Ask the Author: Jeffrey Archer
Answered Questions (17)
Jeffrey Archer
I think all my books and short stories have been translated, perhaps in about 50 languages in over 100 countries.
I have been very lukcy with a broad readership.
I have been very lukcy with a broad readership.
Jeffrey Archer
Thank you for your kinds words.
I am writing WW8 this year (2024), and so the end is being written!
I am writing WW8 this year (2024), and so the end is being written!
Jeffrey Archer
I do, but I am currently writing WW8.
You will have to wait to 2025 to hear about plans for books post the WW series.
You will have to wait to 2025 to hear about plans for books post the WW series.
Jeffrey Archer
I always write alone by hand. But I get great support from editors, and other team members who help me deliver the final draft ready for publishing
Best, Jeffrey
Copies of manuscripts can be seen on my website here
https://www.jeffreyarcher.com/books/m...
Best, Jeffrey
Copies of manuscripts can be seen on my website here
https://www.jeffreyarcher.com/books/m...
Jeffrey Archer
Thats great. But WW6, Traitors Gate will be out this October.
WW7 is almost finsihed, and will be published in Q4 2024.
I hope you enjoy them both.
Best, Jeffrey
WW7 is almost finsihed, and will be published in Q4 2024.
I hope you enjoy them both.
Best, Jeffrey
Jeffrey Archer
Not done any purhcases yet, but will do soon... in the meantime, here are some that I have enjoyed previously, and read many times.
Hope you enjoy some of them.
The 39 Steps, John Buchan
Buchan has written a classic adventure, the first of five novels featuring his intrepid all-English hero, Richard Hannay. Buchan mixed with Prime Ministers and senior civil servants, and this rollercoaster tale is peppered with insider knowledge – and don’t forget, Buchan was ‘our man’ in Quebec. It was thrilling for me to read at a young age, and from there I couldn’t get enough of adventure stories, and swiftly moved on to Ian Fleming’s Bond.
Duveen by S N Behrman
I fell in love with an art student when I was about 16 and she was 17. The only way I could get anywhere near her was to accompany her to art galleries. I ended up falling out of love with her and in love with art, and have had a lifelong passion both as a collector and a lover, for 60 years. This book on Lord Duveen, who was considered the greatest dealer of his time, is one of the great biographies of the era. I learnt so much about how the art world can be corrupt and unscrupulous when you have the veneer of respectability attached to your name.
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall
For a long time, I thought I knew a thing or two about European politics and history until I read this book. It has that great gift of being written by a scholar, but is also accessible to people like me. I learned so much from Marshall’s insight and scholarship, while at the same time enjoying it as a good read.
DC Confidential by Christopher Meyer
My favourite TV show of all time remains The West Wing, as I’ve always been interested in American politics, and this memoir, written by our former Ambassador to Washington, covers that vital period when Tony Blair supported President George W Bush on his preparations for the Iraq war. It’s an unusual memoir, as diplomats tend to be cautious and conservative, whereas Sir Christopher has left us in no doubt of his views. A fascinating read for those of us who are interested in international politics.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
This has been the best novel I’ve read for the past couple of years, and is a wonderful example of originality. It’s very difficult for an author nowadays to pen a novel that isn’t a variation of something that has been done in the past. And this book is genuinely original, and teaches us what divides a great novel from a good one.
Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig
I didn’t discover Stefan Zweig until I was 60 when the Pushkin Press brought him back, and I began with his brilliant novel, Beware of Pity, which pulls you in to its moving tale of unrequited love and the tragic consequences of pity. Zweig is that rare combination of great writer and great storyteller, who leaves the modern pack, myself included, far behind.
Hope you enjoy some of them.
The 39 Steps, John Buchan
Buchan has written a classic adventure, the first of five novels featuring his intrepid all-English hero, Richard Hannay. Buchan mixed with Prime Ministers and senior civil servants, and this rollercoaster tale is peppered with insider knowledge – and don’t forget, Buchan was ‘our man’ in Quebec. It was thrilling for me to read at a young age, and from there I couldn’t get enough of adventure stories, and swiftly moved on to Ian Fleming’s Bond.
Duveen by S N Behrman
I fell in love with an art student when I was about 16 and she was 17. The only way I could get anywhere near her was to accompany her to art galleries. I ended up falling out of love with her and in love with art, and have had a lifelong passion both as a collector and a lover, for 60 years. This book on Lord Duveen, who was considered the greatest dealer of his time, is one of the great biographies of the era. I learnt so much about how the art world can be corrupt and unscrupulous when you have the veneer of respectability attached to your name.
