Tana French
I definitely write like an actor, for better or for worse. I think the acting background is why, until The Secret Place, I've always written in the first person. That's what I'm used to doing: working to create a real, three-dimensional character, show the story through his or her biases and desire and fears, and draw the audience into that character's world till they go away feeling like he or she is someone they know intimately. I'm not saying I always manage to do that - but that's the goal.
And I was never one of those actors who like playing variants on themselves. I always liked playing characters who were far from me, the farther the better. I already know what it's like being me; what's interesting is trying to understand what it's like to be someone utterly different, trying to bring someone else's utterly different reality to life. I'm the same when I write: my characters have practically nothing in common with me.
And I was never one of those actors who like playing variants on themselves. I always liked playing characters who were far from me, the farther the better. I already know what it's like being me; what's interesting is trying to understand what it's like to be someone utterly different, trying to bring someone else's utterly different reality to life. I'm the same when I write: my characters have practically nothing in common with me.
More Answered Questions
Greg
asked
Tana French:
So many authors develop a character and then write a long string of books, from 3 to 30, based around the one character. But reading your books, each one is individual, with its own set of characters and a rather loose connection to the others. In many ways, this is very refreshing. Why do you prefer to write completely new story lines rather than revisiting established characters?
Smokydan
asked
Tana French:
Dear Ms. French, Do you find a great deal of tension when establishing the setting of a novel when the setting is a real place, especially if you associate the real place with unpleasant activities or if you characterize the people and local culture in an uncomplimentary way? Think you.
Carrie Lallo
asked
Tana French:
A comment, rather than a question; One of the most powerful devices in your books is auditory description. I have never read an author whose descriptions of the sounds of places are so powerful and haunting. I work hard on visual descriptions when I write, but rarely consider how things sound. I adore your writing. Keep 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