Bill Carson – Author Interview

Bill Carson

I have been lucky enough to meet some very interesting and talented people since I began writing, many of them are multi-talented, and none more so than Bill Carson, an author I met via Twitter. Bill kindly agreed to be my first interview once the website went live. I would confirm that the picture of Laurel and Hardy below, is not a photograph, but one of Bill’s creations. HI Bill, Thank you for agreeing to be my first interview. I thought it appropriate, as you were the first author I ‘met’ on Twitter. I’ve appreciated the help and advice you’ve given freely since meeting you, and of course discovered you are a man of many talents. Not only have you published several very successful books, but you are also a talented artist, an expert in self-defence and martial arts, keep Koi carp, and can lay a mean floor.

When and why did you start writing?

Many moons ago I worked as a night club bouncer which was a terribly depressing occupation I might add. I used to keep a diary on the job and recorded some of the strange and violent situations that I found myself in. A colleague of mine had a look at the diary one day and suggested that it might make an interesting read. Show No Fear was published in paperback in 2005 and the rest is history as they say. Incidentally I have recently rewritten the book and breathed new life into it and it is now very close to being republished. I pitched the new version Show No Fear Redux to a mainstream publisher who is still mulling over the proposal.

 You use a pen name for your novels, why is that?

It’s a secret.

Necessary Evils is an exciting, quite violent thriller, and Nemesis even more so. Where did the inspiration for these come from?

I have always had an idea in the back of my mind for a series of books based on vigilantism; it is a subject that interests me a great deal. The first book in the series Necessary Evils took ages to write as I wanted it to be authentic and a little different from your run of the mill vigilante crime story and I think I achieved it. I have also met a few villains on my travels and so I have been able to take peek inside this shady clandestine world which is then reflected in my books.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on the fourth in the crime thriller series at the moment where the tough Detective Nick Harland has now taken over as the main character. I am only at the very beginning but I have a good story line for this one and it’ll have a few good twists and lots of action of course. The third in the series -Never Say Die- which I have just finished is currently with my editor.

What gives you the greatest pleasure, writing or drawing?

 Ah that’s a tricky one; drawing is my first love, I love to draw when I get the chance and just like writing it’s an all-consuming pursuit. I think the way I’m going to answer this one is to say that both have their high and low points.

 I know you have sold and exhibited your fine pencil art, which is your favourite piece and why?

 I only draw for my own pleasure and so I tend to draw the things which appeal to me personally. I like to draw portraits of famous actors/ actresses, as for my favourite drawing that’s a difficult one however I must admit that my Laurel and Hardy drawing always makes me smile.

What’s your favourite quote from any book you’ve read?

That’s another tough one there are so many but one that always makes me laugh is from the book One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s nest. The second one is of course from Charles Dickens A Tale Of Two Cities. “We are the pyscho ceramics, the cracked pots of society.” “It was the best of times it was the worst of times.”  What an opening line that really does take some beating.

What’s your favourite quote from your own novels?

 I had to think quite hard about this one but I think it is this line from my first crime thriller Necessary Evils. This short piece of dialogue sums up the mind-set of the vigilante. “Who sent ya?” he said. “I’ve not been sent I’ve been created, created by people like you. And people like you do not deserve the precious gift of life, which I shall now take from you.” “I’ll – see ya – in – hell,” he hissed with his last breath. “Maybe,” John replied.

Finally, what tops your bucket list as the thing you would most like to achieve in the future?

I’ve got a lot of things I want to do before I meet my maker;  but top of the list would be to go to Japan and visit the grave/shrine of Miyamoto Musashi. You’ll have to look this chap up if you want to know more about him, a truly fascinating character. Thanks for taking the time to do this Bill, all the best with Show No Fear, fingers crossed the publisher makes a positive decision soon. No problem, best of luck with your new website. and future endeavours, and thank you for the distinction of being your first writer.   You can follow Bill Carson on twitter: https://twitter.com/billcarsonbooks Read Bill Carson’s blogs here: http://www.billcarsonbooks.com/ Find Bill Carson books here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Bill%20Carson&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerankI