Ask the Author: Anthony Bidulka
Answered Questions (12)
Anthony Bidulka
Hi Cybercrone
The issue if I understand your message correctly is that the eBooks are in PDF format rather than a more eReader-friendly format?
It could be that your library has somehow gotten a hold of unofficial versions of these ebooks.
The bad news is that the publisher of the Russell Quant books ceased operations several years ago and therefore cannot resolve this issue. Authors have very little power in correcting issues you've encountered and the existence of (potentially) bootleg versions of books.
The good news is that rights for the series have now reverted back to me. I am currently in the process of planning a re-release of the entire series which would include paperback, eBooks and likely audiobook versions as well. Currently the target re-release date for the series is May 1, 2026.
I realize this doesn't help you right now and I'm very sorry about that. I hate to disappoint readers, but am doing my best to make things right again.
Thanks for reading about Russell. I hope this unfortunate experience hasn't soured you on the series.
The issue if I understand your message correctly is that the eBooks are in PDF format rather than a more eReader-friendly format?
It could be that your library has somehow gotten a hold of unofficial versions of these ebooks.
The bad news is that the publisher of the Russell Quant books ceased operations several years ago and therefore cannot resolve this issue. Authors have very little power in correcting issues you've encountered and the existence of (potentially) bootleg versions of books.
The good news is that rights for the series have now reverted back to me. I am currently in the process of planning a re-release of the entire series which would include paperback, eBooks and likely audiobook versions as well. Currently the target re-release date for the series is May 1, 2026.
I realize this doesn't help you right now and I'm very sorry about that. I hate to disappoint readers, but am doing my best to make things right again.
Thanks for reading about Russell. I hope this unfortunate experience hasn't soured you on the series.
Anthony Bidulka
Hello.
Fiction is fiction, and I do at times veer toward an idealized version of how I'd like the world to be and how I believe it can be if we all just try a little harder and be kinder to one another. I am a self-admitted optimist.
I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and have a great deal of experience with small towns. Indeed, growing up different in a small town can have its challenges. I had problems, believe me. Yet, throughout my career, I have often been invited to small towns to present my work and I have always been wonderfully surprised at how welcoming, accepting and generally interested people have been. Perhaps my idealized version is coming to pass? :)
I chuckled when you mentioned party lines. I remember my mother becoming a little vexed (but usually more amused) when she suspected someone was listening in on a call.
Fiction is fiction, and I do at times veer toward an idealized version of how I'd like the world to be and how I believe it can be if we all just try a little harder and be kinder to one another. I am a self-admitted optimist.
I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and have a great deal of experience with small towns. Indeed, growing up different in a small town can have its challenges. I had problems, believe me. Yet, throughout my career, I have often been invited to small towns to present my work and I have always been wonderfully surprised at how welcoming, accepting and generally interested people have been. Perhaps my idealized version is coming to pass? :)
I chuckled when you mentioned party lines. I remember my mother becoming a little vexed (but usually more amused) when she suspected someone was listening in on a call.
Anthony Bidulka
You are correct, there is no such thing as a pad of butter. I've used it here as a bit of a nod to the oft used term 'pad' (instead of pat) that I heard growing up, so much so that I thought it was pad until adulthood. :)
Anthony Bidulka
Hi. Thanks for the question. One of my main goals as a writer is to tell stories about underrepresented people and places in an accessible and hopefully entertaining way. Livingsky will be my 13th book and of those 13 ten feature lgbtq+ characters.
Anthony Bidulka
Oh, interesting....well the one I've thought about often wasn't specifically about me but about my grandmother's sisters. Across the road from the farmyard where I grew up is a small country church with a cemetery. Although my grandmother lived a long and happy life, in the cemetery are the plots for her two sisters who died under mysterious circumstances when they were just 16 and 17. The story I heard was that one drowned in only three feet of water, and the other soon after from grief. My grandmother never clarified the story and there seemed to be a shroud of mystery and obfuscation around the whole thing. I think this has good bones for a great mystery novel.
Anthony Bidulka
Well, here is a question that had me stumped for a while. It made me realize that I read a lot of books with Un-coupled protagonists. And looking at my own writing I tend to write about main characters who are not in current relationships, have fallen out of one, or who are not actively seeking one. With Russell Quant I intentionally wanted to investigate the possibility that living single and happy in your 30s is an acceptable lifestyle option.
