Today I have another Brain to Books Cyber Convention post, the first in a double author feature. Remember, this great event for authors and readers alike is coming to Goodreads this April, on the 8th, 9th and 10th.
Be sure to check out all the details and pertinent links for the event here:
Now on with the main event, our Brain to Books author feature.
Today is the first post in a two part interview feature for urban fantasy and science fiction author Timothy Bateson. This post features an interview with author himself, and tomorrow be sure to come back for a Fireside Chat with his lupine character, Richard Parsons.
Interview with Timothy Bateson
Why
don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.
Having grown up on the outskirts of London, I consider myself
to be very much a city-boy at heart. I’m an avid amateur falconer, with
experience in handling raptors from little owls all the way up to the
magnificent martial eagle.
In 2005, I moved to small-town Alaska to marry my lovely
wife, and fellow writer, Sandi, and haven’t looked back. It was here that I had
my first encounter with captive wolves and that re-awoke my love of werewolf
stories that showed the human aspect as much as the wolf.
I broke into the short story market in 2014 with “Under a
Hunter’s Moon”, which is now one of three prequel stories to my first attempt
at writing a novel.
Could
you tell us a bit about your latest book?
“Blackmailed into consulting for the Seattle Police
Department's Supernatural Taskforce, Richard Parsons enters a race against time
when a mysterious killer starts tearing apart his fellow lupines (werewolves).
- Locked room mysteries were not part of the deal that keeps him out of jail”.
When I married Sandi,
in 2005 she showed me her first draft for a vampire book she’d been working on.
I found myself engrossed in the background details, especially the werewolf
bar-tender, Art. It became obvious that there was a lot going on in the
background of the story that could easily spawn other stories.
We sat down and
set out a lot of background material, which led me to starting National Novel
Writing Month in 2007 or 2008. That was when I first started to write what will
become “Of Wolves and Men”, and led to my first published short story “Under a
Hunter’s Moon”, as well as two other prequel stories.
How
long have you been writing, and how many stories have you published to date?
I started
writing back in my college years, but never managed to find time to finish a
project. Thanks to my wife, Sandi, I stared writing again in 2007, and took
part in that year’s National Novel Writing’s Month with my first attempt at
writing a werewolf novel.
To date, I’ve
had two short stories, and one drabble published in anthologies. My urban
fantasy pieces, “Under a Hunter’s Moon” and “Shifting Dreams” appeared in
Halloween collections released in October 2014. Then in May 2015, my first
science fiction story “Evaline Transcendent” was printed.
Of
all the stories you've written, do you have a favourite?
I think “Under
a Hunter’s Moon” is probably the one I’m happiest with, because of the length
of time it took to get it written at all. Originally sections of this story were
flashback scenes that kept cropping up in various attempts to draft a novel,
but they kept slowing the plot development down. Once I removed them from the
novel, the rest of the story came together very quickly, and I was able to tie
down details of a very significant event in the life of my novel’s protagonist.
Why did you decide to write in the urban fantasy &
science fiction genre?
I grew up reading books by authors like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke,
Piers Anthony, Ursula K. LeGuinn, and many more of the fantasy and sci-fi
greats. During college, I picked up books by authors like Terry Pratchett,
Harry Harrison, and Tom Holt. I realized that it was possible to deliver a
story with humor, and an understanding of the human condition.
Over the years, I’ve expanded the range of authors and genre’s I read,
but fantasy and science fiction are the two I always return to when I want
something with depth. Because of that they’re also the two genre’s I’m most
comfortable writing, and I decided to primarily focus on urban fantasy because
of my love of the city, and all the problems inherent in putting so many people
in such a small space.
What is the hardest part of writing urban fantasy fiction
In any setting the reality that the reader enters into has to be
internally consistent. If you set up rules for magic, you cannot break those
same rules without some very exceptional circumstances, and there must be
consequences for doing so
In an urban fantasy series, especially one set in a city your readers
will already be familiar with, you have to maintain a certain level of external
consistency too. Unless you have very specific reasons for altering the reality
they know, you’ll find yourself doing a lot of research on local history, the styles
of buildings that can be found in certain parts of town, and even spending
hours on Google Maps trying to find the ideal place to hide you secret
organization’s headquarters.
The same also applies to any book set in an historical setting, but at
least most readers are willing to accept minor historical inaccuracies unless
they detract from the story. However, if you change aspects of an existing
city, people familiar with that city pretty upset.
What do you enjoy most about writing in the urban fantasy
genre?
Being a city boy at heart, I think I’ve always been drawn to the stories
of the urban jungle. Growing up I heard a lot of the stories of London’s
history, and became fascinated with the goings on in the little back alleyways,
and side turnings that lay just off the major tourist areas. When I was old
enough to explore the city on my own, I would wander those back streets,
finding bars, clubs, stores and businesses that most people probably didn’t
even know existed.
