Thursday, January 29, 2015

"The William Shakespeare Detective Agency": Q&A with Colin Falconer

02_The William Shakespeare Detective Agency-The School of Night_CoverPlease join Colin Falconer as he tours the blogosphere for the first book in his William Shakespeare Detective Agency series, The School of Night, from January 10-February 6. 

Publication Date: October 7, 2014 
Cool Gus Publishing Formats: eBook, Paperback 
Pages: 168 
Series: The William Shakespeare Detective Agency 
Genre: Historical Mystery

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"My name is William Shakespeare. No, not that Shakespeare; and no jests please, I’ve heard them all. I’m the other one, the ne’er do well cousin, the loafer, known to family and friends as the dunce, the one who could not recite Cicero or Horace, who could never be as good as his clever cuz, the one who has just come to Bishopsgate from Stratford with silly dreams in his head and a longing to make something more of himself than just a glover’s handyman.” 

What he finds in London is Lady Elizabeth Talbot, who is willing to pass a few shillings to this blundering brawler if he will help her find her husband. Poor William does not realize the trail will lead to the truth behind the death of Shakespeare’s great rival, Christopher Marlowe - or to a lifelong love affair with a woman far above his station. 

Each book tells the story of William’s adventures as England’s first gumshoe, set against turbulent Elizabethan politics; of his romantic pursuit of the impossible Elizabeth Talbot; while charting the career of his up and coming dramatist cousin, the bard of Stratford, but just Will to his family.
 
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Q&A with Author Colin Falconer
Do you share any personality traits with William Shakespeare?
With William Shakespeare (no, not that one - his cousin)? I guess we share a few traits - William has a tortoise and the hare complex and I’m like that, I see myself as the tortoise. William is always batting out of his league with women and is astonished when he succeeds, as he does with the delectable Lady Walsall. That’s me too. And William has a sense of humor and I don’t know what I’d do without mine. I’m not a big doofus like him, though, and I’m not a country boy - I was a London boy, my mother was a Cockney.

Do you have to be alone or have quiet to write?
No, in fact I prefer it when there’s people, light and noise. The only thing I hate about writing is that it’s a solitary pursuit and I am by nature a sociable person. (Not an extrovert, I just like being around people.) So sometimes I will take myself off to the local bar or coffee shop and work there. One of my strengths is focus - there can be a fight start in the main bar and I won’t even lose the thread of the sentence, never mind the plot.

Favorite place?
Istanbul. It’s featured in two of my books, HAREM and ISTANBUL. I think it’s the most beautiful city in the world. The Aya Sofia is the most stunning building I have ever seen. I literally stood with my mouth open the first time I walked in there. A Turkish publisher once took me to dinner in this little restaurant in Byoglu overlooking the Golden Horn and the Galata Bridge, at sunset I think it is the most beautiful view in the world, looking from the Tower of Justice in the Topkapi to the Sulemaniye in the old quarter. Its history, its people, its romance - stunning.

What else have you written?
I’ve had over forty books in print, I now have a list of about 32 books on Amazon, I have two new novels out next year, COLOSSUS is being published in New York and ISABELLA with Lake Union. I have been translated into 23 languages. I have a very active blog. I guess it’s probably too late to think about getting a proper job.

Impressive! Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
I used to just let ideas just take me somewhere until I started doing it for a living.Then I found a better way. I had to otherwise my kids would have starved.

What is your favorite non-writing pastime?
I play guitar, I’ve just started indoor climbing, I’m learning Spanish and I’m still trying to learn tango, which I think is the sexiest, most sensual dance ever invented. Anything that gets me out of the house after I’ve done my 5,000 words. And I’m back in training - it’s either back to Pamplona for the bulls or the Kokoda Trail.


About the Author
Colin FalconerBorn in London, Colin first trialed as a professional football player in England, and was eventually brought to Australia. He went to Sydney and worked in TV and radio and freelanced for many of Australia’s leading newspapers and magazines. He has published over twenty novels and his work has so far been translated into 23 languages. He travels regularly to research his novels and his quest for authenticity has led him to run with the bulls in Pamplona, pursue tornadoes across Oklahoma and black witches across Mexico, go cage shark diving in South Africa and get tear gassed in a riot in La Paz. He currently lives in Barcelona. For more information please visit Colin Falconer’s website. You can also find him on Facebook or follow on Twitter



The School of Night Blog Tour Schedule
Saturday, January 10 Spotlight at Historical Readings and Views Monday, January 12 Review at Flashlight Commentary Tuesday, January 13 Spotlight at Layered Pages Thursday, January 15 Interview at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Friday, January 16 Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews Monday, January 19 Spotlight at Susan Heim on Writing Tuesday, January 20 Review at Book Nerd Thursday, January 22 Review at Just One More Chapter Friday, January 23 Spotlight at A Literary Vacation Saturday, January 24 Spotlight at Historical Fiction Obsession Sunday, January 25 Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog Monday, January 26 Review at Boom Baby Reviews Wednesday, January 28 Review at Carpe Librum Thursday, January 29 Interview at Mina's Bookshelf Interview at Books and Benches Spotlight at The Never-Ending Book Friday, January 30 Review at Brooke Blogs Friday, February 6 Spotlight at Passages to the Past
  

1 comment:

  1. Welcome to Books & Benches, Colin! It's is my great pleasure to have you with us today.

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