Interview With Author Edward Parry
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Only one book. I wrote a film script it was “well received”, as they say in the business, but I realised that with all the major changes and uncertainty in film world the chances of it getting made are south of zero. Meanwhile only a handful of people read it so I decided to write the next idea as a novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Fourth King”. I noticed a medieval painting of several magi surrounding the infant Christ. I was surprised there were so many. Soon after that, by coincidence, I read an article about how the idea there were only “Three Kings” had probably emerged because of the three symbolic gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh. Whereas in the early church it was assumed several wise men attended the nativity.
The idea of who the other kings might be led to this story of a young teenage boy’s rite of passage as he follows his grandfather, The Fourth King, a warrior, to the nativity.
It’s ended up as a short novel aimed at kids – aged nine to ninety.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I don’t have a writing habit 🙂 Well I do: I write when the mood takes me. Then force myself to rewrite what I wrote the day before.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
True Grit by Charles Portis
What are you working on now?
Nuthin. Taking a break. I’m exhausted :))
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang of course!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read “On writing” by Stephen King. And anything by Lisa Cron. Plus the many free resources eg glimmertrain.
Here’s my daily checklist that I scan before I start writing – swiped from various sources
– Use specifics. They add the ring of truth (even to fiction). Not tree, but oak. Not bird, but magpie.
-Avoid Passive voice Use Active Voice: Fact: active voice catches your readers’ interest. Add action to your story and have it going smoothly. Instead of writing “The banana is eaten by a girl”, you write “A girl eats a banana”. The thing isnt done to. Something does the thing
– “Show don’t tell. Turn every tell into a DESCRIBE DONT EXPLAIN … Chekhov “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” “You don’t write about the horrors of war. No. You write about a kid’s burnt socks lying in the road.” ― Richard Price
– Use specifics. They add the ring of truth (even to fiction). Not tree, but oak. Not bird, but magpie.
– Make it a living, breathing scene. Action, Include more visual description: …. set the scene for readers so we can envision ourselves there, not just in the head of the character. Place readers in the room.
– Have conflict on every page
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writing is telepathy Stephen King
What are you reading now?
The White Giraffe by Lauren St John
Rossetti by Evelyn Waugh
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m fortunate that I don’t need to write for money. I want to write for pleasure and have a couple of ideas
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 Sword of Honour Trilogy by Evelyn Waugh
Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess
Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck
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