the book to find out what happened next, completely oblivious to my surrounds. That was the basic blueprint of our car trips when I was younger.
Luckily there were a lot of trips and, as much as I wanted to keep reading at the time, she managed to coax me into seeing the magic of the world around us. Hence when I wrote about the scenery in town I won an international award when I was 13. Thanks Mum.
A couple of novels later and here I am, sharing the magic and hoping you’ll like what you see. I write fantasy for children aged 9+ as well as poetry. More recently I’ve added adult fantasy to my repertoire (the kind with whips and chains, not the kind with whips and…hang on. Start over. The kind with swords, angels and talking gargoyles, with just a blend of crime. Not erotica.)
When not writing I’m probably feeling guilty about not writing. Or playing an RPG, TCG, fishing or bushwalking.
So far I have 5 published books- 2 children’s fantasy (9+), 2 poetry collections and an adult fantasy similar to Stephen King’s ‘The Gunslinger’ but with an infusion of crime.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Of A Dark Heart.
Travel is the most inspirational thing for me. So the setting for Of A Dark Heart came from a trip across the Nullarbor (it’s a desert in Australia). As for the story…that is harder to source. The main character Excalem was someone I had wanted to write about for a while. I like the idea of someone doing all the wrong things for what he thinks is justice. As well as the imagery of a dual wielding swordsman, with an exquisite crystal blade and fiery cleaver, was too strong to ignore!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
37 cartwheels then a belly flop into the pool. That usually gets my creative juices flowing 🙂
No, not really. Nothing too unusual. I sit in a worn out red leather chair, found on the side of the road, which clearly once belonged to a barber (it’s amazing where hair can end up). Tchavolo Swing plays to get me in the mood, although that’s only a new edition. I used to listen to Classical Gas by Mason Williams on repeat when I wrote my first 2 novels.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to list in full.
Lego/ Goosebumps Pick-your-own-adventure books. These were what first got me interested in reading in grade 3.
Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda. My first steps into fantasy with great riddles and puzzles along the way. I still love it now.
Magician by Raymond E. Feist was the book I was reading when I realised that someone in the world had actually sat down in a room and written this story. (Previously I presumed books just appeared. Probably in a factory manned by Santa’s elves.) Plus they were paid for it.
What are you working on now?
My next poetry collection is almost finished.
In addition I have a sci-fi/dystopian halfway done and the third book in The Casse Lands series has begun.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Book signings in person work best for me.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find a writing group.
Kidnap them, lock them in a basement and never let them out.
Go out and find another writing group.
Repeat.
Using this method you will become the world’s number one author. Just make sure you have written something first. Otherwise you’re just a criminal.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Finish the book.
What are you reading now?
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
What’s next for you as a writer?
Sales, hopefully.
More writing.
Dealing with my horde of devoted fans.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. A large notebook so I can keep writing.
2. The biggest ‘pick-your-own-advenutre’ book, probably a Goosebumps version.
3. A life size pop-up book that contains a page on shelter. Maybe a castle.
4. The Neverending Story. Note: All I know about this book is the title and I’m hoping it’s not false advertising.
Author Websites and Profiles
Chris Foster Website
Chris Foster Amazon Profile
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