Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
Exclusive Interview with
K.J. Jones
When did you start writing?
I wrote a short story many years ago, but my first novel was published in 2008.
What makes writing your passion?
I enjoy compiling the concept within a novel. Once I start writing, I never change the flow. I find, though, there are days when whatever I write reads poorly, I delete whatever I have written, and start another day again. My passion is to produce a novel that, foremost, is entertaining, but at the same time gives the reader another perspective on modern-day issues.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing in earnest in 2008, but I have written articles for magazines and journals. I have often not written anything for months, then suddenly a story comes to me, and I write until the book is completed. My inspiration can be triggered by a conversation, a news item or an observation.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
A sense of achievement that I had finally managed to complete a project that I had wanted to do for several years.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
As I have travelled, I have met people from all walks of life, but what I have found amazing is that on my travels, I always went into the smoking lounge and met people who would tell me about their life experiences. I remember sitting with as many as eight, all acutely aware that we would probably never meet again, and this enabled us to talk freely. I met oil drillers, a bomb disposal expert going to Mozambique to lift the land mines, and a schoolteacher taking on a position in a private school, chemists, mathematicians and the happiest bunch of all, a team of professional rugby players. That is why I enjoyed travelling so much, the people that you meet and talk to are inspirational.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
I do not see it as a career, but more of a hobby; this way, I have no pressure to finish a book. If it's a nice day, I will go and have a round of golf or go fly fishing, no pressure whatsoever.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
Some days I can write 3000 to 4000 words, other days I can battle to finish a paragraph. On those days, I do not fight it, as for me, that never works. I enjoy gardening, or if it is sunny, a nice cigar outside. I have always had the philosophy, why worry about something you cannot fix.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
I would say, ask yourself why you have chosen this career, do you enjoy what you are doing, do you feel that you have accomplished something when you have written a successful book? How do you measure being successful?
I have a great editor, and she is, or was, a headmistress at a private school, and her comments on my quality of writing, sometimes are quite brutal, but she wants my books to be well writen, with adequte attention to grammer.
My tenet has been, if you are not happy doing what you are doing for a living, you only have one life, find something that you do enjoy doing.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
I am very lucky that I would have changed little, even the bad decisions took me down a path where I met so many good and different people. I was also lucky to meet the woman that I married, as she has been my strength many times.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
I am hardened to bad reviews; you cannot please everybody, as long as the reader justifies their position, then why should I be angry at their point of view? Perhaps I could learn something from that bad review for a futuure book.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
I am then pleased that I have entertained that reader, as that means, at least in their eyes, you have done something well.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Now that would be telling. I have certainly utilised my experiences in my life to the full.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
No, I have not; I have based them on people that I know and have met on my travels. I have learnt to be a good listener, and it is a quality I think all writers should cultivate.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
Yes, it is, how else would you get anyone to show interest in your books if they have a poor cover? I do, however, try to incorporate a character in the story on the cover. I believe that a cover should indicate what the novel is about as much as the title.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
Yes, I have chatted to my readers, and they often ask what inspired me to write that particular book, how I dream up the characters. I have had the odd one who told me my book was rubbish. I don't get offended, I just ask why they think that.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
As I never post a picture on my books, it is well nigh impossible for someone to recognise me. I have met people in hotels and shown them my books, but that is a rare event.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
That is a very difficult question to answer; there are so many good authors out there. When I thought about this question, the first name that popped into my head was Wilbur Smith. His writing was always captivating, and he is one of the few readers who kept me awake until three am to just finish the book. His work, in my opinion, was so descriptive, knowledgeable, understanding of human nature, and also absorbing, whilst you weave your way through the storyline.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
I have had my dreams; I have no wish to try to emulate anyone. If I am good enough, it will happen, and vice versa.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
Perhaps Behind the Rainbow, I like the storyline, but it could have been improved upon. I know I had written something captivating, though, when those who read it always remembered the scene where the elephant was dying.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
Difficult one to answer, possibly, Wilbur Smith
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
Nothing, they are not worth my time.
What would you say to your readers?
I write books with the hope that I catch readers' imagination, emotions and that they find my books entertaining. I would like to think that they are trying to second-guess how it will end. I just love a twist in the story.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I live in the UK. I have been married for 58 years. We do not have any children
What is your day job if you have one?
I am retired
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
I fly fish, play golf, work in my garden, watch cricket and rugby, and write novels.
Did you have a happy childhood?
I most certainly did, I was number 5 of 6, we were a happy family and also had my grandparents living with us. My father insisted that we were all well-mannered, courteous and always at Sunday lunch. There were four boys and two girls. We lived in Lincolnshire, and there was a lot to explore. I seldom came home clean. We were fit, happy and well fed, perfect.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
I think the changes in South Africa in 1994, and the aftermath, inspired me to write Behind the Rainbow, as South Africa was called the Rainbow Nation.
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
No
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
That is quite a large topic. The biggest failing that I see in modern education is the indoctrination of theories rather than teaching the ability to challenge all theories. Children, in my opinion, should be taught to question everything and not be led down a path that suits the teacher or the headmaster's own beliefs. I may say something provocative, but why put students through university to obtain a degree that will not find them employment? Then leaving them in debt for half their lives, pointless.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
What is your favorite music?
I like Queen, but also Tchaikovsky, opera, and Toby Keith. I just don't like Rap or Jaz.
Share a secret with us 🙂
If I did that, it would no longer be a secret.