Today I would like welcome Romantic Suspense & Thriller author, H.C. Elliston.
1. Tell me more about how you got started as a writer and the inspiration behind your novels, Tick Tock Run, and, Think Fast Die Last?
My income took a bit of a dive during the credit crunch. I was grateful to still be working when so many others had lost their jobs, including friends, but I was working less hours, so this gave me more time to read and write.
Ideas tend to come to me when I am not even thinking about writing. A ‘what if this happened?’ or ‘how would people cope with this?’ idea pops into my head and I rummage around for a pen and paper. I write down my ideas in the car, the supermarket, and even jump out of bed in the early hours to scribble notes.
2. What do you fear? Tell me about your own phobias.
Trap me in a 40th floor balcony with a large spider and you have a few rolled into one. (But please don’t do that!)
3. Thrillers often deal with ordinary people coping with extraordinary situations – why do you think this is the case and what attracts you to this kind of storyline as a reader and a writer?
I enjoy the excitement of following fairly everyday people who have to use their limited skillsets to get out of a sticky situation as unscathed as possible. I suppose I enjoy the thrills, twists and the fighting spirit of characters.
4. There is the ongoing debate about whether genre fiction is as valuable as literary fiction – I’d be interested to hear your opinion on this and where you stand?
Both have value in their own way. Whether one is more valuable than the other depends on the content of each individual book, and what the person who is judging them is looking for from the book.
5. A lot of genres seem to be blending together these days so, as a writer of Romantic Suspense, why do you think this is? And what do you think the benefits are of genres cross-fertilising in this way?
I see nothing wrong with crossing the lines. Readers get a dose of more genres they enjoy rolled into one, and writers who are passionate about several genres, can bring those together in one book. I don’t think genre is a box that writers should have to stay inside, it’s more of a way to frame a book so readers have a better understanding of what they are getting.
6. You have used the a single first-person narrative in Tick Tock Run and then a narrative told using three first-person perspectives in Think Fast Die Last? How did you find working with these different approaches? What appeals to you about writing in first-person rather than third-person?
I write in both first and third-person narrative, but it feels more natural for me to write in first. I tend to use first for the main character, and third for chapters written from secondary points of view – just another way to distinguish the different characters.
7. Your first two novels have quite cinematic plots – would you say film has been as much of an influence as literature on your writing? If so, any particular examples you would recommend the budding thriller writer go out and see?
When not working on either my job or books, I tend to read in the daytime and watch films at night, curled up with my dogs. Films help me to unwind and I love getting lost in a movie – it empties my mind of the day. There are so many films that I love, the list would be too long! But yes, film does have an influence on my writing.
8. Are there other genres you would like to write for in the future?
My first book is romantic suspense, my second is an action thriller – so I have already switched a little, but they still both fall under thriller and suspense. At the moment I have no plans to switch to an entirely different genre, but if an idea came to me then I wouldn’t rule it out.
9. Can you tell me some more about your top secret work-in-progress? And when will it be hitting the digital shelves?
LOL – top secret! It is another thriller with murder, romance, deception, a gang who make money exploiting people on the internet, and plenty of suspense. It is based around a single mother who is going through a divorce. She shares the home she is trying to keep through the divorce settlement with her best friend, and these are the two main characters. Hopefully it will be ready for release by early autumn.
10. So what does 2012 hold for H.C. Elliston? Any last words?
I will continue to work as hard as ever at everything I do. I’m sure I am no different to many others who hope that each year will be an improvement on the last, but we’ll see.
I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who took a chance on reading my books, and also those who considered them. Thanks for the interview, Greg. I hope you have a great year too!
Thank you, H.C.!
Tick Tock Run is available from the following links:
If you want to find out more about H.C. Elliston, please visit the following links:
