Interview – Author, Simon Williams
As part of author Nancy Chase’s, “The Seventh Magpie” book launch extravaganza, I’ll be interviewing a series of participating authors. Check out all the interviews here.
Today, I’m happy to have Simon Williams!
Q: What are some of the rewarding aspects of your work?
A: By far and away the most rewarding aspects are the times when a reader tells me how much they enjoyed one of my books or takes the trouble to write a long and detailed review. Although writing is something I would probably do regardless of any recognition, the fact that a growing number of people seem to really like my work spurs me on like nothing else. I write for myself but I also write for them.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I always have a number of projects on the go. The main priority at the moment is The Spiral Heart- which is the fourth Aona book, and the biggest so far. Very excited about this and can’t wait to get the final editing done.
I’m also working on the sequel to Summer’s Dark Waters- it doesn’t have a name yet but I’ve started writing it anyway. I’m hoping that this will be out by the end of the year.
I’m also preparing an anthology of short stories, and I have notes for a couple of other series and a standalone novella- but these are for a little further ahead. I’m not one of those Nano-type writers who can write thousands upon thousands of words each day so I try to be sensible with targets and release dates.
Q: What are currently reading?
A: Well, like many people I’m waiting in limbo for George R R Martin’s next book in his series to come out- I’m also reading Tad Williams’ Shadowmarch books and I’m part way through “Last Night In Twisted River” by John Irving (probably my favourite non-fantasy author)
Q: Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?
A: I don’t have a single favourite author but there are several who are top of the tree- off to the top of my head I would say Clive Barker, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Alan Garner, Tad Williams, and Ian Irvine. George R R Martin is up there too- at least he will be if the Game of Thrones series is completed. I read mainly fantasy or speculative fiction but I’ll read most genres. The one genre I don’t read is porn- not from a moral or religious standpoint but because it’s all been done before and I simply don’t see the point of it- and it seems to have become “trendy” and popular in recent years (due in party to the “Fifty Shades” effect no doubt)
Q: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
A: The Aona books are really about what it’s like to be the people in the middle when two great evils clash and the world may soon end. It’s also about the opposite ideas of damnation and redemption and I explore the idea, using some of the characters, that even the most well-intentioned people can fall into dark times and likewise the most reprehensible characters can achieve a certain amount of redemption. I like exploring themes like this with the people in my books, it helps give them dimension and character and helps the readers identify with them.
Bio: Simon Williams is an author of fantasy and speculative fiction and is based in the UK. He has published three books in the Aona dark fantasy series so far and the fourth book is out very soon. He has also written “Summer’s Dark Waters” a fantasy / sci-fi adventure for all ages 10+ and a sequel is being written.
Website: www.simonwilliamsauthor.com
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00P0ZZYS8
Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simon-Williams/167649143291810
Twitter: @SWilliamsAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094097.Simon_Williams
Summer’s Dark Waters:
Oblivion’s Forge (Book I in the Aona series):
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oblivions-Forge-Aona-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0082XW04G/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Oblivions-Forge...