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall
For a long time, I thought I knew a thing or two about European politics and history until I read this book. It has that great gift of being written by a scholar, but is also accessible to people like me. I learned so much from Marshall’s insight and scholarship, while at the same time enjoying it as a good read.
DC Confidential by Christopher Meyer
My favourite TV show of all time remains The West Wing, as I’ve always been interested in American politics, and this memoir, written by our former Ambassador to Washington, covers that vital period when Tony Blair supported President George W Bush on his preparations for the Iraq war. It’s an unusual memoir, as diplomats tend to be cautious and conservative, whereas Sir Christopher has left us in no doubt of his views. A fascinating read for those of us who are interested in international politics.
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
This has been the best novel I’ve read for the past couple of years, and is a wonderful example of originality. It’s very difficult for an author nowadays to pen a novel that isn’t a variation of something that has been done in the past. And this book is genuinely original, and teaches us what divides a great novel from a good one.
Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig
I didn’t discover Stefan Zweig until I was 60 when the Pushkin Press brought him back, and I began with his brilliant novel, Beware of Pity, which pulls you in to its moving tale of unrequited love and the tragic consequences of pity. Zweig is that rare combination of great writer and great storyteller, who leaves the modern pack, myself included, far behind.
Jeffrey Archer
Thats a tough one - there are so many I have loved.
Perhaps somewhere in Dickens or Shakespeare.
Best wishes, Jeffrey
Perhaps somewhere in Dickens or Shakespeare.
Best wishes, Jeffrey
Jeffrey Archer
Hi Martin,
I am lucky - I love my work and I am constalnly intersted in new stories.
At my age (83) I think it is the hours, and routine that are a little harder, and perhaps I need more time off to recover inbetween drafts.
Best, Jeffrey
I am lucky - I love my work and I am constalnly intersted in new stories.
At my age (83) I think it is the hours, and routine that are a little harder, and perhaps I need more time off to recover inbetween drafts.
Best, Jeffrey
Jeffrey Archer
Hi Phil -
Not at present.
But please let me know if you have any ideas or requests.
Best, Jeffrey
Not at present.
But please let me know if you have any ideas or requests.
Best, Jeffrey
Jeffrey Archer
Sadly, horror is not my genre, and two sentences might end up being a real horror!
However, I have written two short stories that are exactly 100 words.
These are titled "Unique" and "The Perfect Murder", and you can see Unique here on my website
https://www.jeffreyarcher.com/extract...
However, I have written two short stories that are exactly 100 words.
These are titled "Unique" and "The Perfect Murder", and you can see Unique here on my website
https://www.jeffreyarcher.com/extract...
Jeffrey Archer
My first book, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, is loosely based on some events that took place in my life - mostly that I lost a lot of money, and sadly not that I got in all back......
Jeffrey Archer
All the wonderful people I get to meet as I do my research, and then the publishing teams I get to work with, to publish and promote the books around the world.
I am a very lucky man.
I am a very lucky man.
Jeffrey Archer
I am inspired by many things. At first, I needed a job.
At other times I am inspired by other writers.
I am a huge admirer of author Stefan Zweig and especially of his work Beware of Pity. I discovered him when I was in my sixties and, since then, I have read all his books.
Another source of inspiration has been Margaret Thatcher, simply because her work ethic was incredibly strong.
At other times I am inspired by other writers.
I am a huge admirer of author Stefan Zweig and especially of his work Beware of Pity. I discovered him when I was in my sixties and, since then, I have read all his books.
Another source of inspiration has been Margaret Thatcher, simply because her work ethic was incredibly strong.
Jeffrey Archer
My new book, Next in Line, will be published worldwide in September 2022 and is the fifth William Warwick novel, featuring Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick.
My plan is to take William through eight books and eight ranks. I started the series with Nothing Ventured with William Warwick as a constable on the beat in London, and the aim is for him to end up as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
So in each book he’s a different rank and has to tackle a different set of crimes including art theft, drugs, and murder.
In Next in Line, William and his Scotland Yard squad are sent in to investigate the elite Royalty Protection Command. But it soon becomes clear the problems in Royalty Protection are just the beginning.
A renegade organisation has the security of the country – and the crown – in its sights.
My plan is to take William through eight books and eight ranks. I started the series with Nothing Ventured with William Warwick as a constable on the beat in London, and the aim is for him to end up as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
So in each book he’s a different rank and has to tackle a different set of crimes including art theft, drugs, and murder.
