Archer takes aim, again

What makes a great story? Is it the plot, the characters, the ambience or the words? In the case of Jeffrey Archer, it is the way it is told. One of the most prodigious writers of our times, his books are some of the most popular reads to date. Archer’s first book, Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less, was semi-autobiographical in nature – four people coming together and stealing back the money that was stolen from them – made for a great story, but it so happened that seventeen publishers turned him down before it went on to sell 27 million copies worldwide! Since then, Archer has written numerous novels, short stories and screenplays. 

So how does he write? “I am very disciplined and usually go abroad to write to eliminate distractions. I work in two hour blocks – and I have a huge hourglass, which was a present from Mary (wife), on my desk to ensure that I work for the full 120 minutes of each session. I write from 6.00 am to 8.00 am, then take a break for two hours for breakfast and to read the morning newspapers or catch up on the cricket scores around the world; my morning sessions are usually the most productive. Then I write from 10 am until 12.00 pm, when I take break to go to the gym or a long walk before a light lunch. Back to work at 2.00 pm until 4.00pm, after which I might relax by watching an old episode of my favourite TV show, The West Wing, and then my final session is from 6.00 pm till 8.00 pm. For the next book, during my breaks I am planning to watch the whole of ITV’s new series, Downton Abbey,” says the author.

Almost all of his books are written following this routine, he claims. But what about that continuous flow of story ideas? “I think I have a god given gift in that sense,” Archer admits.

Jeffrey Archer’s latest book, Sins of the Father, is the second in the five-part Clifton Chronicles. He is currently working on the third volume which will close the story arc of the series. All those plot twists in The Sins of the Father, as it has been in all of his pacy thrillers, are they planned in advance? “Usually they come on the day, sometimes on the minute. No planning at all,” Archer clarifies.

Wonder about that wellspring from where he draws his imagination and inspiration, and he replies, “Read a lot; learn from those who have gone before you and remember that it’s very hard work. I do 14 drafts of each book and it is very hard work. If you want to know how to tell a good story, read The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.” He urges aspiring writers to not worry about the quality or how to become better; to simply sit down and write. “Get on with the writing and stop talking, and stop worrying about success until you’ve got it” he suggests. 

He sure knows a thing or two about success. Jeff Archer’s works are translated in 39 different languages in 157 different countries. But doesn’t his writing risk getting lost in translation, I wonder aloud. “It is actually very difficult to judge that since I speak only one language, English. I sometimes hear that my Japanese translator is very good or my Polish translator is very good and most of the times you would have to go with second hand accounts.” 

How does the consummate storyteller explain the roaring success of his books, especially in India? “I think it is the story telling which makes people come back to the books. I think people enjoy turning the page… many of my books are aspirational. Indians are aspirational as well. After all 50 million people in India have read Kane and Abel… Indians want to achieve, want to do things, want to make things happen, and that is what really happens in my books as well.”

Besides Indian readership, he has other Indian favourites too – chicken kebab and chicken tandoori! “I just 

love India. Full stop,” asserts Archer.

When we express concern over the concept of e-books fast replacing the paperbacks, Archer is unfazed. “E-book sales are currently accounting for 23% of my book sales and when the final Clifton Chronicles book releases, it will be 50%. As long as you tell a good story, it doesn’t matter how the book is received.”

When not writing, Mr. Archer loves cricket, films and music. “I'm a huge Sinatra fan, and have at least five of his CDs in my Mini, as well as Sammy Davis Jr, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin. I've also recently discovered Lionel Ritchie, which is wonderful for playing in the car while I'm driving around London looking for a parking space.” In films, his favorites include A Man for All Seasons for the “magnificent direction of Fred Zinnemann, incisive script by Robert Bolt, and superlative acting of Paul Scofield”; The Sting, for he doesn’t think “there's been a better 'sting' film since”, and for the fine performances by Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and brilliant direction by George Roy Hill. “I've also recently enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, which is a marvellous example of British film-making at its best – fine acting and great directing. Also the costumes, they won an Oscar! And Shrek, for Eddie Murphy's comic timing as the donkey… as good as Charlie Chaplin and Woody Allen at their best.”

An ardent cricket fan, Archer detests the twenty-20 format. “Cricket is a test match… India and England at Lord’s, Tendulkar scoring a century, Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman surviving against the Australians, Kumble taking five wickets… That’s cricket, not this bloody IPL,” the Englishman says, dead serious. 

Even with a roller coaster of a life, comparable to any of the page-turners he penned, Jeffrey Archer would like to have lived in another era, if given the choice. “I would perhaps live in the 19th century. The world was changing so rapidly and England played a major role in that. As an author it would be great to observe those changes and write about them.” Needless to say, great to read too.