This Week’s Feature Author Interview with Alex R Carver
Hi Alex R Carver, welcome to the Indie Publishing Group website. Introduce yourself to us. Tell everyone who you are, where you’re from, what you enjoy doing, hobbies, and interests.
Hi, I’m Alex R Carver, and I’m from the UK. I like to write and read, and I love to watch movies of all sorts, from cheesy horror and comedies to classics and blockbusters. I’m also a keen, though lapsed, amateur golfer.
When did you start writing, and why?
I started writing when I was 10; I was given a creative writing assignment in school, and that was the beginning of it all. I’ve had periods where I didn’t write for a while, but I always come back to it, and I always have lots of ideas waiting to be worked on.
Which is your favorite book you have written, and what gave you the idea for it?
It’s so hard to pick one. If I’m forced to pick, it would probably be book five in my Inspector Stone series. It hasn’t been published yet, and it doesn’t have a title, but it’s set in Devon and was inspired in part by a holiday I had there as a child, so it includes some pleasant memories.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
I can’t say too much here because it might give away the plot; Where There’s A Will has a bit of a double meaning, which I hope readers will realize when they get to the end of the book, and I liked the idea of that which helped me to decide on it, but the other reason I chose the title is that my intention with the series is to use well-known phrases that have some meaning for the titles – the second book is An Eye For An Eye, which should give you some hint of what it’s about.
Who helped you with the cover? Or did you design it yourself? What was your inspiration for your cover design?
Since my graphics skills are second only to a kid with a set of crayons, I was forced to buy a cover, the one I have currently is by someone on Fiverr, and I think it’s a very decent cover, certainly far better than what I could manage. I am in the process of getting a professionally designed cover, though, which I hope will boost the book significantly.
What are some of the themes of your story?
I always get a little stuck on questions like this because I’ve never been very good at analyzing books, least of all my own. I can tell you that there is a kidnapping in there, also a robbery, some family troubles, professional rivalry, and some revenge-seeking.
What’s your process when you sit down and decide to start writing a book? What is your process, and do you have a system?
I don’t have a system. I just sit down and get to it, usually with a lot of distractions. I’m easily distracted, but since I’m a full-time writer, I’m able to get a reasonable amount done over the course of a day.
Who are some of your favorite characters, and why?
I try not to play favorites among my characters. It makes them jealous, and who knows what they’ll do then. I like them all equally. There are scenes where I like one character over another, but that can change in the next scene.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
George RR Martin, Anne McCaffrey, Tom Clancy, Jeffrey Archer
Have you got anything you’re working on now?
Right now, I’m editing a serial killer thriller about a series of murders in a small English village, I also have 10 or so other novels to be typed up, redrafted, and edited.
If you could have any superpowers, what would they be?
There are so many to choose from; it’s hard to pick just one, but I would have to go with Wolverine’s ability to heal from anything.
If you could travel to any location in the world, where would you go?
Another tough question: I’m a huge fan of Egypt, and I’m looking forward to earning enough money to go back there, but if I had to pick any location, I think it would have to be Maccu Piccu, it’s my dream holiday destination.
Where do you hope to be in 5 years’ time?
In five years, I’d like to be making enough money off my writing to pay all my bills and allow a reasonable, not necessarily spectacular, though it would be a nice lifestyle.
Thanks so much for taking the time to do an author interview. Take a minute and check Alex R Carver out on the links below.