In Next in Line, William and his Scotland Yard squad are sent in to investigate the elite Royalty Protection Command. But it soon becomes clear the problems in Royalty Protection are just the beginning.
A renegade organisation has the security of the country – and the crown – in its sights.
Jeffrey Archer
When that happens, I’ll usually go for a walk – the fresh air helps clear my thoughts – or take a bath or even just lie on the bed and try to clear my mind. I find the key is to relax.
Jeffrey Archer
Make time: ‘Decide when you’re going to write. Don’t be casual and only do it as and when it suits you. Don’t think you can write a novel after you’ve done a hard day’s work, it’s insulting to those professional novelists who spend their time doing nothing else.’
Be disciplined: ‘For example, I write from 6-8 a.m., 10-12 a.m., 2-4 p.m., 6-8 p.m. I keep that routine up for 40-50 days and handwrite every word. I then take a break and go back to it again a month later.’
Write what you know: ‘Don’t do vampires, wizards, or ghosts because they’re in fashion. Jane Austen wrote about family life in a small village and gave us six of the greatest novels ever written.’
Get some fresh air: ‘I go for two long walks between sessions, for two reasons, physical and mental. The plot will buzz around in your mind while you are walking, continually churning over, which it can’t be while you’re actually writing.’
Do several drafts: ‘Do not imagine that the first draft of your book is the one that will be published. My latest novel, The Sins of the Father, was 14 drafts and took approximately 1 000 hours.’
Be flexible: ‘If you think of something better half-way through the writing process, don’t be frightened to go back and incorporate it or even change the story completely.’
Seek opinions from professionals: ‘When you want an opinion on what you consider the finished script, seek it from a professional editor, an agent, or someone you don’t know, through a third party. Do not seek an opinion from your wife, husband, partner, mistress or close friend. They will lie.’
Read the greats: ‘There is no substitute for reading great novelists, and instead of just enjoying their craft, think carefully about how they’ve achieved it? Do they spend pages on description, do they move the story on quickly, how do they make you turn the page? It’s all there in front of you if you look carefully, so at least when you try to do it, you have analysed how successful authors have managed it in the past.’
Stay fit: ‘If the body is a physical wreck – too much drinking, smoking, late nights – how can you expect the written word to be anything less than drunken, useless, and tired?’
Don’t give up: ‘My first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, was turned down by 14 publishers, ended up with an advance of £3,000 and on first printing took a year to sell 3 000 copies. It is still extremely rare for a first book to be a best-seller.’
Be disciplined: ‘For example, I write from 6-8 a.m., 10-12 a.m., 2-4 p.m., 6-8 p.m. I keep that routine up for 40-50 days and handwrite every word. I then take a break and go back to it again a month later.’
Write what you know: ‘Don’t do vampires, wizards, or ghosts because they’re in fashion. Jane Austen wrote about family life in a small village and gave us six of the greatest novels ever written.’
Get some fresh air: ‘I go for two long walks between sessions, for two reasons, physical and mental. The plot will buzz around in your mind while you are walking, continually churning over, which it can’t be while you’re actually writing.’
Do several drafts: ‘Do not imagine that the first draft of your book is the one that will be published. My latest novel, The Sins of the Father, was 14 drafts and took approximately 1 000 hours.’
Be flexible: ‘If you think of something better half-way through the writing process, don’t be frightened to go back and incorporate it or even change the story completely.’
Seek opinions from professionals: ‘When you want an opinion on what you consider the finished script, seek it from a professional editor, an agent, or someone you don’t know, through a third party. Do not seek an opinion from your wife, husband, partner, mistress or close friend. They will lie.’
Read the greats: ‘There is no substitute for reading great novelists, and instead of just enjoying their craft, think carefully about how they’ve achieved it? Do they spend pages on description, do they move the story on quickly, how do they make you turn the page? It’s all there in front of you if you look carefully, so at least when you try to do it, you have analysed how successful authors have managed it in the past.’
Stay fit: ‘If the body is a physical wreck – too much drinking, smoking, late nights – how can you expect the written word to be anything less than drunken, useless, and tired?’
Don’t give up: ‘My first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, was turned down by 14 publishers, ended up with an advance of £3,000 and on first printing took a year to sell 3 000 copies. It is still extremely rare for a first book to be a best-seller.’
Jeffrey Archer
William Warwick 7, and a new idea that I cant talk about yet......
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