Ask the Author: Philip Temple
Answered Questions (6)
Philip Temple
A few years ago, I asked myself, 'What novel shall I tackle next?' Through my interest in both environmental issues and politics and, as a consequence, a serious concern for the future of my five grand-children, I decided to write a novel that looked at what the future might look like if we carry on with 'business as usual'. That is, not taking enough action to counter and deal with climate change; not taking enough action to protect democracy in the face of the growing surveillance society we live in;not taking enough action to deal with depleting resources. The result has been MiSTORY, a speculative novel set in New Zealand around mid-century. Now I'm told it's a leading example of the 'cli-fi' genre. Read it and tell me what you think!
Philip Temple
I have been lucky that I have never been short of ideas for both novels and non-fiction - it's always been a question of discovering in myself which ones I have the most passion for, which ones I really want to explore.
Philip Temple
I'm just deeply involved in the marketing of my just published new novel MiSTORY (number 10) which I expect to be up as an e-book soon - look out for it. Am also researching and interviewing for a biography of the New Zealand author Maurice Shadbolt, a novelist, journalist and non-fiction writer who died 10 years ago now.
Philip Temple
Work hard and don't give up but, after a while, ask yourself honestly whether or not you have what it takes. If you decide 'yes' then workaday routines, deadlines (often self-imposed) are necessary to get the work finished.
Philip Temple
No one best thing but a variety of things - independence, learning about oneself, one's relationships and the world around you through the process of researching and writing. Writing books for me has been one long exploration of both the physical world and the world of ideas.
Philip Temple
Well, I very rarely have encountered this in over 50 years of having books published but, from the odd occasion when I have, I learned it's best to just leave it, sleep on it, look at it again the next day and if it is still no good, try something quite new.
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