Ask the Author: T.C. Clover
Answered Questions (10)
T.C. Clover
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T.C. Clover
Good question. Well, I definitely wouldn't go to Westeros from The Game of Thrones series. Lol. But all kidding aside, I would enjoy the Harry Potter universe very much. Who wouldn't want a bit of magic in their lives? Perhaps that's why those novels are the perfect amount of escapism for every culture. As you'll notice in my novels, and my upcoming title Ashes & Raven Feathers, there is a foreboding emptiness. This feeling is not something that I channeled through soul-searching; it is a real vacuum of terror that has gripped my core for most of my life. So, who wouldn't want the ability to use magic to avoid those awful situations? Harry Potter does have to face some consequences and sadness, but there is more hope in his world than in ours. Also, Rowling is a master of creative landscaping, which makes the world that much more appealing. Although I admire novels that create their own worlds, I wouldn't pursue such a project without the help of another author. Unless you are a genius like Rowling, you'll need a partner to do the world building while you write the character-driven story. Thanks for your question. Watch for Ashes & Raven Feathers in preview edition this fall and final edition in early 2018.
T.C. Clover
If I had time, I'd read The Goldfinch and I Am Malala, but I'm busy putting together what should be my finest work yet in Ashes & Raven Feathers. I'd also recommend I Am Nujood, aged 10 and Divorced as stories of amazing humans surviving incredible odds. For me, it seems that real sacrifices and consequences have escaped our escapism. I also feel that escapism is more alive and well than ever in previous cultures. There is a bold new style from Jordan Peele called social terror, and I believe it will lead the charge of escapism for the next 20 years. Check out The Goldfinch if you want some great summer fiction.
T.C. Clover
Thanks for submitting this question. During my early twenties, my brother had an incident where he was depressed and in great danger. He had left a voice message saying goodbye to everyone, and you could hear how distraught he was throughout the recording. This was a time when I didn't have a car and was riding the train to work. So, a lady friend of his had called me and asked where he might have gone. This was the situation that brought about a great mystery. If he was in that much pain, then he could have gone to: the west desert, the mountains where we grew up, his favorite hiking trails 100 miles out of town, or even a desolate stretch of road.
In order to find him, I recalled that he was a romantic person, so I felt that he would like to watch his last sunset. Therefore, I told his friend to drive us to the mountains where we grew up hiking and having picnics. We drove up the canyons and the sun was going down, but she spotted his car on the way up - just a few yards away from the road. He had decided to park about 1/4 mile lower than I had guessed. Fortunately, we found him and were able to get him to come back home and move on with life.
I'm proud to report that he's doing very well and it was fortunate that we chose the right spot. I don't discount the luck with which we were blessed that day. But it is a lesson for many people - make sure that you know your loved ones very well because small details about their character can make the difference in a life or death situation. I offer my condolences to those who weren't as fortunate as I in the same situation, and mean no disrespect to their memories in giving my advice.
In order to find him, I recalled that he was a romantic person, so I felt that he would like to watch his last sunset. Therefore, I told his friend to drive us to the mountains where we grew up hiking and having picnics. We drove up the canyons and the sun was going down, but she spotted his car on the way up - just a few yards away from the road. He had decided to park about 1/4 mile lower than I had guessed. Fortunately, we found him and were able to get him to come back home and move on with life.
I'm proud to report that he's doing very well and it was fortunate that we chose the right spot. I don't discount the luck with which we were blessed that day. But it is a lesson for many people - make sure that you know your loved ones very well because small details about their character can make the difference in a life or death situation. I offer my condolences to those who weren't as fortunate as I in the same situation, and mean no disrespect to their memories in giving my advice.
T.C. Clover
I feel that writer's block is often caused by: pride, fatigue, and emotional anxiety. In other words; it's part of the human condition. The first thing a writer needs to do is ensure that they are hydrated and well-rested. There is nothing useful that your mind can do if it's bogged down by fatigue. Also, if you are feeling distressed about something in your life, it's best to deal with that first. Lastly, let go of your pride; writing is merely the expression of thoughts, and if those thoughts aren't fully formed, they will come out of the oven like steaming heaps of unbaked bread. The most important aspect of dealing with writer's block is accepting two things: you cannot force creativity to work faster, and most successful projects miss their initial deadlines.
T.C. Clover
The best experiences come from readers who synergize with the core philosophy of your work. You can tell from reading their reviews that your work gave them a memorable experience. In this regard, the author has managed create a positive emotional memory for the reader, which is the purpose of most authors. As a secondary reward, it's nice to see that people feel they learned something from your work.
T.C. Clover
Don't begin a project with money in mind. Your goal should be to write a book that is eloquent and fresh. If you write something that you would buy, and stick to your principles, then the money will be there.
T.C. Clover
My new project is a dark horse thriller that features the ultimate anti-hero. I wanted to pit someone who is beyond redemption against another character that is redeemed. But there are also supporting players who vacillate from one position to the other, depending on which character they are interacting with at the time. I need at least 4 more strong characters before the project can begin and the concept isn't yet strong enough to hold my interest - one or two more twists should do the trick.
T.C. Clover
Good stories are always developing in my mind; however, I don't feel it's wise to put out whatever your brain comes up with on a recurring basis. My stories are always tied to real-world issues that affect the reader. The goal is to create a vehicle that puts the reader into the story and to add characters that make it go forward. So I begin with a strong idea, and then merge that idea with two or three other strong concepts. At that point, I spend six months developing characters and let those characters play within the confines of the circumstances that have been created.
T.C. Clover
I noticed that Americans are constantly fighting over certain social issues and have been doing so for decades. It made sense to create six characters that represent distinct positions on those issues, and to put those characters all in one living space. This gave me a vehicle to make the arguments more human and to illustrate the art of compromise. There also have been few romantic thrillers that offer a fun ride with a wild spirit.
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