Interview with Owen Clough

It is amazing who you meet while Facebook stalking.

Tell us about your latest novel.

I have just finished the trilogy of my Whispers series, A New Zealand Historical Fiction. The new book is completely different, set 150 years into New Zealand's future called Liquid Gold.

What got you started writing?

A cousin of mine in Australia sewed the seed when I retired. I had been into genealogy for 50 years and she suggested with all my research behind me why not write a story of the family. It got me thinking and instead of family I wrote a novel from the 1860's early New Zealand at the start of the New Zealand wars.

What challenges did you face when you first started writing?

The first book I had no problems at all, but the second one I had to research heavily and the same with the third in the trilogy. I was impatient to get it out and I had to slow myself down to make sure I got the information correct. Though after saying that, they are a work of fiction so I changed history and played a lot with the time line of some situations

Do you ever get the opportunity to travel for your writing? Either to market or to research.

Yes I did, I spent days in the bush getting the feel for what it would have been like for the settlers who arrived out here. Also visiting Marae in the Waikato to research what it was like before the settlers.

Who in your life is your greatest cheerleader or support in your writing?

My family.

What is it like writing in New Zealand that would be different if you lived anywhere else?

I can be anywhere really, writing is writing, but I usually write with the window open overlooking nature and that is wonderful as we are so lucky in NZ to have plenty of that.

Where do you get your ideas? Is there anything about New Zealand that has inspired you to write?

The ideas come from life my hobbies of the past, what I enjoy and I do enjoy is history. So in a nutshell New Zealand inspires me.

Why do you think readers are fascinated by books written about New Zealand?

Overseas readers do have an infinity with Kiwi writers I think mainly as a lot of us are unknown and we do things a bit different in the way we write. Our country to a lot of readers is unknown. I have a few reviews from the USA, UK, South Africa, Germany, Japan, etc, the first thing they say is I'm not familiar with your country and your story intrigued me. So we have that unknown quality about ourselves and our country that is drawing folks to our books

Who is your favourite New Zealand author and why?

I like Barry Crump stories. I like his down to earth way of writing and I have tried to write that way myself.

I was surprised to see his brother has also published some books. A very talented family.

What advice would you give for other writers in New Zealand?

Never be put off what others say to you, go with the heart and do it.

Do you get to network or meet up with other New Zealand authors?

No, more the pity. I live in a rural area and there is not many places that have book clubs or authors. I just found one the other day an hour away and I will this year make a point of catching up

I have the same problem. I'm lucky that at my work place is a fellow author.

What was the first thing you did after your first book was published?

Have a beer and celebrated my achievement. I left school at 14, to be able to sit down and write a novel at retirement age has been exceptional for me, as at school I could not even write a paragraph.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you handle the good and the bad ones?

Oh yes, I read them all. The bad ones I take the comments on board, out of 163 reviews I have had a couple of one star reviews, that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Wow, how did you manage to get that many reviews. Many of us struggle just to get a handful.

It seems like everything has Easter Eggs (surprise reference to your other work) do you have any Easter Eggs in your books?

Well, in a way yes. I have a epilogue at the end of each book tying it to the next off book. One has the first chapter of the second book at the back of the first.

How long does it take you to write a book? Do you have any secrets to productivity?

I have written three in 18 months though only one published, second one this year as I said before. Once I get my writing mood on I'll plod for days. If I get stuck I go for a few walks.

A good strategy we should all emulate when it comes to writers block.

Where did you get the idea for your first or latest book?

My first book, love of history, latest the political situation with NZ and Australia and how they treat Kiwi's over there.

Do you have any writing rituals?

No none

What is your best experience meeting a fan?

I was handing out some cards one day on the street, I never let an opportunity slip by. The person thanked me took the card stopped came back and said. You wrote this book? I have read it bloody great thoroughly enjoy it. He looked at his watch its five past midday, come on I'll shout you a beer. Great stuff and of course he is now waiting patiently for the next one to come out.

If any of your books was to be made into a film, which one would you pick and who would you have play the main characters?

The first one Whispers of the Past

Anthony Slater, Dean O'Gorman, Cliff Cutis, Manu Bennett, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Temuera Morrison, Lawerence Makoare, James Rolleston, Rima Te Wiata.

How important do you think marketing is for authors today?

Oh, that's the biggy. If you want your book out you need to market it.

Many authors have a word or a phrase they automatically use too often. Do you have one?

Yes, just one word, So. I try not to say it but it still pops up. So, I try not to write it lol.

Often writers get to approach some serious subjects. Which serious subject are you most proud to have written about or was the hardest to write about?

I was asked to write about a court case in Central Hawkes Bay. It was not a criminal case but a civil one. I turned it down as it did not interest me. If you don't enjoy the subject you write about it's best to flag it.

Thanks for sharing some of your story with us and good luck with your projects.

[if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]