Interview With Author Gene Rowe
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an ex-academic – a cognitive psychologist, but please, don’t hold that against me. Really, I know nothing about therapy or illness – I’m just a guy who used to do research into how people make decisions. And I did publish a lot – over 100 journal articles and book chapters. But you want to know about fiction, right? Well, as a solo author, I have three books now published (The Greater Game – 1st and 2nd Edition; The Price of Freedom Part 1: Ghuraj to Arkon; and The Price of Freedom Part 2: Velasia). And I’ve several more finished and ready to roll – space opera and comic sci-fi too. More of those another time.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I’ll set aside ‘The Greater Game’, which I sold to a small US publisher (White Cat Publications) in 2022, and have now ‘remastered’ for sale in the rest of the world through ‘Ministry of Lies’, as that’s really the first. My latest is ‘The Price of Freedom’ ‘binary’ (Parts 1 and 2). What inspired it was firstly a seeming publishing desert: I love space opera, but the Big Beasts (main publishers and their numerous imprints) aren’t interested in this anymore. Passe? Too ‘male’? Anyway, I wanted to write what I like to read: big plots, lots of characters, danger, drama, big themes, and action aplenty. This got so big, I had to release as two books (otherwise it would have been 800-900 pages).
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Alas, no. Unless… well, actually, yes, maybe. Whenever I come to a tricky plot nexus and the resolution doesn’t leap at me, I simply sleep on it. And it’s amazing how often I wake at 3 a.m. and suddenly know how to escape my own clutches – and then I rush down to the computer, switch on, and wearing nothing but my pants, I smash the life out of the keyboard until it’s done.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well, LOTR initially, of course. But latterly, I like Peter F. Hamilton and James S.A. Corey.
What are you working on now?
Several, but mostly comic sci-fi set in Norwich, UK, where I live. I’ve finished two, and have high hopes for them… at least locally. I find writing these easy, as the characters are very real to me, so the dialogue in particular is effortless. And I think plotting is one of my strong points, and that probably comes from my past in writing non-fiction, which in a way trains the writer in plotting, since you need to tell the story of your research well in order to persuade reviewers and editors to publish your work.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Ah, there you’ve got me. I’m still trying to work this out.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. You just need to keep writing. One million words. It then gets easier.
2. Join a writing group: getting frequent profound feedback as you go along by people who are prepared to be diplomatically negative is invaluable.
3. Find your story. You might have to really look, with lots of false starts. Don’t be afraid to ditch those imposters. And once you’ve got a story you really feel, go for it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ha1 I can’t really say I’ve ever personally received much good advice. Some platitudes; some cynicism. Pass.
What are you reading now?
Just finished Jo Nesbo’s ‘The Snowman’. Now embarking on a clutch of books by local authors bought at recent local bookfares – ranging from sci-fi to adventure.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Well, continuing writing my ‘Norwich Chronicles’ series, but also more editing (I co-edit the British Science Fiction Association’s Fission anthologies), and maybe try to perfect the art of short story writing.
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?
LOTR (Tolkien)
A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
One of Peter F. Hamilton’s huge trilogies (which I count as one book, so I’m cheating)
Something by Jack Vance
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