Ask the Author: Tom Williams
Answered Questions (8)
Tom Williams
He turned on his computer. Goodreads had questions for him.
Tom Williams
I appreciated your review. I don't see Williamson as a 'whiter-than-white' character myself and his religious bent is one of his many contradictions as, of course, at the time homosexuality was considered a sin, but I can see why you think as you do.
Williamson was first introduced purely as a narrator but his role grew. The sequel, 'Cawnpore' was written around him and I hope you find him a more developed character there.
All-in-all, I can see why you gave it three stars (which is fine on Goodreads). I'd be happy to see the review on Amazon, but please be aware that Amazon considers a three star review "negative" and a lot of people are reluctant to buy books with less than a four-star average. The rating you give it is, of course, up to you, but I'd appreciate it if you bear that in mind.
Williamson was first introduced purely as a narrator but his role grew. The sequel, 'Cawnpore' was written around him and I hope you find him a more developed character there.
All-in-all, I can see why you gave it three stars (which is fine on Goodreads). I'd be happy to see the review on Amazon, but please be aware that Amazon considers a three star review "negative" and a lot of people are reluctant to buy books with less than a four-star average. The rating you give it is, of course, up to you, but I'd appreciate it if you bear that in mind.
Tom Williams
Between books or within them? The Burke books are written out of sequence, so I have a written timeline which marks off when each happened, so that I don't have him in two places at once. It's trickier than you'd think.
Within my books, each one (except for 'Back Home') is written around actual historical events, so I have 'fixed points' where I know the hero must be in a particular place at a particular time. For example, in 'Burke at Waterloo', we know he's going to end up on the battlefield on 18 June. I have to plot exactly where he'll be on other days around the fixed historical events. You have to write it down in advance, otherwise you end up with impossible time-frames. (I have allowed favourable winds to help me out of a tight spot on occasion - journey times in the 19th-century, especially if involving sea travel, were very variable.)
The trickiest one was in 'Cawnpore' where there is a minor character who our hero helps escape from being killed by the mutineers. He was a real person and we have detailed accounts of exactly where he was on a day by day basis. My poor hero was continually galloping from one side of Cawnpore to the other so that he could be helping the prisoner at times when he could credibly have been there and carrying out brave deeds on the other side of town in between. It was like doing a particularly tricky jigsaw puzzle with slightly bendy pieces. And, given that nobody will even have heard of this prisoner, I doubt that one reader in a thousand will notice – but it was part of the fun of doing historical fiction.
Within my books, each one (except for 'Back Home') is written around actual historical events, so I have 'fixed points' where I know the hero must be in a particular place at a particular time. For example, in 'Burke at Waterloo', we know he's going to end up on the battlefield on 18 June. I have to plot exactly where he'll be on other days around the fixed historical events. You have to write it down in advance, otherwise you end up with impossible time-frames. (I have allowed favourable winds to help me out of a tight spot on occasion - journey times in the 19th-century, especially if involving sea travel, were very variable.)
The trickiest one was in 'Cawnpore' where there is a minor character who our hero helps escape from being killed by the mutineers. He was a real person and we have detailed accounts of exactly where he was on a day by day basis. My poor hero was continually galloping from one side of Cawnpore to the other so that he could be helping the prisoner at times when he could credibly have been there and carrying out brave deeds on the other side of town in between. It was like doing a particularly tricky jigsaw puzzle with slightly bendy pieces. And, given that nobody will even have heard of this prisoner, I doubt that one reader in a thousand will notice – but it was part of the fun of doing historical fiction.
Tom Williams
A publishing contract is a great motivator!
I write historical novels. I will read about something or visit somewhere or see something in a museum and I get to wondering about the history behind whatever I am reading or looking at and the ideas grow.
I read a lot of books written in or about the 19th century.
I write historical novels. I will read about something or visit somewhere or see something in a museum and I get to wondering about the history behind whatever I am reading or looking at and the ideas grow.
I read a lot of books written in or about the 19th century.
Tom Williams
Do something else for a while. Answering questions online can help.
Tom Williams
I love writing, but it's harder work than people think and it's very unlikely to make you money. If you have to ask the question, writing is probably not for you: it's not a great career choice. In the end, I write because I *have*' to. It's a psychological illness as much as anything else.
Tom Williams
Write. Join a group that will critique your writing. Re-write.
Rinse and repeat.
Rinse and repeat.
Tom Williams
I'm editing the next Burke book, 'Burke at Waterloo'. It should be out in time for the 200th anniversary of the battle in June.
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