Interview with GL Wilson, author of Campion's Choice
12:30 AMAn exclusive interview
with author GL Wilson
Doodles, doodles everywhere congratulates author GL Wilson on the release of Campion's Choice, Book One! Let's welcome him on the blog for an interview with DDE today. Read on!
1. What inspired you to write Campion's Choice?
Firstly, hi Aparna and thanks for having me along to your blog. It's a great way to find out about new books! So, what inspired me to write Campion's Choice. Well, two things - blurry photos and my love of fantasy. Blurry photos got me thinking about what if a picture could predict the future or reveal the secrets of the past? The next thing I knew I was writing about aliens!
2. Can you give the readers an idea about what they should expect in Campion's Choice?
Well, first off, readers can expect a good, fast paced, entertaining story. What else? Although my books is a fantasy - yes, there are aliens - you should expect to meet real kids (Jack, Tia and Liam) who just happen to be caught up in strange events. Expect to ask yourself what would you do if you had a coin that gave you super powers and found out that we are not alone in the a universe. Expect mystery, humour and adventure.
3. Do you decide the character traits before you sit down to write the book/series, or as you write?
It's fifty-fifty. I like to plot and plan books very carefully but, when the writing starts, you have to expect the unexpected. Some of my characters surprise me as much as they surprise my readers. They do things I just did not see coming! (Especially Ursula and Max Strang).
4. Can you tell us what kind of research went behind the book/series?
I've been lucky enough to travel a lot and the Campion Quartet takes place all over the planet. Tia, Jack and Gidean find themselves in India in Book Two. For Book One I did a lot of research into meteorites. Did you know that all the gold and precious metal on Earth were brought here by meteorites? Also, Campion's Choice is set in the City of Cambridge which means all of my time wandering the streets, or visiting friends who work at the famous colleges and having dinner at High Table is actually research.
5. If you had to pick one favorite character from the book, who would you pick and why?
It's a hard choice. Elvis or Clamp. I feel very affectionately towards both of them. I want people to laugh at hem. But, given that I was a teacher I have to admit my favourite character has to be Clamp.
6. Tell us about some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your writing journey till now.
The biggest challenge has been to have your writing admired but never quite pulling off a real success. I had an agent for years and spent hours with editors and at publishers working on books that either never saw the light of day or sold in reasonable, but not great, numbers. At the end of the day books have to make money. Constantly being told you are a good writer isn't enough and sometimes doesn't put food on the table. However, if you are a writer, no matter what setbacks come along, you have to keep writing.
7. What is your writing routine like?
Write in the winter. Research in the summer. I can't bear to be inside on sunny days. Equally writing is the only thing that gets me through English winters.
8. Do you have any rejection stories to share?
I sent out a manuscript and a top agent asked to see me. I drove across the country to Oxford and waited patiently outside the great man's office. He called me in. 'Geoff,' he said, 'you are a really good writer. The trouble is, this story isn't for me. Go away and find your story.'
That was it. I shook his hand and left to find my story.
9. What's next?
Campion's Change - Book Two in The Campion Quartet.
10. Lastly, any special thoughts for the readers?
I have always believed that to give people words is to give them the world. The Campion Quartet is a journey around the world. Hop on board and enjoy the ride.
1. What inspired you to write Campion's Choice?
Firstly, hi Aparna and thanks for having me along to your blog. It's a great way to find out about new books! So, what inspired me to write Campion's Choice. Well, two things - blurry photos and my love of fantasy. Blurry photos got me thinking about what if a picture could predict the future or reveal the secrets of the past? The next thing I knew I was writing about aliens!
2. Can you give the readers an idea about what they should expect in Campion's Choice?
Well, first off, readers can expect a good, fast paced, entertaining story. What else? Although my books is a fantasy - yes, there are aliens - you should expect to meet real kids (Jack, Tia and Liam) who just happen to be caught up in strange events. Expect to ask yourself what would you do if you had a coin that gave you super powers and found out that we are not alone in the a universe. Expect mystery, humour and adventure.
3. Do you decide the character traits before you sit down to write the book/series, or as you write?
It's fifty-fifty. I like to plot and plan books very carefully but, when the writing starts, you have to expect the unexpected. Some of my characters surprise me as much as they surprise my readers. They do things I just did not see coming! (Especially Ursula and Max Strang).
4. Can you tell us what kind of research went behind the book/series?
I've been lucky enough to travel a lot and the Campion Quartet takes place all over the planet. Tia, Jack and Gidean find themselves in India in Book Two. For Book One I did a lot of research into meteorites. Did you know that all the gold and precious metal on Earth were brought here by meteorites? Also, Campion's Choice is set in the City of Cambridge which means all of my time wandering the streets, or visiting friends who work at the famous colleges and having dinner at High Table is actually research.
5. If you had to pick one favorite character from the book, who would you pick and why?
It's a hard choice. Elvis or Clamp. I feel very affectionately towards both of them. I want people to laugh at hem. But, given that I was a teacher I have to admit my favourite character has to be Clamp.
6. Tell us about some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your writing journey till now.
The biggest challenge has been to have your writing admired but never quite pulling off a real success. I had an agent for years and spent hours with editors and at publishers working on books that either never saw the light of day or sold in reasonable, but not great, numbers. At the end of the day books have to make money. Constantly being told you are a good writer isn't enough and sometimes doesn't put food on the table. However, if you are a writer, no matter what setbacks come along, you have to keep writing.
