Arts : An Archer with a quiver full of arrows

 

 

This was your fourth visit to India. How do you sum it up? Which Indian authors have impressed you most?

My latest visit to India was the most amazing experience. The generosity and warmth of the people has overwhelmed me. It is a fortnight that I will never forget for the rest of my life. Discovering R K Narayan was an added bonus as he is truly one of your great authors.

Sebastian Faulks is "writing as Ian Fleming" for the latest Bond book – "Devil May Care". What do you think about it?

Mr Faulks is a fine writer, and there is no doubt that the book will be a great success.

Which is more satisfying – auctioneering for charity, or finishing the 17th draft of a novel?

Of course, auctioneering and writing are two totally different worlds – in one you’re hidden away and the other you’re very exposed. If you raise lots of money for a charity, then it’s almost as satisfying as completing a final draft.

You claim you don't pray, but you are reportedly "thankful" that ideas for your books keep coming. Who are you thankful to?

I confess that when the ideas come, I look upwards and say thank you, but I’m not sure who I’m talking to.

Did you not think that reproducing "The Count of Monte Cristo" and setting it in contemporary times may risk charges of plagiarism or un-originality?

Did you anticipate its success the way it has turned out to be?

No, "A Prisoner of Birth" is not a ‘reproduction of’ The Count of Monte Cristo but is inspired by the story, and I had no fears of being accused of plagiarism as my story is not only set 200 years later, but there is not one sentence in it that corresponds to anything in the "The Count of Monte Cristo". Answering your second question, I never anticipate success. I think an author always sits back, hoping that someone will buy the book. How has fiction writing changed since the time you wrote "Not a penny more, Not a penny less"?

For me, very little. There have been new trends, new ideas, new fashions, but I have stuck to writing a simple story hoping people would enjoy it.

What is your take on, and what is the future for each of these: poetry, plays, short stories and novels?

Poetry always has problems. Indeed, I don’t remember a poet in the last 50 years who could have lived off their work. Plays are just as popular as they have ever been in London or New York and there is no sign of that changing. Short stories are never as popular as novels, but there is still a large market for both, and especially in India, where they have a particular admiration for the shorter form of work.

Do you foresee the impact of fiction reading increasing to the scale achieved by Dan Brown and J K Rowling in the future as well?

J K Rowling’s success is phenomenal and we should thank her for bringing a new generation to readers, which in turn will eventually affect other novelists. How was the story teller Jeffrey Archer inspired to do some Gospel interpretation like in "The Gospel according to Judas"?

I’ve always wanted to do an academic work such as The Gospel According to Judas, and with the help of the very distinguished scholar, Professor Frank Moloney, I was able to do this. Frankly, without his input, I would not have been able to attempt this venture.

Like Danny Cartwright in Belmarsh, did Jeffrey Archer ever think of revenge while in there?

No I didn’t think of seeking revenge when I was in Belmarsh as I was at the time writing the first of my first Prison Diaries; perhaps the fact that it went to No.1 on the Sunday Times Bestsellers list was a kind of revenge in itself.

Who is your latest find on the art scene, keen collector that you are?

My latest find is Fernando Botero, the great Columbian artist. My wife and I had the privilege of meeting him last year in Italy. I think your readers would find his work tremendous fun.

Given a choice, would you run a marathon or mayorship?

This is tricky – it depends if you mean whether I’d win either. If I am going to win, then I’d prefer to run for mayorship than try and win a marathon.