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Author Interview with Colony author, Benjamin Cross!
Eliza: Benjamin, first let me thank you for sending me a copy of the book. I really enjoyed it. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
Benjamin: I guess (without necessarily realising it) that I wanted to write books ever since I was a kid. Creative writing was my favourite subject at school and the only aspect of my school exams that I ever actually looked forward to; it’s where I’d claw back all the marks I’d lost on the other questions!
Eliza: How long did it take you, from writing to querying to acceptance, to get this book published?
Benjamin: Probably about ten years… which I now realise is about a quarter of my life! I started writing Colony around 2010/11, had it drafted by about 2015/16, and then spent the next few years finding an agent, editing and re-editing, and approaching publishers. It sounds like a long time, but I suppose you’ve got to add in the fact that I was working full-time and that I got married, had two kids and wrote a second novel during that period also. Let’s just say I didn’t get much sleep that decade!
Eliza: What do you like most about the mystery/thriller genres?
Benjamin: Personally, I love that feeling you get when you know you’re hooked on a story. It’s not that you want to find out what happens next, but that you NEED to. For me the magic stops happening in my brain at that point and kind of spreads throughout me to become a sort of emotional compulsion to turn the next page and forget all my other commitments. It’s escapism, and I get it mainly from thrillers.
Eliza: What is a tip you would give new authors?
Benjamin: Not that there’s a formula for success as a writer, but there are definitely things you can do to give you an edge. The main thing I’d recommend is writing a story that you would enjoy reading. Colony caused me many sleepless nights for sure, but I never stopped loving the concept; at times, I almost wished somebody else had written it so that I could kick back and enjoy the action. I think the benefit of that approach is twofold. Firstly, that enjoyment and passion will translate into your writing for others to pick up on; with some of my favourite authors, I get a palpable sense that they’ve left something of themselves on each and every page, and it makes a difference. Secondly, it takes away one of the key reasons that people quit writing their novel – a loss of interest/passion. That’s a key one because, unless you’re some kind of superhero, then there will be times when you’re writing your debut that you’ll feel like giving up. When the other pressures, commitments, and doubts that we all have as humans will gang up on you and try to strongarm your novel out of the equation. The last thing you need in that situation is to add a lack of interest in/passion for your story to the anti-novel gang. For me, my blind passion for Colony is really all that kept me writing it at various times.
Eliza: Did you do a lot of research for Colony?
Benjamin: Tonnes. It was one of my favourite aspects of writing the book. As you know, there are myriad different machines, vehicles, technologies, places, landscapes, species, cultures, and characters portrayed in Colony. To keep the novel authentic, I needed to research each and every one to the extent that I was confident including them in the book. No doubt there are technical aspects in there that experts could wrangle over from now until the cows come home. But that’s fine. Ultimately, it’s a work of fiction and, as such, there’s really only so far you can keep things grounded in reality! You have to take certain liberties with the facts or at best you’d end up with a very boring book, at worst some kind of technical thesis.
Eliza: I loved Lungkaju and Callum. They had really wonderful interactions. Which character was the most fun to write?
Benjamin: Thanks Eliza. I’m glad you enjoyed those characters; they’re two of my favourites too. I’d probably have to say Callum. When I first started writing him, I think it’s fair to say that he was probably pretty bland. He certainly wasn’t the Callum that ended up in the final draft. Callum was one of those wonderful characters who ends up taking on a life of his own. As I worked on the novel, he gradually started to develop this cheeky sense of humour. He never became an out and out clown, but he did have this underlying tendency to try and put people at ease (not least himself) through humour. His relationship with his son was an interesting aspect to write as well; he’s actually quite a good dad, interesting, caring and fun-loving. It’s his lifestyle and circumstances, not his character, that prevent him from having the relationship he wants with his son. Enter the guilt. He shares some sense of that with Lungkaju, who’s in much the same boat, and that’s at the heart of their close relationship. Lungkaju’s character perhaps becomes the more interesting later on in the novel, when things start to heat up and the relationships between all of the characters come under strain.
Eliza: The setting in this book is almost a character of its own. It almost has a personality with the way it interacts with the characters. What was your inspiration for choosing the Russian Arctic?
Benjamin: I’ve always been fascinated by the Arctic. It is such a remote and hostile place. But at the same time, it’s absolutely teeming with life, a true sanctuary for nature. Unfortunately, climate change is gradually nibbling into it, and some might even argue that those nibbles have now become full-on chomps. Every year the ice recedes further and that beautiful sanctuary comes under increasing threat. As well as being bad news for us as a species, this has also started to throw up a wealth of hitherto unknown archaeology and other discoveries, which has brought yet another layer of scientific focus to the region… So, for me the Arctic is probably the most worrying, beautiful, dynamic, vulnerable and exciting place on earth right now. What better setting for a fast-paced action thriller?!
Eliza: Thank you so much for joining me today! Where can people find out more about you and your books?
Benjamin: Thanks for the invitation Eliza, I’ve had great fun! If people are interested to check out Colony then there is more information, links to stores where it’s available and other content at www.benjamin-cross.com. I can also be found on: Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
Finally, huge thanks to anybody that does pick up a copy of Colony. If you do, then please do leave a rating/review when you’re finished; I can’t tell you how much difference it can make for a debut novel. Also, welcome to Harmsworth Island. I hope you enjoy!
If you would like to read my book review of Colony, click here! And of course, you can buy Colony from Amazon here.
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