Interview with Francis H Powell
I am approaching 60 years old, I am married with a seven year old son and I
live in Brittany.
Could you
tell us a bit about your latest book?
It is called “Adventures of Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation”
Set in a different time in a variety of settings and time periods, the
past, the present, and the future, the book explores the inevitable unknown that
lies before us all "death". Death can arrive in a multitude of
forms. Each part of the book explores different themes. There are characters
who following their demises have to face up to their lurid pasts. There some
who face annihilation and others who are in a crazy pursuit of world destruction.
The book aims to contain some ironic twists. Even as young children we build up
nightmare visions of what death involves. The reader is often left to
distinguish between what is real and what is not, as stories reside within
stories and the storytellers can never be fully trusted. Not all the book is
doom and gloom, there are Elsa Grun's bizarre encounters with men and Shellys'
hapless husband Arnie.
I have had two published, apart from short stories and poetry, in magazines
and anthologies.
Of all the
books you've written, do you have a favourite?
My first book I am obviously proud of, but my second I equally like, as it
is an evolution from the first.
Why did you
decide to write in the horror genre?
It is a genre that fits in well with my style.
What is the
hardest part of writing horror fiction?
Writing consistently strong stories.
What do you
enjoy most about writing in the horror genre?
Evil characters, in my first book, I have a character called Maggot, who
sells his own daughter.
Why did you
write this book? What was your inspiration?
I guess I have always been fascinated as well as fearful of death. There is also so much gloom in the media,
newspapers, and TV. It seems like we are going to be hit by some rogue planet or
be attacked by extremists.
What did you
enjoy most about writing your book?
I got to describe heaven, which in my story is a vast luxurious hotel.
What did you
find most challenging about writing your book?
Getting the story to flow. Creating a memorable ending.
What did you
hope to accomplish by publishing your book?
Too attract new readers and build up a body of work.
When did you
realize you wanted to be a writer?
In Paris I started writing short stories. I had some published a small
magazine called Rat Mort.
Can you tell
us about your writing process? Where do your ideas originate? Do you have a
certain writing routine?
I have an idea, which I hope to expand. I don’t really write a definite
outline, but at the same time my mind is calculating how
the story will evolve. With my first book, with one of my stories, I imagined a
character “Bugeyes” about a person with huge eyes and I wrote about all the
misfortunes that befall this character.
What’s your
next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?
I have a project called I am the Priest Killer.
***
Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation
What if a subspecies was to come into fruition, then the human race turned on it, hunted it down before trying to annihilate it? Imagine you found out you were an ancient soul, who is reunited with another being from your former life?
Set in a different time in a variety of settings and time periods, the past, the present, and the future, the book explores the inevitable unknown that lies before us all "death". Death can arrive in a multitude of forms. Each part of the book explores different themes. There are characters who following their demises have to face up to their lurid pasts. There some who face annihilation and others who are in a crazy pursuit of world destruction. We are living in an age in which it appears that the doomsday clock is ticking ever faster, as we teeter over the edge of world destruction. The book aims to contain some ironic twists. Even as young children we build up nightmare visions of what death involves. The reader is often left to distinguish between what is real and what is not, as stories reside within stories and the storytellers can never be fully trusted. Not all the book is doom and gloom, there are Elsa Grun's bizarre encounters with men and Shellys' hapless husband Arnie.
From secluded beach houses, to obscure motels, to visions of heaven, which takes the form of the Hotel Paradiso, to the world of the future death is always a wild adventure, that can't be ignored.
Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation is available at Amazon
Excerpt from Adventures of Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation
THE MASTER’S HOUSE
Part one
The strange goings on in the life of Amos Toft.
We had found her face down on the sand, as the tide closed in. The moon shed silvery light and there was a soft gentle offshore breeze that glanced our faces. We’d run out of our house, having seen torch light. They had left as quickly as they had arrived. There were sounds of horses, leaving at speed, shadowy figures, hooded, dressed like soldiers, soon fading into the horizon. We presumed she was dead and were relieved when she spluttered and coughed
and fought for breath.
“Let’s get her inside,” my wife said urgently. She was totally naked and had no possessions.
“Are you all right?” I demanded. She did not respond. I repeated myself again, there was just
the sound of her heavy labored breathing.
“She appears in terrible shock,” my wife said, as we helped her up. We draped one of her arms
over my wife’s shoulders while I propped the other. We struggled along the sand and then headed towards our small house, which looked over the large bay.
“What’s your name?” I asked, expecting by now she was in some kind of condition to speak.
Again no response, her eyes were fixed on the ground, she made no attempt to speak. We got her back to the house and sat her down on a couch.
What had happened? Why had she been left naked on the sand, as the tide came
in? What was going through her mind? My wife got a towel and offered it to her to clean her and cover her naked body.
“She will have to stay the night, it is late, at least she will be safe here,” my wife said before searching for some clothes. I hardly dared not look at her. She was evidently young, very beautiful, with long flaxen hair that cascaded down her back.
About the Author
Born in 1961, in Reading, England Francis H Powell attended Art Schools, receiving a degree in painting and an MA in printmaking. In 1995, Powell moved to Austria, teaching English as a foreign language while pursuing his varied artistic interests adding music and writing. He currently lives in Brittany, teaching English and history while writing both prose and poetry. Powell has published short stories in the magazine, “Rat Mort” and other works on the internet site "Multi-dimensions." His first was called “Flight of Destiny” while his most recent is called “Adventures of Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation.”
