Author Interview: Philip Dodd

Welcome to our series of Author Interviews, where Charlie Bray chats to a variety of Indie writers about their lives and their books.

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Today I am delighted to interview Philip Dodd, author of Angel War, a novel encompassing his vision of war in heaven.

Hi Philip, tell us a little about yourself.

I am sixty two, live in Liverpool, England, have a degree in English literature from Newcastle University, and I have been writing songs, stories and poems since I was twelve. Apart from literature, I like some pop and folk music, art, football, and when I can, walking in the mountains.

How many books have you published so far?

Angel War is my only published book. It was published as a paperback in April, 2013 and as an E-book in March, 2014 by Fast Print Publishing.

How long have you been writing?

When I was twelve, in 1964, I wrote my first song. Since then, I have never stopped writing songs, poems and stories.

Tell us a bit about your novel.
In Angel War I give my own version of the war in heaven, mentioned in The Bible, and its aftermath. It is essentially the biography of Azel, the Prince of the White Castle of the Angels of Light, the one who starts the war in heaven and who later becomes known on Earth as Lucifer, the Devil, Satan. From his Citadel throne, in his exile from the angel lands, from the time of the garden of Eden unto the twentieth century, it is revealed how he used Earth as his battlefield in his war against the Father.

What inspired you to write it?

When I was a fifteen year old schoolboy, in 1967, I first read Chapter Six of the Book of Revelation, which speaks of the war in heaven, fought between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels. The idea of there being a war in heaven astounded me. So the seed of my story was planted in my brain. When I was thirty four, in 1986, I began to write what became Angel War, and I did not complete the final version of it until September, 2012, when I was sixty, so it took me twenty six years to write my book.

Did you plan out your book or did it find its own direction?

During the twenty six years it took to write, my story truly did take on a life of its own, its course directed more by the characters I had created than by me, which I found to be a sometimes puzzling, but always an amazing and intriguing experience.

What is the main message of your book?

The main theme of my book is an old one, that of the war between good and evil. If my book has a message it is that, despite it all, the darkness and deeds of evil will pass, and good will have the victory. I would also like the reader of my story to consider that, as Melchior says in a chapter called Star of the New Dawn, “we are more than we think we are, part of something greater than we think it is.”

What are your creative influences? Were there any specific ones that inspired your book?

Angel War was inspired by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, which has had a greater influence on English literature, since it was first published than some might think. Apart from being influenced by my favourite novelists and poets, I have been influenced by such things as a painting I saw in my local art gallery, which inspired me to write the chapter called The Tempter in my book.

What do you enjoy most and least about writing?

I enjoy writing most when I feel in an inspired state and I find myself scribbling my ideas down in my notebook as quickly as I can, so that none of what I originally thought is forgotten. What I like least about writing is having to discard entire chapters in order to make the final draft of a story as compact and as short as possible.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Be patient. When you finish your story, remember it is only your first draft, a base to build on. Work on it until you know you have completed your final draft, the one that is good enough for others to read. Do not read narrowly. You may have your favourite kind of book and list of favourite authors, but remember there are worlds elsewhere in other kinds of books. Learn from the masters. Classic novels have lasted for a reason, mainly because they are good stories, well told.

Do you have any future projects in the works?

In 2015, I plan to publish my lighthearted, bird brain science fiction story for older children and adults, called Klubbe the Turkle and the Golden Star Coracle. One day, I hope to publish a collection of my poems.

Many thanks for sparing us time today, Philip, and I wish you every success with your writing.

ANGEL WAR


Angel War is available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

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