Q. Every book has its own story about how it came to be conceived and written as it did. How did Eden evolve? (No pun intended, but since I like puns, I’m leaving it in there anyway.)
A. Ha! I like it. Well, I can remember when the notion of Eden hit me, and I still have the notebook I snapped up and started scribbling with notes. I was in New York towards the end of a great trip visiting set of The Silence (in Toronto), staying with Christopher Golden (near Boston), and finally a couple of days of meetings and sightseeing in NY. I was in my room after a nice meal and a few drinks with my agent, and the idea of Eden hit me all at once––the landscape, the adventure racers, the idea of nature establishing itself again. It wasn’t quite that ‘whole novel in one idea’ moment that some writers talk about, but it was the basic concept and theme, and from there I built the rest of the novel. Subconsciously it was writing a novel based on something I love (endurance sport) and something that frightens me (climate change). Sometimes, bringing two ideas or themes together can really help.
Q. Though written as an action-adventure gone wrong, Eden is a thoughtful look at the future of our planet’s ecology, positing plausible solutions to modern day problems. Are there any particular audiences you hope will connect with this story? That said, do you write with any particular audience in mind?
A. I don’t really write with an audience in mind. I write the novel I want to read, and my hope is I’m one of many! I always hope my work will find an audience, and over the years I have probably built a small core of readers who like most of my work. But at the same time I try not to restrict myself to ‘what my readers might want or expect next’. I hope Eden will find a good audience because I think it’s one of my best novels, but that’s pretty much out of my hands now. And in the era of Coronavirus and lockdown, the fate of a newly released novel is hazy at best.
Q. Are you a pantser (someone who writes by the seat of their pants) or a plotter?
A. More a pantser than a plotter. Although each project is different. If I’m collaborating on a novel we’ll tend to plan a bit more first. My current new novel (tentative title: Fall), I planned quite a bit before starting writing, but it’s curious that I’ve only looked at the plan notes a few times even though I’m 50,000 words in. I think for me, even writing lots of notes on a novel is just me mentally circling before I start in, and not necessarily me actually planning. It’s … complicated, I guess! Generally though I much prefer the more organic approach––set sail and see where the ship take me.
Q. It’s known that you keep a fairly structured schedule for your daily writing, focusing on words from 9 to 2, then the less creative side of the business for the rest of your work day. Do you have any tips for authors trying to adopt a similar framework?
A. Honesty, everyone is different. I have a friend who does social media and business in the morning, coffee at 11, lunch, then starts work early afternoon and works into the evening. I have another friend who writes from 7am and is finished by midday. My approach suits me and my family, but if I had TOTAL freedom I’d likely get up, make tea and start by 7:30. The longer a day goes without me getting some words down, the tougher I find it. I love writing … but I find it really f•••••g hard, too. And sometimes there are many distractions to tear me away from the page.
Q. With COVID-19 upending the daily lives of millions, if not more, how are you coping with living in what feels like it could be the preamble to one of your own novels?