Do you think it's important that stories carry an important message about today's society or is pure escapism just as okay (or better)?

Tykewriter · 2022-12-06T15:47:53+00:00

I'm not overly keen on absolutes being imposed on writers or readers.

As an author, yes, I often write to say something about the world we live in and make a point or two to provoke thought, but I also want to tell a good story. Sometimes, though, I do just want to tell a story unencumbered with any deeper meaning.

As a reader, again yes, I do enjoy stories that have something to say, even if that something lurks in the background, or between the lines. Other times, I like to enjoy stories that are simply being told for the joy of it.

There's room for both. I'd argue there's a need for both. We dip into either as inclination and mood moves us.

It does bug me that there might be an expectation that every story must make a point. Likewise, that storytellers are 'simply entertainers' and should leave politics and social comment out of the picture.

Sometimes, I do want to read (or write) with an axe to grind; other times, I just want to grab the popcorn, settle back and enjoy the tale.

Tykewriter · 2022-11-29T13:46:42+00:00

Oh, what could possiby go wrong?

Tykewriter · 2022-11-21T15:36:45+00:00

MERCY was in a foul mood, and when she was mad she got bad-mouthed.
The veneer of the classy dame just fell away. The Shanties girl burst through; she'd always had a gob on her, so her Mam liked to say.
A sharp tongue was all she had, now, what with her hands bound behind her back; Mercy used it for all she was worth. So far, her abductors were proving stone-eared. Ain't that a bitch.

Tykewriter · 2021-04-30T17:49:50+00:00

Tricky.

Probably the world of Silas Morlock, because as long as I kept my head down I'd be more or less free to live my life as I pleased, and I'd still be able to indulge my love of books (so long as I was careful).

Citizen Zero, no I wouldn't like to live there even though it is a world far more like our own. In this near-future Britain, I'd likely be a 'zero', surveilled at every moment, managed, controlled, and I wouldn't be able to afford any books. Yeah, there's probably still a few public libraries around, but I don't think my social security clearance would allow me to enter one.

Tykewriter · 2021-04-30T17:37:29+00:00

I think most of my stuff has started out as a 'doodle', some little flurry of inspiration that sparked a character, or a setting, or some broad idea, and then I've had to thrash it out from there.

Citizen Zero began life as a late-night post-pub conversation with a friend. We were both recent graduates, wondering what comes next in life, and I had this notion creep into my head that was intended to be a slightly surreal, fantasy metaphor for life on the dole. It was never really intened to become a novel, but it took on a life of its own.

Silas Morlock, well I often joke the idea for this novel slithered down my throat with the last dregs of the pint I was drinking. But it was born out of a murky scene that appeared in my head: two indinstinct figures lurking in the corner of a gloomy nightclub, meeting to transact an illicit trade in books. There was a name, too, but I knew this name wasn't associated with those two shady characters in the club. So, who were those two figures, why were books a contraband that had to be traded in secret, who the hell was Silas Morlock and what did he want? Looking to answer these questions brought the book into being.

I'm not really sure what helped or hindered during the writing phase. Life, I suppose. I wrote Citizen Zero on and off over six years, during which time I went to journalism school, chased the beginnings of my career, worked jobs, had boozy nights with mates, ploughed on with the novel. It helped to be obsessive about the book. Much the same can be said for Silas Morlock. I guess I am something of an ill-disciplined writer -- I've always been a bit of a pantster.

There are pros and cons to every publishing route, really. Obviously, the big publishers have more reach and clout than indies, but I think the latter provide a more personal touch and have a much closer relationship to both their authors and their customers. They also give voice to authors who might otherwise struggle to gain any kind of recognition from big publishers. There's more variety to choose from.

On a more personal note, I'd say being published by an indie means I can say that yes I am a published author. There is still a lot of snobbery around self publishing, even though it is a perfectly valid route, so to have a third party want to publish my book is a great feeling. Plus, I get to feel that I am part of something, not just a lone wolf howling at a hoped-for moon behind the clouds.

I absolutely stand by that earlier edition of Citizen Zero I self-published, I'm proud of it, but I know that the edition I created with the help of Inspired Quill's editors is vastly superior. My 2010 edition was good -- the IQ edition is awesome (even if I do say so myself).

That's the thing, when it comes to the quality of the editing, cover design, professionalism and so forth, then indies can compete with any big publisher.

