Interview With Author Christopher Valkenburg
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a Brit, living and working in Budapest. I began writing at the age of thirteen during an extended stay in hospital and majored in creative writing at university. I then spent almost 30 years not writing until the idea for EMPYREAN came to me. It’s my first novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
EMPYREAN is inspired partly by the city in which I live (Budapest) and by my love of books like ‘1984’, ‘Brave New World’ and Jack Vance’s ‘To Live Forever’. EMPYREAN is part thriller and part love story, and extrapolates on our world’s growing social surveillance culture and on human productivity at any cost.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. I write every day. When working on a first draft, I have a target of at least 2000 words a day.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many! From Orwell and H.E. Bates to Jack Vance and Martin Cruz Smith. Vance had a beautiful, lyrical style, and I often wonder why he wasn’t more successful than he was.
What are you working on now?
The sequel to Empyrean, called ‘Hebron’. I hope to release it in time for Christmas; if not, in spring 2024.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new to self-publishing, so at the moment I’m testing the waters. Amazon consumes most of my marketing time.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Find time to write. Write about what interests you and not for an audience. If you want to be published, write within the genre you enjoy. Never give up. And never stop reading.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve been blessed to have had many wise people in my life and to have received a lot of great advice. I wouldn’t know where to start!
What are you reading now?
‘The Scarlet Sword’ by H.E. Bates.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To market EMPYREAN and complete the final draft of ‘Hebron’. A third book in the series will follow.
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?
The Bible and the ‘Lyonesse’ trilogy by Jack Vance.
Author Websites and Profiles
Christopher Valkenburg Website
Christopher Valkenburg Amazon Profile
Christopher Valkenburg Author Profile on Smashwords
Christopher Valkenburg’s Social Media Links