Being able to bring that kind of realism into my stories lets me write
about characters who are native to the city, and know where all those short
cuts go, what businesses operate in the dark corners, and even dream of the
creatures that could be lurking, waiting to surprise the unwary. And that’s
where the fun comes into writing urban fantasy - even I can be caught unaware
by the twists and turns that occur in those back alleyways of the plot and
characters.
You write in several genres. Do you have a favourite? And if
so, why?
As a published author in both urban fantasy and science
fiction, I would love to say that was impartial in terms of my preferences.
However, I definitely have a preference for writing urban fantasy; it’s a genre
that has grown on me over the years, and continues to do so.
When I first started reading fantasy, I always felt that
too little time was spent exploring the cities, and the particular problems
that arise when large numbers of people are gathered in one place. By focusing
on the people and the city environments it lets writers create stories in what
is essentially an unnatural environment, and see what ideas shake free. For
creatures like vampires, it is a potentially endless food supply. For the
werewolves the cities are incursions into the wilderness and their hunting
grounds. Add mortals, fae, and other mythological entities, and things become
so much more interesting.
Who
is your intended readership?
The people who I’d
like to see enjoy my stories are those that understand that none of us are
perfect, and that we all have flaws. However, even the most flawed of us have
redeeming features, even if they are buried deep. My intended reader is the one
who can see beyond the surface, and hopefully find that buried inner
redemption.
Can
you tell us about your writing process? Where do your ideas originate? Do you
have a certain writing routine?
Since I first
started writing, I think my writing process has changed a lot. When I first
started out, I’d simply start writing a scene, and see where my mind went as I
moved forward. But, I found that I often stalled out before the story could be
completed, because I had a habit of rambling. So, now I have definitely moved
myself clearly into the camp that plots well ahead of typing the first word on
screen.
My plot
outlines usually start with a basic idea of where I want to start, and finish
the story. Those become my markers for everything that comes between them. I
usually sketch out my ideas on a mindmap, and see where my brain takes me. From
there I take notes one what will make up the plot itself, what’s going to end
up as background material, and what I’d like to save until later.
Sometimes my
ideas might be sparked by reading another writer’s work, and wondering what
would happen if my characters were placed in the same situations. Other times,
I’ll be watching the news, and make mental notes. But I also like to draw on mythology,
fairy tales, television, and movies for potential inspiration.
I’m still
trying to get myself into a good writing routine. Every November I commit to
National Novel Writing Month, and a minimum of 1,667 words per day, but then
outside that period I seem to find it harder to maintain that kind of pace. So,
now I’m trying to get into the habit of writing something every day, even if
what I work doesn’t result in progress on my current story project. The good
thing about this is that I’ve been able to start putting together a number of
author biographies, kept up on my weekly blog posts, and book reviews.
What
is your greatest challenge as a writer?
I work in
retail, and rarely have the same days off, or even the same hours on the days I
work. Being at the mercy of scheduling makes it hard to get into a writing
routine. I rely on a consistent writing schedule, especially when I’m trying to
get a project finished, or am working to deadline.
I find those
days when I work a mid-shift are the ones where there is insufficient time to
write before work, and I’m too tired to be productive after work. When I work
several of those shifts in a week, I have to force myself to be extra
productive on my days off.
Do
you have a favourite author, or writing inspiration?
In terms of
authors who’ve influenced me the most, I think I would have to look to people
like Terry Pratchett, Jim Butcher, and Dean Koontz. Each of them has such a
unique style of writing and looking at the world, but write about characters
that you can’t help but like, no matter what they go through.
Terry Pratchett
makes the list, because of characters like Samuel Vimes, who face the world
head on, with a no-nonsense approach and a grasp of the realities of the world
around them, while also showcasing characters who don’t have a clue what’s
going on.
However, it’s
Terry’s own personal struggles, and his outspoken views on the rights of the
individual that earned my respect. Right up to his death he publically fought
deteriorating health, and still managed to fight for what he believed in.
Dean Koontz’s
Odd Thomas series, and Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files books remind us that even
the underdogs can win, if they are willing to make sacrifices. They also
introduce us to characters with special gifts, each very different in what they
can do, but both of them sharing those experiences with the readers at a very
personal level. While both writers being us into their world through the eyes
and thoughts of their protagonists, they have also created worlds that exist
outside those characters, and continue to function even when we’re not looking.
How
do you research your books?
I’m an avid
reader of mythology from all over the world, so there are a lot of books in my
apartment that relate to the various mythologies, cultures and histories. I
think it’s important to have an understanding of the history and culture behind
the mythologies, because all of those factors shape people and how they
approach life.
Since I write
urban fantasy, I also spend a lot of time reading online articles about the
places I write about. When I’m planning to write about a particular location, I
spend a lot of time trying to find out about the history, location, and the
surrounding environment. That means I spend a lot of time on sites like Google
Maps, and Wikipedia, as well as any sites from the place itself. But, I always
reserve the right to alter details, especially if I have to create, or alter
things to make a location fit the story I want to tell. This happened in “Under
a Hunter’s Moon” when I needed a museum, but couldn’t find a museum in Seattle
that had the right combination of layout and exhibits, so I created one based
on my years of visiting museums in London.
