Michael Parker - Author Interview: Narrative Style

Which narrative point of view (first person, second person or third person) do you use most in your fiction, or do you often use different points of view for different stories, and why?

Third person. It helps to include elements of the story that would be difficult in the first person. It also helps to build the story in my opinion.

Do you use present tense or past tense most in your fiction, or do you often switch tense for different stories, and why?

Past tense. It’s natural to speak to somebody in the past tense when recalling a story or something that has happened, that’s why I use it.

Pick one of your published stories. What combination of point of view and tense did you use for this story, and why?

No point of view in any of my stories. They are just that: stories that are a figment of my imagination. A bit like a young kid at school writing a story for English homework perhaps.

To what extent is the vocabulary and manner of speech of the narration in this story different from your own everyday expression, and what does this contribute to the story?

I used to swear a lot, but over the years, and since becoming a born again Christian, I try very hard not to swear. And for that reason I have taken it upon myself to limit the amount of bad language in my novels. This might sound incredible, but a writer should be able to use the English language expressively without resorting to effing and blinding all the time. I only use those words sparingly now.

Did you tell this story with one narrator or multiple narrators, and why?

N/A

Did you make the narrator of this story a character involved in the main action of the story, or did you make the narrator one which is not a character in your fictional story world, and why?

N/A

What is one of your favourite fictional stories, in which you think is narration is written well, and how would you describe what makes the narration work so well for you as a reader?

I have read too many novels over the years to give an adequate answer to that question, but I think C.J. Sansom takes a lot of beating these days.

Do you usually provide direct access to the thoughts of characters in your stories? If so, do you usually provide access to the thoughts of one character or multiple characters in a single story or point of view, and why?

Always direct access.

To what extent does the narrative style of novels you read have an impact on why you read them, and why?

It’s important that I am happy with the narrative. C.J.Sansom is a good example of good narrative. His books are like a window on the world about which he is writing. You can almost smell the flowers as it were.

Author website: www.michaeljparker.com



Michael Parker - Author Interview: Story

Pick one of your favourites among your published fiction stories or a story which is an interesting example of published fiction. What makes this story one of your favourites or an interesting example from your fiction?

THE DEVIL’S TRINITY. This was an attempt of mine to write a thriller about international terrorism. But instead of using the standard technique of suicide bombers etc. I used an entirely different approach in that I involved techniques that would be almost improbable, but maybe not impossible that could achieve an effect more harmful and cataclysmic than 9/11.

What genre(s) do you consider this story primarily to be, or how would you describe this story?

Thriller

What is a published fiction story by another author you would compare this story to and why are they similar?

I can’t think of another author with whom I could compare this novel, but I would put my work in the same league as Frederik Forsyth, Stephen Leather and other similar writers.

To what extent did you use any pre-existing story formula, template, paradigm, plot design, archetype, or theory or principle of story/plot structure in planning, writing, editing or rewriting this story?

I don’t. I get an idea and just build on it, using research to help me achieve a story.

How would you describe the first chapter, scene or section of this story in one paragraph?

A yacht is rammed in the middle of the night by a ship carrying no lights: a ship that is not under power but deliberately stopping. I would describe that as ‘chilling’.

What makes this chapter, scene or section an effective opening for this story?

It is this kind of opening that makes a reader want to know how I plan to elaborate on what could appear to be an impossible situation. A page turner!

What major stages, twists or turns does the story conflict take in this story before the conflict is resolved (or not resolved)?

I like to include parallel dramas if I can which help to add the twists and turns that hold a reader’s attention.

How would you summarise the major sub-plot or sub-plots in this story? If this story has no sub-plots, how would you describe the main sub-plot or sub-plots from one of your favourite published fiction stories by another author?

I couldn’t summarise them, they are simply essential to the fabric and build-up of the story.

What does the story gain from the sub-plot or sub-plots?

It gains immeasurably providing there is the right balance between the plots.

To what extent would you describe your story discussed here as typical or atypical of your fiction stories?

Typical.

Author website: www.michaeljparker.com



Michael Parker - Author Interview: Characters

Pick one of your favourites among the characters from your published fiction stories or a character which is an interesting example from your published fiction. What makes this character one of your favourites or an interesting example of your fiction?

Reuben Cole of HELL’S GATE. This was published in hardback by Robert Hale of London. The novel is set in British East Africa in 1898. Reuben Cole is a widowed farmer with a twelve year old son, David. He is in his mid-thirties and farms in the Rift Valley. He is independent, tough and in search of a mother for his son, but fate (and history) get in the way. Reuben Cole is resourceful, pragmatic and tough, and all these attributes are called on when he sets out in search of the slave traders who have kidnapped David.
The reason I like Reuben Cole is probably because I was able to write my alter ego into his character; the kind of man I would like to have been in another life. Through him I can suffer the pain that life throws at him without actually having to experience it.

What kind(s) of character do you consider this character primarily to be, or how would you describe this character?

See above.

What is a character from a published fiction story by another author you would compare this character to and why are they similar?

Sean Courtney from the Courtney novels by Wilbur Smith. They are similar because they have to battle with the elements, the animals, the natives and the politics of Africa.

To what extent did you use any pre-existing character formula, template, paradigm, character design, archetype, or theory or principles of making or analysing character in planning, writing, and refining this character?

I used my imagination but modelled him on the young, Prince Charles (at the time) so I could keep a picture of him in my mind’s eye.

How would you describe the first chapter, scene or section of this story in one paragraph?

I introduce the Gibbs Farqhuarson hunting rifle, the most powerful hunting rifle in Africa that could kill a charging buffalo at three hundred yards, and place it in the hands of a twelve year old boy. It is a metaphor that encapsulates the growing pains of a developing Africa.

Pick one of your published stories. How would you describe the introduction of the main character, or one of the main characters, in this story?

The introduction of Reuben Cole is by way of putting him into a situation that demands his attention knowing that not to react could cost him his farm, his future and possibly his life.

What makes this an effective character introduction for this story?

Hopefully the reader will realise that this character will be faced with similar problems throughout the story, and the reader will trust that he will handle them in an absorbing and successful way.

What major changes does this character go through, or what major challenges does the character encounter and how does the character respond to them?

Reuben Cole’s son is kidnapped by slavers and taken into the interior, Uganda. He believes his son is being taken to the slave markets in Mombassa, in the opposite direction. As he travels towards the slave markets on the east coast, an incident along the way forces Reuben to turn back, much against his will. His determination to find his son and the desperate need of a wounded clergyman trapped in the bush with his daughter compete for his attention. He knows that whatever decision he makes, it could result in either the loss of his son, or the death of the clergyman and his daughter.

How would you describe the most important minor characters in this story and the changes in their character, or the challenges they encounter and how they respond to them?

The minor characters in the story are victims of outside, political influences, and find the need to change their lifestyles are forced upon them. They are prosaic and philosophical about the changes but are determined to see them through.

What does the story gain from the minor characters?

Colonnades would fall without the columns. The minor characters are essential to the story.

To what extent would you describe the characters in this story as typical or atypical of characters in your fiction stories?

They are typical of people who do not know how they would react when faced with life threatening situations.

Author website: www.michaeljparker.com