Ask the Author: Simon Northouse
Answered Questions (8)
Simon Northouse
I don't really read books that have fictional worlds so I'll have to go back to my childhood.
I always loved the Wishing Chair and the Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. A wishing chair would come in very handy although it would probably come with a seat belt and an air bag these days.
I always loved the Wishing Chair and the Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. A wishing chair would come in very handy although it would probably come with a seat belt and an air bag these days.
Simon Northouse
Post-War Britain by Alan Sked. Sounds riveting... right? It is actually very good and I am reading it as research for my new series.
3 Seconds in Bogota by Nark Playne - which has had some good reviews and sounds really interesting.
The Divine Chronicles by Rob Radcliffe - looking forward to this one.
Spoiled Brats by Simon Rich
3 Seconds in Bogota by Nark Playne - which has had some good reviews and sounds really interesting.
The Divine Chronicles by Rob Radcliffe - looking forward to this one.
Spoiled Brats by Simon Rich
Simon Northouse
Well, my most recent "full-length" novel is "Catch A Shooting Star" which is book 2 in the series. So, I really need to answer the question to where I got the idea from for my first book, "Arc Of A Shooting Star". It is a rather long answer.
I’ll begin with a quick synopsis.
The main protagonist is Will Harding. He used to be in a hugely successful British rock band. His group “The Shooting Tsars” were on the cusp of international stardom when they had a bust-up with their record company and manager. The band split-up and went their separate ways.
The story begins ten years on from the band's demise. We learn that Will has been living as a virtual recluse in a remote part of England. A near-death experience makes him re-evaluate his solitary existence.
Shortly after his brush with death, he receives an unwelcome phone call from his deceitful ex-manager who is offering him a spot on a reunion tour with three other acts. Will has to try to find his dysfunctional bandmates and get them back together, (he also falls in love along the way).
It’s not too long before he realises that the tour is not what it seems and that rather than him being the master of his own destiny he is a pawn in someone else’s game. The book is part mystery, part action/adventure and seasoned with a good sprinkling of humour.
The basis for the story was born in actual events. There was a “real” band from the nineties who were on the verge of international stardom. They were a huge act in Britain and their star was really on the rise. However, they finally figured out that they had signed one of the worst record deals in history and took their record company to court to get out of the deal and find a new record company. In return, the record company slapped an injunction on the band which prevented them from playing live, recording or rehearsing together until the dispute was over.
The court case dragged on for about 18 months by which time the fickle vagaries of the music world had moved on to pastures new. The band made a commercially unpopular second album (which was actually damn good) but they’d lost the impetus they once had and the band split-up.
That chain of events was my main inspiration for the book but also, I’ve often wondered what happens to once successful people. When I say successful, I mean someone who was once a huge star for a short time. Do they live a life of regret and curse their brief blast of fame? Do they become bitter? Do they build a fantasy world around themselves and still believe they are famous? Or do they just slip into so-called “normal” life and get on with it? These things have always puzzled me.
This is where the title of the book came from. Arc of a shooting star is a metaphor for the trajectory of fame. It bursts into the night sky, dazzling all around, burning brightly and then, all too quickly, it is gone. The book, via its characters and plot, touch on some of these topics.
I’ll begin with a quick synopsis.
The main protagonist is Will Harding. He used to be in a hugely successful British rock band. His group “The Shooting Tsars” were on the cusp of international stardom when they had a bust-up with their record company and manager. The band split-up and went their separate ways.
The story begins ten years on from the band's demise. We learn that Will has been living as a virtual recluse in a remote part of England. A near-death experience makes him re-evaluate his solitary existence.
Shortly after his brush with death, he receives an unwelcome phone call from his deceitful ex-manager who is offering him a spot on a reunion tour with three other acts. Will has to try to find his dysfunctional bandmates and get them back together, (he also falls in love along the way).
It’s not too long before he realises that the tour is not what it seems and that rather than him being the master of his own destiny he is a pawn in someone else’s game. The book is part mystery, part action/adventure and seasoned with a good sprinkling of humour.
The basis for the story was born in actual events. There was a “real” band from the nineties who were on the verge of international stardom. They were a huge act in Britain and their star was really on the rise. However, they finally figured out that they had signed one of the worst record deals in history and took their record company to court to get out of the deal and find a new record company. In return, the record company slapped an injunction on the band which prevented them from playing live, recording or rehearsing together until the dispute was over.
The court case dragged on for about 18 months by which time the fickle vagaries of the music world had moved on to pastures new. The band made a commercially unpopular second album (which was actually damn good) but they’d lost the impetus they once had and the band split-up.
That chain of events was my main inspiration for the book but also, I’ve often wondered what happens to once successful people. When I say successful, I mean someone who was once a huge star for a short time. Do they live a life of regret and curse their brief blast of fame? Do they become bitter? Do they build a fantasy world around themselves and still believe they are famous? Or do they just slip into so-called “normal” life and get on with it? These things have always puzzled me.
This is where the title of the book came from. Arc of a shooting star is a metaphor for the trajectory of fame. It bursts into the night sky, dazzling all around, burning brightly and then, all too quickly, it is gone. The book, via its characters and plot, touch on some of these topics.
Simon Northouse
Usually through some real-life event. I'll listen to a news story, or maybe someone has told me about their life at a BBQ or party and I get that "lightbulb" moment. There's always something to pique my interest and then it's just a case of adding a few "what if's" and running with it. Sometimes it blooms and other times it wilts and dies.
Simon Northouse
Without sounding glib, the writing part. As a writer, there is a whole heap of other things you have to do apart from writing. Marketing, newsletters, advertising, managing social media, getting cover art done ... the list is endless. I spend as much time on this side as writing.
All I really want to do is sit down at the keyboard and get my stories onto the page ... that's when I'm really happy.
All I really want to do is sit down at the keyboard and get my stories onto the page ... that's when I'm really happy.
Simon Northouse
I am working on the third instalment of "The Shooting Star" series. The book is called "Fall Of A Shooting Star" and it will be the last in the series - at least for a while. The Shooting Tsars rock band is in a state of stasis due to the events that unfolded in book 2. Will Harding, once again, has to make tough decisions to help his friends out of some serious predicaments. There will be the usual elements of humour, intrigue and misadventure that befall the characters.
Simon Northouse
As a "new kid on the block," I'm not sure I'm really in a position to offer advice. But, if push comes to shove, I'd say, enjoy your writing. If you ever feel that you're becoming bored with a character or passage in your book then stop and have a rethink. If you, as the writer, is bored then imagine how a reader would feel.
Simon Northouse
Luckily, I haven't yet encountered writer's block but when I do I will be here to let you know.
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