Ned Stephenson interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

When did your love of books begin?

Earliest memories. Which is not unusual for people who have a love of words. Helped by parents who owned masses of books, and living on a farm with not a great deal to do other than work with animals, or read books.

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

An author? Quite late in life. Late-forties. But when did I like writing stories, well, that was when I was still in single numbers. At some stage we’ve all either wanted, or been made, to write stories. Be they at school, or just for fun at home. Let our imagination go crazy. Usually using whatever is close at hand, like your toys as the main characters.

Do I still write that way? Upon reflection, I’d say that much of my style was developed at an early age. We come out of the mould a certain shape and don’t really venture far from our five-year-old selves. That comes out in your writing. You can see a lot about an author not only by what they write, but also in how they write.

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

I can only speak on self-publishing. Well, as the saying goes, it’s a labour of love. Just like any art. You want to be a good dancer, you have to train. Be a good musician, you have to practice. Be a good writer (obvious answer coming) you have to write. A lot. Eventually the tale will come together, the sentences flow, and the dialogue sounds authentic.

And marketing … well that’s up to you. No-one else is going to do it. Which is tough. Who knows, maybe a new reader is reading this right now!

That said, I’m only just getting the wind in my sails! Ask me again when I have a dozen books under my belt.

What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

Read. Learn the tools of the trade (Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style is a must), and maybe Stephen King’s - On Writing. And listen to people who have succeeded. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Did I mention that you have to read? A lot.

Tell us about your book/books:

Enhancement is a collection of science fiction short stories around the theme of humans modifying their skin to enable self-photosynthesis. So we can take energy directly from sunlight, the way plants containing chlorophyll can. The tales are told in chronological order over 75yrs, from the first discovery through to a point where the enhancement is widespread around the globe. As you can imagine with a theme such as this, there are fantastic benefits to our way of life, not to mention reducing the effect people have on the world around them. But then it turns a little nasty as some of the changes are not necessarily good or foreseen.

Gold is a crime novel set in the outback of Australia. An exploration geologist gets it into his mind to steal a shipment of gold from his employer (why not, it’s in the middle of nowhere and the company won’t really notice if he doesn’t take too much). The problem is, he can’t do it alone, and the more people who get involved, the more dangerous the heist becomes.

What do you love about the writing/reading community?

The general sense of camaraderie. There is an overwhelming desire to share ideas and support those either starting or already established. There’s room for all of us, guys. Come in, the water’s warm.

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

Let me know what you think of my tales. Good, bad, or indifferent. I can’t make them better if I don’t hear from you.

Where can people connect with you?

Sign up to the newsletter via my website www.nedstephenson.com

Or catch me on Twitter @stephenson_ned