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Interview – J.G. Harlond

– When did you start writing novels, what moved you to start writing?

Like many authors, I was writing stories at a very young age, mostly about haunted houses I think. Completing a novel, however, didn’t happen until middle-age and even then, it got stuffed in a drawer. It was years before I could accept that my first published novel was actually finished and (possibly) good enough for readers.

– In what genres do you write? Do you plan writing in other genres?

Well, I tend break modern rules about genres in that I cross bookshop boundaries. The Chosen Man Trilogy falls into classic historical fiction in that it is based on real events in the 17th century, but it also includes elements of romance and crime fiction, and I’ve seen it described recently as a thriller and even ‘nautical fiction’. I call it ‘historical crime’. This neatly describes Local Resistance, too, which is a Second World War murder mystery. It’s a cosy crime and black comedy based on real events, although frankly those events are hard to credit. The Empress Emerald is perhaps more literary than my other books, but it too crosses genres – basically it’s historical crime with espionage. The odd one out is The Doomsong Sword, which is classic fantasy based on part of the ancient Volsung Saga. I intend to write a sequel to The Doomsong Sword, but for now I’m committed to a WWII crime series.

– Tell us about your books. Why should everyone buy them?

I think readers who like a bit of a challenge in their reading enjoy my books. As in all crime stories there is a puzzle to solve, but mine are not just ‘who-dunnits’ there’s an aspect of ‘why-dunnit’ as well. Humour is a very personal thing, but there is humour in my stories, and plenty of action. Ultimately, they each contain curious bits of history so there’s the value-added of learning about the past as well.

– What is your all-time favorite historical fiction novel? What makes it special?

My all-time favourite has to be Dorothy Dunnett’s House of Niccolò series. These books have it all: historical fiction at its best.

– Tell us a bit about your writing process.

As a full-time author, I treat my fiction writing as an enjoyable job. My desktop computer is switched on before breakfast for emails and so on, then I work through the morning until it’s time to feed an aging horse at midday. This means I’m always out of the house for an hour or so each day, which can be a valuable pocket of time: I often have an OMG moment while I’m shifting hay or filling water buckets when I realise there’s a hole in a plot or something missing from dialogue. Then, depending on deadlines and motivation, I work through the afternoon until I can barely see the computer screen.

– What author would you love to have dinner with?

T.H White of The Once and Future King, to discuss how he wove fantasy into history, or Margaret Attwood to discuss life the world and everything.

– Tell us about your hobbies and passions other than writing.

There have been horses in my life for a very long time, we only have one left now, after three generations, but I also help care for a friend’s youngstock, which keeps me happy, sane and healthy away from my desk.

– We have many followers who would like to start writing a book or are already writing their first novel, any advice for these brave people?

First and foremost, decide why you are writing. If it’s to make money, take sound advice on marketing before you complete the book. If it is for personal satisfaction or simply because it’s what you do – enjoy it. My best advice is to set up a chat group of like-minded writer friends, people whose work you respect. Read each other’s early drafts, shares woes and successes, and benefit from the mutual support this offers.

– Do you keep a notebook with ideas for your novels? If so do you carry the notebook with you so you won’t forget any ideas?

I have an entire bookshelf of A4 notebooks; some are filled with research; some are early draft scribblings and character back-stories. I love notebooks, the more attractive the cover the better. I also have small notebooks in the kitchen and sitting room, in my bag and by my bed – and bits of paper with scraps of dialogue or cunning plot twists all over the house.

– How important is it to have your facts right and are there any instances when you bend history to fit your story?

Getting facts and dates right is essential in historical fiction, but there is still room for the ‘what if?’ factor. I do a lot of background reading and take great care over setting and location, but I don’t let this rule the story. Although, in my case, what actually happened, for example in the Dutch tulip bubble or when Queen Henrietta Maria was pawning and selling the English Crown jewels . . . well, there’s not much need to invent anything extra.

– What are you reading at the moment?

A wartime memoir by Ann Glyn-Jones about decoding encrypted messages – it’s for my next murder mystery. It’s also an excellent read.

– How is it to be an author in your country? Do you have a good support from the local public?

Being an English-speaking author in rural Andalucía, Spain, means nobody is remotely interested in what I do, and even though one of my (true) stories is translated into Spanish very few people actually read here, anyway. So, no support from the local community – maybe a bit of suspicion or curiosity, though.

– Have you had any interesting episodes as an author, fans related or others, share one of them with us.

My favourite and most grounding comment came from one of my sisters-in-law when I said I had a new publisher and was going to write full-time. She looked at me with raised eyebrows and said, “What do you want to complicate life doing that for?” A question I frequently ask myself.

– A final message for our circleofbooks.com readers.

If you have enjoyed a book, please leave a review on the relevant retailer’s website and recommend it to a friend. Knowing a reader has enjoyed or benefited in some way from reading one’s work is worth gold to an author.

Thank you J.G. Harlond. We at circleofbooks.com wish you much success!

Click here to visit the author’s page here on circleofbooks.com

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