What
advice would you give beginning writers?
I think the
most important piece of advice to give anyone who wants to write is “Don’t be
afraid to make mistakes”. No matter what you write, fiction, non-fiction, or
memoir, you are going to have the opportunity to edit that work.
The worst
assumption you can ever make is that you will be able to produce a piece of
work that is perfect in every way. Even the top authors, and publishing houses
make mistakes, but they learn from them and move forward.
From personal
experience, even your editor and proof readers will miss errors. As long as you
produce the best work you are capable of, then you can be proud of that work,
regardless of any errors.
Do
you have any amusing writing stories or anecdotes to share?
I have a
customer at work, who I know follows my writing work, and blog posts. One day
they came into the store and reached the checkout lanes during a very busy
period. They waited in my line for nearly five minutes when there were other
lanes open, and getting through customers faster than I was able to at the
time. By the time they reached the front of the line, they were pretty much
vibrating with excitement at the news they wanted to share.
They informed
me that they had been doing a search online and seen my picture on the first
page of search results. Then we all laughed when they told me that they had
been searching for ‘falconry in Alaska’ instead of for anything related to
writing.
It’s nice to
know that I’m being found in search results for something that I haven’t had
many opportunities to take part in recently.
What
do you like to do when you're not writing? Any hobbies?
When I’m not
writing, I can often be found reading, or working on any number of online
projects. I produce two weekly blog posts, “Midweek Mumbles” and “Someone
Else’s Words”. The first is pretty much my forum for anything I want to post,
from upcoming book events to information about tools, or life hacks that I’ve
found useful. The second is a quote I found inspirational, or interesting, and
turned into a graphic. I also produce a book spotlight column that highlights
books by authors that I’ve collaborated with online, or met in person.
When I get the
chance though I try and get some time handling raptors, even though those
opportunities are a lot rarer now that I don’t live near a falconry center.
Over the years I’ve handled every class of raptor, except condors and vultures.
I’ve snuggled face-to-face with barn owls, and been nose to beak with eagles,
and there is nothing like the thrill of hearing that the talons that are
gripping your arm have the crushing power of two alligator jaws.
How did you become interested in falconry?
When I was in
my early teens, my father taught at one of the local schools. One day, he told
me that they were going to have a falconry display team come in, and show off
some of the birds. I’d always been fascinated by the appearance of owls, and
wanted the opportunity to at least see one up close.
I was very
grateful that my parents were both very supportive of the idea, even though it
meant I would have to take a day off from my own school. The time I spent in
the school gym, watching as the team demonstrated the abilities of their owls,
and then their hawk was a revelation.
Among the
demonstrations they had several of us lie down shoulder to shoulder, and then
flew the barn owl right over the entire group. It took several passes for me to
realize that I’d not heard a single sound from the bird the entire time it was
overhead. Yet when they flew the other raptors, I was able to hear some of the
wingbeats.
It wasn’t until
they allowed some us a chance to handle a couple of the more ‘kid-friendly’
birds that I was hooked for life. I was able to handle the barn owl, a species
I will always have a soft-spot for, as well as their Harris Hawk, and that’s
when I decided I was going to take every chance I could to handle these amazing
creatures.
Since then,
I’ve been lucky enough to attend several displays, falconry centers, and gained
experience in handling several breeds of raptor, including eagles. And, in
spite all the years of experience, I still consider every opportunity to be an
honor.
Are
you working on another book?
I’ve always got something in the pipeline that I’m
working on. I’m currently working on the first draft for my novel, as well as
reading through the already completed second book in the series, written by my
wife Sandi. Once I’ve got my first draft written, I’ll
probably take a short break to outline the third book in the series, which will
be a joint project between Sandi and myself.
What’s
your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?
Right now, I’m
concentrating on getting the first draft of “Of Wolves and Men” completed, but
am keeping my eye on postings for short story submissions. I’ve a few ideas of
stories I want to try, but won’t dedicate the time to unless I’ll be sending
them in for possible publication. At the moment, unless there’s a chance of
being paid for it, I want to concentrate on the novels.
In terms of
secrets, there are a few things that I’ve been keeping close to my chest.
However, I can safely say that “Wolves in the Desert” gives a very good
indication why Garfield Feldman (who appears in “The Lupine’s Call”) has a
dislike for Richard Parsons, the protagonist of the majority of my stories. And
in “Of Wolves and Men” we’re going to find out some very interesting things
about Nazurl Nagura, Richard’s ex-girlfriend.
For more on Timothy Bateson and his books check out his website:
The story Shifting Dreams can be found in the anthology Spooky Halloween Drabbles 2014
I'd like to thank Timothy Bateson for stopping by today, and be sure to check out his virtual booth at the convention this April. Also, check back tomorrow for the Fireside Chat with his character, Richard Parsons.
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