An interview with author Colin R Parsons for The Carmarthen Book Fair 2016
Hi Colin R Parsons, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I’m Colin R Parsons – a children’s and YA fiction author from the Rhondda Valley. I’ve lived in the same house for forty-eight years. I’ve been married to my wife Janice for thirty-one years and I have two sons: Kristoffer and Ryan.
What were you like at school?
I was a nervous child at school. I didn’t read at all, but I did use to listen to talking books on cassettes. We had to read out loud in class one day, and I fell in love with reading from that day on.
Which writers inspire you?
I would say Neil Gaiman for one, and definitely Derek Landy. But, the person I really look up to is Catrin Collier. She’s my mentor and very close friend.
So, what have you written?
Wizards’ Kingdom book 1 (2005)
The Obelisk of Ashmar book 2 (2006)
Jarrak’s Darkness book 3 (2007).
The Curious World of Shelley Vendor book 1 (2009)
The Curious World of Katie Hinge book 2 (2011).
IU-137 book 1 (a prequel to Crank July 2015)
Crank Tech One: DESTRUCTION book 1 (2012)
House of Darke (2015)
Death Trap (Sept 2016)
Ghosted (coming soon 2016)
DISC Direct Interface Shadow Control (2017)
Where can we buy or see them?
You can order them in any good book shop or order online from Amazon and DriveThru Fiction.
What genre are your books?
Science Fiction, fantasy, supernatural, steam punk, mythical fantasy.
What draws you to this genre?
I was brought up on science fiction and fantasy films in my youth.
How much research do you do?
I write fantasy and science fiction so I make a lot of stuff up. But, saying that I have to research a certain amount of things to make my books real to readers.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I didn’t really decide to be a writer, it sort of happened. I use to write short stories as a kid. In later life I had the opportunity to become a ‘real’ writer when an English school teacher read my stories (she used to proof read and edit them) and said write a book. My son was falling behind in his English, and the same teacher said that if I wrote a book, my son would read it. He did and I became a writer from there.
Do you write full-time or part-time?
I’m a full-time author. I’m booked into fifty schools a year and I run presentations and workshops throughout the UK.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
Usually when I’m not doing school visits I’ll walk to my local library and write in the mornings. A four mile round trip gives me exercise and a word count.
Where do your ideas come from?
I observe everything around me, and that’s where the ideas flow.
What is the hardest thing about writing?
I hate, hate, hate – writing fight scenes. It’s the choreography that is so difficult.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
Writing a good ending that ties everything together in a neat bow. I always have difficulty writing endings.
What is the easiest thing about writing?
Sitting there when the ideas flow like a river, and you keep writing in a blur.
Do you ever get writer’s Block?
Sometimes the story doesn’t work and I go on to something else. I go back to it and if it still doesn’t gel, I leave it again. It’s not writer’s block as such it’s just letting the mind have a break.
Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors.
I read as much as I can, so when I’m in hotel rooms – I always have a book to hand. Favourite authors are, too many to mention, but Neil Gaiman, Derek Landy, Jim Butcher, Tolkien, CS Lewis, Charles Dickens and so it goes on…
For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?
I like reading paperback books, but I will read ebooks and sometimes listen to audio books.
What book/s are you reading at present?
The Thornthwaite Inheritance by Gareth P. Jones. Next will be: Grave Peril by Jim Butcher.
Are you looking forward to the Carmarthen Book Fair 2016? And if so, why?
I love book fairs. Carmarthen is a great town and to be involved in the first one is fantastic. I’m also running my own: Rhondda Book Fair 2016 (official Facebook page). Many of the authors attending the Carmarthen Book Fair, are coming to mine in September. I’m also attending the Tenby Book Fair and the Llandeilo Book Fair.
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
www.facebook.com/colinrparsons
Thank you for agreeing to this interview, we look forward to seeing you at the Carmarthen Book Fair, Saturday 1st October in St.Peter’s Civic Hall, Tenby Book Fair and Llandeilo Book Fair. Wishing you every success with your own book fair – Rhondda Book Fair, we will try to pop in.
Interesting interview. It\’s great to discover an author putting something back and encouraging youngsters to read.
I quite agree Graham.