Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve had work that I liked, especially preaching at a Lutheran church in mid-north Ontario, Canada and now on a very part-time basis in Toronto. At the same time, writing what we now call literary fiction has been at the center of my life for decades. Thanks to e publishing and the amazon kindle program, I now have eleven novels and two shorter works off my computer and into the world. What a blessing!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The novel I put most recently on kindle is called “Testimonies”. It’s the third volume in my “Witnesses” series, which I began working on in the mid 1980’s. It’s part of my attempt to reflect on aspects of America’s past & recent times. Some of the themes I take up are war, healing, family life, faith, power, leadership, and sociopathic behavior.
Most of the main characters in the series have developed the capacity to think deeply about North American life and take the trouble to bring what they’ve learned to others. They are witnesses, who sometimes must overcome daunting opposition.
Apart from ambition, other extended works of fiction have inspired me and the desire to use what talents I have to say something about what it’s like to be alive and active in a democracy.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My first answer would have been no, until it occurred to me that maybe my life is unusual. I’ve spent a lot of time writing fiction and sacrificed what’s at the center for many people — family life, extra money, and a privileged place in society.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to list. Classics from days gone by — Shakespeare, Don Quixote, Chekhov, Balzac, others. Some of the novels of Charles Dickens liberated me from many present-day biases. I read passages in the Bible most every day. Among present-day writers, I like V. S. Naipaul & A. S. Byatt & Mavis Gallant, a Canadian who died recently.
What are you working on now?
The fourth volume of my Witnesses Series, which I call “Witnesses and Troublemakers”. I hope it will be ready for kindle by the end of 2014. See the next question.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m new to book promotion. I’ve used the kindle select program and Author Marketing Club. I’ve recently signed up with Ask David, Bookgoodies, and this website. I think that’s all I can handle right now.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
People have different attitudes toward what they do, including writing. A hobby for some folks, an occasional activity for others, a way to make money for those who’re at home in the marketplace, or a vocation that calls for a lifetime of commitment. Good writing comes from these and other sources. We’re led to take the path that’s right for us.
Don’t be in a hurry, find our what’s best for you, stick with your decision, work hard at writing if that’s what you’re called to do, and don’t worry. Fight the demon of discouragement. If you need other employment, that will teach you a lot about the world; you’ll receive learning that will benefit your writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Probably love your neighbor. And who is our neighbor? Everyone, especially in today’s interconnected world.
What are you reading now?
An early travel work by V. S. Naipaul called “The Middle Passage”. A novel by Paulo Coelho called “The Witch of Portobello”. I’m listening to an audiobook of Laurence Sterne’s “Tristram Shandy”, read by Anton Lessor. My sister gave me the collected writings of Elizabeth Bishop for my most recent birthday.
What’s next for you as a writer?
After I’m done with “Witnesses and Troublemakers”. I’ll go to the fifth & final volume in my Witnesses series. I’ve written the various parts but it’s a mess. I’ll probably need two years to straighten it out. Also, I’ll work at promoting my novels. I’m slowly getting the hang of it.
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?
Works that I could stand to read over and over and keep on seeing new things. The Bible, Shakespeare, Quixote, Bleak House, and plenty of blank paper.
Author Websites and Profiles
Richard French Website
Richard French Amazon Profile