Connor Van Bussel interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

When did your love of books begin?

I've always read since I was little. I have vivid memories of having all the Discworld novels in my family bookshelf, but being too young to read them. So I used to look at all the art and make up stories about them. 

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

Same as before really, I've always wanted to be an author. I remember trying to write an epic fantasy novel when I was around 7 years old, but it had a a suspiciously close plot to the Hobbit. Although I did add vampires also. Hobbit + vampires = best seller, right? 

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

Well in all honesty I don't yet consider myself an author. I would say I'm more of a writer at the moment, who will hopefully become an author once I have people wanting to read my books/stories. 

The process of becoming a better writer has been as difficult as it is fun. I've been working on learning to write novels seriously for around eight years now, and I feel like I'm only just starting to get a handle on it. I think there's a reason why a lot of authors don't get published until they're in their thirties. It's such a personal journey with no real teachers to guide you. That said, I'm feeling a lot better about it recently and am now comfortable to put out work for others to read.

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

All the advice, lessons and writing habits that people swear by might not be as helpful as you'd assume. There are no set rules in writing and the most important thing is to develop your own style. That's not to say don't listen to the advice of others, only that it's personal advice and you should consider it as such. I started off thinking there are set things you have to do, but almost all my favourite authors break rules and/or operate at a level well they aren't that useful. 

For example one piece of writing advice that you learn quickly as a new writer is 'Show don't tell' - this is a great piece of advice to outline how writing is more expression emotion/sensation rather than telling, however, it causes a lot of new writers to only ever write in the moment of a scene, which can be terrible; especially for fantasy fiction. 

So the best thing you can do is take advice and try to work out if it merges with your own vision or style.

Tell us about your book/books:

I'm currently working on my debut novel, which I think I'd like to get published traditionally if I can. It's probably half a year or so away from where I'll be able to try to sell it. 

But in the mean time I'm taking the reigns over a series of short stories which I'll be self-publishing. The first of which 'The Frost Giant' is going to be coming out in Ebook and Audiobook form on the 26th Of September. The plan is to do one of these every single week and do everything myself - the writing, the editing, the visuals and the audiobooks. I've been working at writing for a long time now, so I'm really excited to finally be putting stuff out for people to read. Oh, and the Ebook and Audiobook will both be free! 

(Just to note, I'm not 100% the Audiobook will be out on the 26th for my first story - it's a lot harder to make than I initially thought. But it will definitely be out a day or two later!)

What do you love about the writing/reading community?

I love how deep people get into works, and how much I'm able to identify with others that I might not meet in real life. For example, my favourite book is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I'm obsessed with it, I've read it a sad amount of times, and there aren't many people in real life who have the same obsession with it as I do. But in the wider reading community, there's always someone online you can find to speak to about it.

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

Thanks, always :) 

Where can people connect with you?

You can connect with me on my twitter @CaskofHorrors, or on my Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzi_hAeUOilzAsQwOye0qHQ

Don't feel shy to reach out to me, I'm always interested in talking about books/writing.