Ask the Author: Christopher Douglas
Answered Questions (4)
Christopher Douglas
I read Dan Brown's novel Angels and Demons and was fixated on the first part about CERN. This is probably because I love science. I became very interested in what they did and how the place worked.
Then After reading far too many books about the LHC (Large Hadron Collider), I thought it would be the perfect place to set up the beginning of the end. Originally it was going to be more of a fantasy novel, but the science took over. Although several characters in the book are, how should I put it? Different to us (being from Alternate realities), I tried to keep their abilities within the confines of what could really happen if evolution had been altered. As For the other main characters, well, the young scientist Leon is loosely based around my son's attributes, I spend so much time working, I wanted/ want him to see that I do think about him always and this was my way of immortalising him. But people are real and the have their faults, so I had to add a few flaws to his personality, which he agreed to, reluctantly.
Because Turin is such a beautiful place, and also close to CERN, I felt it was logical to move the settings around and finish in this particular setting.
Then After reading far too many books about the LHC (Large Hadron Collider), I thought it would be the perfect place to set up the beginning of the end. Originally it was going to be more of a fantasy novel, but the science took over. Although several characters in the book are, how should I put it? Different to us (being from Alternate realities), I tried to keep their abilities within the confines of what could really happen if evolution had been altered. As For the other main characters, well, the young scientist Leon is loosely based around my son's attributes, I spend so much time working, I wanted/ want him to see that I do think about him always and this was my way of immortalising him. But people are real and the have their faults, so I had to add a few flaws to his personality, which he agreed to, reluctantly.
Because Turin is such a beautiful place, and also close to CERN, I felt it was logical to move the settings around and finish in this particular setting.
Christopher Douglas
The freedom to express feelings and thoughts through my characters. In the real world I find it very hard to express myself for fear of, well reprisal, but on paper things become so easy. So for me I feel I can really bring characters to life. As for the science fiction, fantasy elements, well again it is so easy to let your imagination run wild, to invent, create and mould things the way you want people to see things. It’s pure escapism!
Christopher Douglas
Iam currently working on the sequel to The Alternates, I want to call it Convergence, but i think that title might actually be suited better to the third book. Obviously I don't want to give anything away so the rest of this might look rather cryptic!
This sequel starts a year later, everything is calm and the Alternates are settling in to their new lives, but not all of them are happy. Minstor is looking for some of the Alternates who disappeared before the UN had intervened and the twist at the end of the first book really makes waves around the world.
Needless to say there will be twists and turns! But to be honest I am not sure that our world will ever be the same again as the theme is becoming very apocalyptic.
This sequel starts a year later, everything is calm and the Alternates are settling in to their new lives, but not all of them are happy. Minstor is looking for some of the Alternates who disappeared before the UN had intervened and the twist at the end of the first book really makes waves around the world.
Needless to say there will be twists and turns! But to be honest I am not sure that our world will ever be the same again as the theme is becoming very apocalyptic.
Christopher Douglas
I have been fortunate that, as yet, I haven't suffered from this problem. I did however get caught up in 'editing block' I started to revise a few chapters when i was half way through the first draft of my book. I got so caught up in trying to make each word work perfectly that I found myself obsessing and trapped in a loop.
note to self:- don't redraft for at least a month after finishing a book.
note to self:- don't redraft for at least a month after finishing a book.
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