Interview With Author Darren Kloss
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in London, England but moved further south at a young age. I’ve travelled quite a bit, having lived in both the US and Australia at different times in my life. My love of fantasy and science fiction started at the age of four, when my father used to tell me a rather reduced version of The Lord of the Rings before I went to bed. Having read hundreds of books, I finally decided to write my own. I have written three books, various novella’s but only just published my first book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Superhero.com: The Chasers is the first in a series set in London, England. I came up with the idea from three different ‘what if’s’. The first was even though a magic school has been flogged to death after the success of Harry Potter, what about modernising it? What about an on-line ‘magic school’? Tutorials and all, correspondence courses and so on. The next was the question of how the modern world would react if superheroes and villains really did come into being – and of course I thought of social media, influencers and so on. The last was Storm Chasers, the type of person who runs head on into the eye of a storm: the same person might ‘chase’ superheroes and villains to catch an amazing video and upload it to social media. Hence: Superhero.com…!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’ve written pretty much everywhere! Public busses, trains, plains, outside under the trees, on a hill in the countryside. As long as I’m plugged into some good music, I’m good to go!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
That’s hard to say as I’ve read so much. Of course J.R.R.Tolkien, the sheer scope of his imagination. Terry Brooks, the Shannara series I got for my thirteenth birthday. Gemmell in terms of honour of characters. Robert Jordon, the world building and incredible detail, not to mention the epic endings of each book. Philip.K.Dick with grim realism and incredible prescience. I could go on! But of course, writing and writing and writing in itself somehow evolves into a style.
What are you working on now?
I am writing a novella set in the same world as Superhero.com, and then will write the sequel. Separately I have started a new project, which I’m very excited about.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I couldn’t say on this yet!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Sure, read a ton, write and write and write beyond a million words and just keep going. Write what you love, work with a good editor and always try and improve. Above all else, enjoy yourself!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
That’s a hard one, but honestly I would say the same. Read and write, develop your own style. Trust in yourself.
What are you reading now?
Firestarter from Stephen King
What’s next for you as a writer?
This next two years I want to complete my Superhero.com series, a children’s fantasy book as well as a new young adult fantasy.
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?
That’s a horrible question!
Okay, I’m going with…the full Wheel of Time, the full Shannara series through the Heritage of Shannara…yes, I’m cheating! But how could I only have four books?
Author Websites and Profiles
Darren Kloss’s Social Media Links