Author Interview: Gareth L. Powell
"My brain just seems to impose narrative frameworks on everything, even my dreams."
Our next interview is with one of the UK’s most popular and successful genre authors, Gareth L. Powell, two-time winner of the prestigious British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel and author of eleven novels, three novellas, and numerous short stories.
Gareth, tell me about yourself.
I’m of mixed English and Welsh descent. I was born in Bristol, UK, and grew up there.
So when did your writing journey begin?
I decided to get serious about my writing at the turn of the Millennium. Before that, I’d written and few short stories and some awful poetry, but had never got anywhere with a novel. So, as the world reached a historic milestone, I decided it was time to take my shot.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember. My brain just seems to impose narrative frameworks on everything, even my dreams. It took me a while to work out how to make a living at it, so I took a few detours into other professions, such as software marketing, before I finally went full-time.
How many novels have you completed so far?
Eleven completed. Ten are already published and the eleventh, Future’s Edge, will be out in February 2025.
What are you working on right now?
Novel number twelve.
And what's been your biggest challenge as a writer?
You mean aside from the financial rollercoaster that makes up the creative life? Well, COVID hit me pretty hard and I suffered from brain fog all through the lockdowns. It took me months to get back to a feeling like I could write again.
Which online platforms help support your journey?
I am on social media, but it’s questionable how much that benefits my success as an author. I’ve built a following of sorts, but I don’t know how that translates into sales.
When can people find you online?
Do you have any big plans for the future?
I’m just going to keep writing the best books I can, and hope they continue to attract an audience.
Finally, can you share a golden nugget of advice for any aspiring authors reading this?
Read all the books you can, both within and outside your chosen genre. Pay attention to what turns you off a book, and what hooks your interest. See how the author constructs their dialogue and paces their sentences.
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Great interview 😁