The
DMS was lucky enough to interview Kurt Chambers. Lizzy reviewed The Wrath of Siren, the second book in his Truth Teller
series and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours!
We're excited to learn a little more about his story. So, without further
ado... take it away, Kurt!
The Wrath of Siren
is Book Two in the Truth Teller series. How was writing it different from
writing the first book?
In all honesty, it
was exactly the same. When I first started writing I was a complete novice. Truth Teller and The Wrath of Siren were originally one book when I first wrote this
series. A middle grade novel that was about 125,000 words, how funny! I had no
idea there was a problem with that. Once I joined a writing forum and started
to learn stuff, I split it into two separate novels.
How long did it take you to write The Wrath of Siren? Will there be a
third book? (We want one!)
It took me about
two years to write. Having to live in real life and support a family didn't
leave me much time. I would sit in my builder’s van on my breaks and scribble
into a little notebook, then type it up in the evening when I got home.
Yes, I have a
third book in this series, Favian's Law.
I am planning to release this title some time later this year and then publish
a special edition with all three books in one. I have already received a very
reasonable quote from a friend/editor, so the ball is rolling I'm pleased to
say.
Siren is definitely a villain we wouldn’t want to
meet! What was your inspiration for his character?
I would have to
say, Terry Brooks, was my greatest inspiration. I love the way he writes, he is
a master at what he does. His Shannara books are my favourite fantasy series.
In the 2nd book we get to catch up with some characters we've grown to love, but there are many new characters
too. Who was your favorite new character? Why?
This is an easy
one. Guff, the talking troll. I had a lot of fun creating this character. He
reminds me a little bit of, Ludo, a big scary monster of a creature from the
film, Labyrinth by David Bowie, but
is actually gentle and kind, willing to risk his own life for the good of
others. Guff is a legend.
Charlotte and Elderfield both go through a lot of
intense experiences in this book. If you had to give either of them words of
advice what would you tell them at the end of this book (no spoilers, of
course)?
Beware of unusual
strangers. And don't forget to use the bathroom before you go out! Enough said.
lol
Do you have a writing schedule that you follow?
What do you do to when you get writer’s block?
I found over the
years that I'm not like most writers. I have no schedule, I just write when I
want to write. If I get writer's block I find it easier to get over if you
don't stress out about it. Don't ever beat yourself up, all that will do is
stress you out more and make it even harder. I try to write a little bit, even
if it's just a line or two, but if nothing comes to me, I just won't write. Try
again another day when I have more of a head on for it. In the meantime, I just
run ideas over in my head. Sometimes, something pops in there that gets you all
excited and you're off again!
You have
recently published Unknown Reality, a
sci-fi adventure. Can you tell us a bit more about your latest book?
Yes! How very
excited I am too. After only twenty submissions I got a reply from a top UK
publishing agent saying there was so much about this story that she loved and
how sorry she was it was a near miss from her. Just GETTING a reply from an
agent is a result these days with their no interest, no reply policy. After
much deliberation though, I decided to publish it myself in order to keep a
happy medium between my writing and real life.
I also get to aim
my new book at a whole new audience: Science fiction fans. Up until now I have
only been known as a fantasy author. Here is a blurb of the story.
Blurb...
Eleven-year-old
Chloe gasps in awe at the magical splendour of a theatre performance, but her
excitement soon vanishes during an autograph hunt and an encounter with the
baddie from the show. His unbelievable claim of a flawed universe freaks her
out. This starts a chain of unexplainable events that threaten to destroy the
only reality Chloe has ever known.
Then one
night...they come for her.
Claiming to be her
friends, the Scientists try to persuade Chloe her life was some kind of
experiment that went horribly wrong, and a computer virus left her with no
memory of this alien planet. Struggling to come to terms with a world she doesn’t
understand, she is kidnapped from the futuristic outstation by a clan of
Savages that live out in the wilderness. When confronted by a father and
brother she never knew she had, she is torn between two cultures, none of which
she wishes to be part of. All she wants is return to the only family she knew;
a family that never really existed.
Are you currently working on a book? If so, can you
tell us a little bit about it?
Yeah, I have
nearly completed a story I have been working on for a long time. It's called, The World in Johnny's Back Garden. I
wanted a story that gave children an alternative view of all living things. I
was originally going to write a set of adventure stories from the point of view
of different living things you would find in an English garden, a mouse, a
dandelion, an ant, a tree. You get the idea. But this proved to be too
difficult. Then my youngest daughter insisted I read a book she was working on
at school called, Feather Boy. It was
a kind of strange contemporary story, but gave me an idea for a starting point
for my story. I wrote a whole plot for my book and just started writing it. I
have no idea of what reaction I will get; it's quite a strange story.
I posted the first
chapter on my blog as it works quite well as a short story for anyone who
is interested.
I was also working
on another book called, Lost Childhood.
This is another strange story about a young boy, Charlie, who gets a talking
teddy from his dad. Again, I have the whole plot for this book and even started
writing it, but then the film, Ted,
came out. Admittedly, the story is completely different, just a case of bad
timing so I shelved this one for now.
Where can we
purchase your books?
Truth Teller and The Wrath
of Siren can be purchased here...(Truth Teller is free)
Unknown Reality can be purchased here...
Again, this can
also be found in all major book retailers.