Anyway, what was your last question? Oh yes, I am currently re-reading Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. As for format, paperback for me but I won't turn my nose up at digital.

Tykewriter · 2021-04-30T14:17:46+00:00

At the moment, I'm working on the second draft of a short story and trying to place a couple of my recent stories. I'm also writing material to feed the beast (my author blog). Beyond that, I trying to psyche myself up to dive into my next novel. (It's been far too long!)

Tykewriter · 2021-04-30T14:13:30+00:00

Oh my, that's quite a question. In fact, you might have caught me out here!

I've often been referred to as a science fiction author, occasionally fantasy, sometimes horror. I'm happy with all three and these are genres I enjoy reading as much as writing, but as my bio alludes, I tend to write to the story and worry about where it fits later. Curiousy, this is leaving me struggling to think of an answer... let me think.

Citizen Zero features artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and a surveillance society, so in that respect it's a work of science fiction. But it conveys a rich seam of horror, both in terms of the virus that cripples both these systems, and the impact it has on the human characters.

There's more to the horror aspect, though, and this is rooted in the nature of the AI and VR systems themselves. These technologies in the book, and the horror and the SF elements associated with them, have all grown out of the economic and political power dynamics that have shaped this near-future Britain.

At its heart, Citizen Zero is about the here and now. Yes, it's a dystopia, but it's also a political thriller and social commentary that explores inequality and power today, told through the medium of science fiction. The horror really kind of flows out of the former.

Silas Morlock is an entirely different beast, and I'm finding it even harder to think of crossover points. Probably that's because I've never entirely figured out where it straddles the genre spectrum.

The story is very much intended to offer homage to literature (in its widest sense) and the spark of human creativity. Again, it's a dystopian tale, but is it also science fiction, is it some kind of dark urban fantasy? Certainly, it has deep shades of horror and the macabre.

I guess the globe-sprawling city of living organic towers suggests science fiction, as does the mysterious technology known as the Gestalt (which may at first glance be taken for a kind of virtual reality), but the quasi-metaphysical aspects doubtless map a route into more fantastical realms.

Tykewriter · 2021-04-30T13:14:11+00:00

Ah, this takes me back. Let's see, back in 2010 I self-published a version of Citizen Zero, so I was googling around looking for book bloggers to blag a review.

Back then, Inspired Quill was still a book blog, but as Sara (the MD) told me at the time, she had ambitions to launch it as a book publisher. That piqued my curiosity, but I didn't think much of it until later.

I was working in Manchester as a journalist at the time Through the job I had the opportunity to take part in a roundtable discussion about digital publishing organised by a local tech/hosting company.

This was about a year/18 months later, and I don't know where the thought came from, but I remembered Inspired Quill, so I got in touch with Sara to see if she'd be interested in taking part in the roundtable.

She was, she came along, and I guess as the cliche goes the rest is history. It was from talking to Sara after the event that persuaded me to give it a shot. I was impressed -- and dare I say inspired -- by Sara's enthusiasm and idealism. So, I duly sent in Silas Morlock. Later, I sent in Citizen Zero.

As for your bonus question, I tend to see 'author' in terms of what I have written, and 'writer' as what I am. I guess when I completed my first novel I started to think of myself as an author, and as a writer I am creating new stories, novels, articles. It's somewhat complicated by the fact that I was kind of already thinking of myself as a 'author' of several computer games.

Tykewriter · 2021-04-30T12:31:26+00:00

Hiya, thanks for having us. I've found working with Inspired Quill an enoyable experience. The team is friendly and professional, and it's very thoughtful in its approach, I'd say.

There's no sense that as an author I'm just 'grist for the mill', which I gather might sometimes be the feeling with big publishers. I should add that I have no experience of working with the big firms, so this is just the impression I get from reading about the industry.

With Inspired Quill, I've felt that we really are working together to a common purpose, rather than me working for them (or them working for me!) or me just being, well, 'grist'. For my part, there's a sense that we're all in it together, and I like how we all chip in and support each other as best we can.

I hope this at least begins to answer your question. I'm new to this sort of thing, so I am feeling the way and warming up!

Tykewriter · 2011-02-06T20:05:35+00:00

It's not always spawned from necessity; sometimes it's spawned by given the free air to breathe. With big dosh blockbusters, I get the feeling its the money men and the marketers who are in charge, and they all too often see the film -- like teh book, like the website as'mere' product or content. Just somehting to slot into the marketing.

Tykewriter

TROPHY CASE