Ask the Author: Ronald Chapman
Answered Questions (10)
Ronald Chapman
Slowly my woman turned to face me with a flat blank stare.
A moment later the bullet exploded through my heart.
A moment later the bullet exploded through my heart.
Ronald Chapman
Ah ... it's not a place, but the feeling of a place ... or places. I'd like to be immersed in the feeling of either Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, or The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Both of them are wrapped in an element of intrigue and mystery and the mystical, which is just so alluring.
Ronald Chapman
With the warm weather returning, I'm back to thrillers with Tana French and the Trespasser, then I'm ready to get to one of more recent biographies of Teddy Roosevelt. I've read three on him so far, and can't seem to get enough. And friends recommended The Holy and the Broken and Recovery - The Sacred Art. In the mean time, I'm writing the sequel to A Killer's Grace!
Ronald Chapman
Great question! Twenty-seven years ago I married my former wife, who came with two daughters aged eight and ten. I was not so sure about being a parent, and thus not so sure about the girls. Ten years later I divorced their mom, but kept them in my life, which has endured for all these years. They say, "I have some serious karma with them, i.e. I'm paying back a karmic debt." I don't know about that, but being their dad fits better than most anything in my life, so something is just right about it. Wouldn't it be a cool plot to explore a backstory on that karma, or perhaps multiple iterations over many pasts lives? Thanks again, that was fun!
Ronald Chapman
This is such an interesting question, and I have to admit that I am deeply intrigued with the relationship between Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist in The Girl with Dragon Tattoo collection. My reasoning is perhaps curious as well. I've long been suspicious of seemingly idyllic relationships, mostly because all my experience suggests there are deep and strange currents in authentic relating. While I'm sympathetic to our love of fantasy and fairy tale sagas, I'm far more interested in exploring the dynamics of the complexes, and neuroses, and twists and turns. Especially, I'm enthralled with how those circumstances sometimes produce unusual but powerful relationships. I think I managed to capture some of that quite well with Pitcairn and Maria Elena in A Killer's Grace, where they have found a sympathetic connection in their own injured stories. Thanks for a great nudge with this question! That was fun to think through, and I hope it's interesting to you as well. Ron
Ronald Chapman
I was in a petting zoo in Victoria, British Columbia hanging out with goats when a flock of crows came in and set up a ruckus. Within a few hours the basic storyline of My Name is Wonder was in place. It was really cool!
Ronald Chapman
A sequel to A Killer's Grace, and a forgiveness workbook. Beyond that there are several items that are conceived but not yet begun.
Ronald Chapman
Be patient. There comes a time when it just comes together. Until then, persist and explore.
Ronald Chapman
When you go back and read something and realize you captured something perfectly!
Ronald Chapman
It seems like timing is everything. While I have never been able to follow the regimen of daily writing recommended by Stephen King, I do find that being patient and trusting go a long way to overcoming blocks. In fact, some of my best work has rushed forth when the timing was right.
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