7. What is your writing routine like?
Write in the winter. Research in the summer. I can't bear to be inside on sunny days. Equally writing is the only thing that gets me through English winters.
8. Do you have any rejection stories to share?
I sent out a manuscript and a top agent asked to see me. I drove across the country to Oxford and waited patiently outside the great man's office. He called me in. 'Geoff,' he said, 'you are a really good writer. The trouble is, this story isn't for me. Go away and find your story.'
That was it. I shook his hand and left to find my story.
9. What's next?
Campion's Change - Book Two in The Campion Quartet.
10. Lastly, any special thoughts for the readers?
I have always believed that to give people words is to give them the world. The Campion Quartet is a journey around the world. Hop on board and enjoy the ride.
Firstly, hi Aparna and thanks for having me along to your blog. It's a great way to find out about new books! So, what inspired me to write Campion's Choice. Well, two things - blurry photos and my love of fantasy. Blurry photos got me thinking about what if a picture could predict the future or reveal the secrets of the past? The next thing I knew I was writing about aliens!
2. Can you give the readers an idea about what they should expect in Campion's Choice?
Well, first off, readers can expect a good, fast paced, entertaining story. What else? Although my books is a fantasy - yes, there are aliens - you should expect to meet real kids (Jack, Tia and Liam) who just happen to be caught up in strange events. Expect to ask yourself what would you do if you had a coin that gave you super powers and found out that we are not alone in the a universe. Expect mystery, humour and adventure.
3. Do you decide the character traits before you sit down to write the book/series, or as you write?
It's fifty-fifty. I like to plot and plan books very carefully but, when the writing starts, you have to expect the unexpected. Some of my characters surprise me as much as they surprise my readers. They do things I just did not see coming! (Especially Ursula and Max Strang).
4. Can you tell us what kind of research went behind the book/series?
I've been lucky enough to travel a lot and the Campion Quartet takes place all over the planet. Tia, Jack and Gidean find themselves in India in Book Two. For Book One I did a lot of research into meteorites. Did you know that all the gold and precious metal on Earth were brought here by meteorites? Also, Campion's Choice is set in the City of Cambridge which means all of my time wandering the streets, or visiting friends who work at the famous colleges and having dinner at High Table is actually research.
5. If you had to pick one favorite character from the book, who would you pick and why?
It's a hard choice. Elvis or Clamp. I feel very affectionately towards both of them. I want people to laugh at hem. But, given that I was a teacher I have to admit my favourite character has to be Clamp.
6. Tell us about some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your writing journey till now.
The biggest challenge has been to have your writing admired but never quite pulling off a real success. I had an agent for years and spent hours with editors and at publishers working on books that either never saw the light of day or sold in reasonable, but not great, numbers. At the end of the day books have to make money. Constantly being told you are a good writer isn't enough and sometimes doesn't put food on the table. However, if you are a writer, no matter what setbacks come along, you have to keep writing.
7. What is your writing routine like?
Write in the winter. Research in the summer. I can't bear to be inside on sunny days. Equally writing is the only thing that gets me through English winters.
8. Do you have any rejection stories to share?
I sent out a manuscript and a top agent asked to see me. I drove across the country to Oxford and waited patiently outside the great man's office. He called me in. 'Geoff,' he said, 'you are a really good writer. The trouble is, this story isn't for me. Go away and find your story.'
That was it. I shook his hand and left to find my story.
9. What's next?
Campion's Change - Book Two in The Campion Quartet.
10. Lastly, any special thoughts for the readers?
I have always believed that to give people words is to give them the world. The Campion Quartet is a journey around the world. Hop on board and enjoy the ride.
Campion's Choice:
How to take a picture of the future
(Book #1)
by GL Wilson
Coins that have magical properties. Aliens. Scorpions. Attempted murder. Elvis alive and well and driving a moped. What more could you want? Mystery, adventure, fantasy? Look no further. Step right up and enjoy the show. This is Campion's Choice.
Jack Campion was just an ordinary thirteen year old kid - well, maybe not that ordinary, not after the Dadster's accident - so ok, ordinary or not, the last thing he was expecting was all that whooshy stuff in the air raid shelter.
And Tia Cole had a normal thirteen year old life - with her blind, piano playing mum and her irritating younger brother - and she was not expecting to end up, in a wood, fighting for her life against every animal that has ever wanted to eat a person.
If only Clamp hadn't mentioned the Deathstalker. If only the Nomas had found the meteorite. If only Gidean St-George wasn't such a pain in the neck. Things might have been different.
But they weren't different. So expect the extraordinary - expect Aliens, magic coins, sabre toothed tigers and the occasional bit of walking through walls. That way you won't be disappointed.
This is Jack's story - just don't tell Tia.
Jack Campion was just an ordinary thirteen year old kid - well, maybe not that ordinary, not after the Dadster's accident - so ok, ordinary or not, the last thing he was expecting was all that whooshy stuff in the air raid shelter.
And Tia Cole had a normal thirteen year old life - with her blind, piano playing mum and her irritating younger brother - and she was not expecting to end up, in a wood, fighting for her life against every animal that has ever wanted to eat a person.
If only Clamp hadn't mentioned the Deathstalker. If only the Nomas had found the meteorite. If only Gidean St-George wasn't such a pain in the neck. Things might have been different.
But they weren't different. So expect the extraordinary - expect Aliens, magic coins, sabre toothed tigers and the occasional bit of walking through walls. That way you won't be disappointed.
This is Jack's story - just don't tell Tia.
About the author
And he taught English. (But is not fussy about starting sentences with And).
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