Ask the Author: Pete Cruickshank
Answered Questions (7)
Pete Cruickshank
Most recently, the one which springs to mind is from Michael R Hicks' Novel In Her Name: Empire. A young human boy is forced to live among his enemies. The alien Kreelan female Esha-Zhurah and him begin the story hating one another. However through circumstance they eventually become forbidden lovers. It's a beautiful and very powerful story which made me cry.
Pete Cruickshank
There are a lot of different ideas there. Amongst all the space opera, action/adventure I wanted there to be a theme concerning humanity, and this thing about our maturity as a species. I wanted to depict that as far as the rest of the galaxy is concerned we're highly likely to destroy ourselves. The more technologically advanced species know what kind of developments are coming and many believe we will not survive. There's this underlying message that you can be so much better, if you just try, and it's in small ways. The books aren't preachy, as these things are only mentioned now and again, the story is king. But this idea underpins everything.
Pete Cruickshank
I'm a bit of a geek and I used to get told off for daydreaming. I don't really have anything to get inspired to write, it's just all in my head. The ideas which are presented in 'The Kinsmen' have been in my head for perhaps the last twenty four years, stewing away. Only now have they begun to see the light of day. I think that's why I don't need to get inspired, it just happens.
Pete Cruickshank
My third novel in The Kinsmen series, which at the moment is titled 'Fall of Heaven.' I'm hoping to answer a few questions from the first two. There will be more questions by the end of this one and I don't want the readers of the series so far to get to the end of this one with so many questions that they start to get a little annoyed — that won't happen. I want the reader to be curious but at the same time I want to start supplying some answers too. When I speak to readers about characters or plot, I have to hold back on not blurting out what's to come. It's a natural way to feel if you want to tell that story. There is a perfect time for revelation.
Pete Cruickshank
Do it for love. Not for money.
Pete Cruickshank
It's hard to single out one thing. There are so many. When you write, something very special happens. The world and the characters come alive. You are the creator and at the same time the observer. Many authors will tell you that the story writes itself and it's true. It is a beautiful thing when your characters start to do the unexpected and you are merely trying your best to show what is happening for yourself and your readers. Your story and your characters are almost like your children, they are a part of you and you can't help but be passionate about them.
Pete Cruickshank
I don't really get writer's block. I try not to get hung up too much on what I'm typing. If I was of the mind, that it had to be perfect first time, I would never get any stories told. I usually run through the ideas for how a scene works out at least a dozen times in my head. Some chapters have had a about a hundred variations for how they may run. I try out so many before I even start typing, by the time I do, I know pretty much where it's going.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more