What the Experts Say: Interview, Anthony Carbis

[image error] Q How do you get started writing?
A My first attempt at writing anything of some length was brought about by a moment of boredom. It suddenly occurred to me that I might enjoy writing something that I found funny. Because the experience made me smile, I persevered and the end result was a book called, 'People, Pubs and Enlightenment'.
    With regard to my novel, 'Murder and Enlightenment' there was a somewhat similar experience. I had just finished reading a Bram Stoker novel called, 'The Seven Stars' - or at least I think that's what the title was - and realized there was something about the author's Edwardian style of writing that I felt I could emulate. I immediately set to work writing the story as it occurred to me but after a few pages felt the need to work out a basic plot.
    As far as editing goes I found myself continually going back over what I had written. I soon realized my punctuation and grammar needed to be constantly checked. I was editing, rewriting and working out the plot all at the same time! The whole thing was a colossal learning curve.

Q What inspired you to write an historical thriller set in the 1890s?
As previously mentioned I was inspired by the writing style of Bram Stoker. He was writing at around the turn of the 20th century and I felt that a story close to that date would feel right. Also, there seems to me to be something mysterious and a little sinister about London's fog-bound streets during the period of Victoria's reign. I wanted the book to have both a dark and a lighter side to it.
    The characters are not based on real people, although some of the physical attributes of them have been drawn from people I have met in the past.
    The inspiration for the book came from a desire to reflect my own perspective on existence, which is one of unification. I wanted to express the non duality that I see as being the basis of our lives. My other book, 'People. Pubs and Enlightenment' deals with this at more length but is still more about entertainment than merely being a lecture on reality. I would like to stress that neither of my books contain spiritual or religious themes. I have merely woven my perspective into what I hope are entertaining stories.

*Author Anthony Carbis lives in the U.K. on the southwest coast of England. He has studied Eastern philosophies since the age of 18. He spent thirty years of being a jobbing singer/guitarist in England's West Country.

His books available on Amazon.com are:

Murder and Enlightenment -- a Victorian crime story with a dark edge and a little added meaning

People Pubs and Enlightenment - about a fictional singer/guitar player interested in Eastern religions who describes "followers of the holy trinity of brewing, fermenting and distilling."