All that being said, looking at some of the fictional couple I've enjoyed in books, I do enjoy reading about the relationship of Mma Precious Ramotswe and Mr. JLB Matekone. I also think Ron and Hermione from the Potter books are a cool couple too.
All that being said, looking at some of the fictional couple I've enjoyed in books, I do enjoy reading about the relationship of Mma Precious Ramotswe and Mr. JLB Matekone. I also think Ron and Hermione from the Potter books are a cool couple too.
Anthony Bidulka
Hello Renesansni,
Thank you for your kind words. As a writer I always hope that people will enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them.
Indeed, this was a shift in genre for me, one which I quite enjoyed. I am currently working on another stand alone suspense novel which I hope to release sometime in 2017.
Thank you for being a reader!
Best
Anthony
Thank you for your kind words. As a writer I always hope that people will enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them.
Indeed, this was a shift in genre for me, one which I quite enjoyed. I am currently working on another stand alone suspense novel which I hope to release sometime in 2017.
Thank you for being a reader!
Best
Anthony
Anthony Bidulka
Getting ready for the September release of my first stand-alone suspense novel, Set Free. And when I'm not working on that, I'm starting on my new novel, tentatively called Lone Cay.
Anthony Bidulka
Hello Francesca,
It's wonderful to hear about how much you are enjoying Russell Quant. Thank you for that.
As far as the similarities between Russell's character and my own, I'd say 60-70% of Russell is inspired by how I approach life, most particularly in his humor, optimism, and love of travel. But in many circumstances we are quite different, mainly in how we approach relationships and careers.
Like any character I write in this or the Adam Saint series, he is an amalgamation born of many inspirations.
Thanks for the question.
It's wonderful to hear about how much you are enjoying Russell Quant. Thank you for that.
As far as the similarities between Russell's character and my own, I'd say 60-70% of Russell is inspired by how I approach life, most particularly in his humor, optimism, and love of travel. But in many circumstances we are quite different, mainly in how we approach relationships and careers.
Like any character I write in this or the Adam Saint series, he is an amalgamation born of many inspirations.
Thanks for the question.
Anthony Bidulka
Hi Nada,
Indeed it would be. And not so far out of the realm of possibility.
The series has a long history with this. The series has twice been optioned for TV/Movie development. There have been a number of interesting projects developed, even going as far as casting discussions. I know very little about the TV/Movie business except what I've learned through this process. Things tend to happen at the speed of light or glacially slow (from the author's perspective). The reality is that for the books that are fortunate enough to be optioned, most never move to development. In the meantime it is a quite exciting prospect and I've had the opportunity to be in some very interesting meetings.
I take heart in that, pretty much since book 4 or 5, there has been constant interest in turning the Quant books into a visual medium of some kind. As with many things, it would take the meeting of the right people at the right time on the right project. I never say never. Magic can happen. Thanks for thinking so too!
Indeed it would be. And not so far out of the realm of possibility.
The series has a long history with this. The series has twice been optioned for TV/Movie development. There have been a number of interesting projects developed, even going as far as casting discussions. I know very little about the TV/Movie business except what I've learned through this process. Things tend to happen at the speed of light or glacially slow (from the author's perspective). The reality is that for the books that are fortunate enough to be optioned, most never move to development. In the meantime it is a quite exciting prospect and I've had the opportunity to be in some very interesting meetings.
I take heart in that, pretty much since book 4 or 5, there has been constant interest in turning the Quant books into a visual medium of some kind. As with many things, it would take the meeting of the right people at the right time on the right project. I never say never. Magic can happen. Thanks for thinking so too!
Anthony Bidulka
The best thing was the most unexpected: the relationship and communication with readers. It is still amazing to me that someone - other than my mom - not only reads my work, but then takes the time to send me a message or email to tell me what they thought, what the book meant to them, what was happening in their lives when they were reading it, how they laughed or cried or thought differently about something. Truly a wonderful thing. Thanks readers!
Anthony Bidulka
Get involved with other writers, writing organizations, writer's clubs. Find PLUs - People Like U. It will help. And when you learn and begin to find success, turn around and do the same for other aspiring writers.
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