l am delighted to welcome Chris Chalmers onto the website today. Chris is the author of Five to One, Light From Other Windows, Dinner at The Happy Skeleton, Gillian Vermillion Dream Detective and The Last Lemming
Alex: Chris, tell us a bit about yourself.
Chris: Born in Lancashire, degree in Yorkshire, career in London. Writing was the only thing I was any good at, so I got the first writing job I could (writing book blurbs for Pan MacMillan). From there into advertising, and from there the plunge into freelance, to have a go at writing the novel I was always talking about. I’m now on number six.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore?
Chris: I like witty, well formed contemporary fiction with characters I identify with. I struggle to find the kind of books I want to read, which is how I ended up trying to write them.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Chris: I’m a planner. My worst nightmare is getting 40K words in and thinking, “Hang on - this is all wrong…”
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Chris: The Last Lemming is a why-dunnit, set in the present and 1980s. Dead TV pundits and pushy sisters, cryptozoology and gym culture - it’s got it all!
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Chris: I don’t know, but the first series of books I read were all the Dr Who novelisations. I’ve been revisiting some of them during lockdown, to fill in the gaps as I rewatch all the surviving episodes from the original 1963-89 run. For the stories where the tapes no longer exist, I read the book. (A hundred and fifty-four down, five to go!)
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Chris: I tend to write what I know, so not very much as a rule. I did spend a day watching helicopter crashes on YouTube when I wrote Five To One. You wouldn’t believe how many there are …
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Chris: Me? NOT ME, MATE! You’ve got the wrong author there! (Moving swiftly on ...)
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Chris: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike. It’s about how he built the business from scratch in the 1960s and ‘70s. I was given it by a friend though it’s categorically NOT my sort of thing. Turned out to be the most compelling thing I’ve read in years.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Chris: Social media (like there’s a choice at the moment!) and readings here and there.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Chris: I blog about films on my @chrischalmersnovelist Facebook page. During lockdown I’ve discovered Wimbledon Common (and the cunning shortcut into Richmond Park) so while my gym’s shut I go on 10km walks three times a week before breakfast. And I like reading biographies, and anything scurrilous about Donald Trump.
Alex: Which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Chris: I have a few favourite novels but not many favourite novelists, mainly because I tend to love one book then be a bit disappointed by their next two or three … Except Alexander McCall Smith - I love ALL his No.1 Ladies Detective Agency novels. A holiday’s not a holiday without one!
Alex: Thank you so much for that Chris. It's a real pleasure having you on. I've read all your books and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
Chris: Thanks Alex. It's greatly appreciated.
Alex: Chris, tell us a bit about yourself.
Chris: Born in Lancashire, degree in Yorkshire, career in London. Writing was the only thing I was any good at, so I got the first writing job I could (writing book blurbs for Pan MacMillan). From there into advertising, and from there the plunge into freelance, to have a go at writing the novel I was always talking about. I’m now on number six.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore?
Chris: I like witty, well formed contemporary fiction with characters I identify with. I struggle to find the kind of books I want to read, which is how I ended up trying to write them.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Chris: I’m a planner. My worst nightmare is getting 40K words in and thinking, “Hang on - this is all wrong…”
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Chris: The Last Lemming is a why-dunnit, set in the present and 1980s. Dead TV pundits and pushy sisters, cryptozoology and gym culture - it’s got it all!
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Chris: I don’t know, but the first series of books I read were all the Dr Who novelisations. I’ve been revisiting some of them during lockdown, to fill in the gaps as I rewatch all the surviving episodes from the original 1963-89 run. For the stories where the tapes no longer exist, I read the book. (A hundred and fifty-four down, five to go!)
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Chris: I tend to write what I know, so not very much as a rule. I did spend a day watching helicopter crashes on YouTube when I wrote Five To One. You wouldn’t believe how many there are …
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Chris: Me? NOT ME, MATE! You’ve got the wrong author there! (Moving swiftly on ...)
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Chris: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike. It’s about how he built the business from scratch in the 1960s and ‘70s. I was given it by a friend though it’s categorically NOT my sort of thing. Turned out to be the most compelling thing I’ve read in years.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Chris: Social media (like there’s a choice at the moment!) and readings here and there.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Chris: I blog about films on my @chrischalmersnovelist Facebook page. During lockdown I’ve discovered Wimbledon Common (and the cunning shortcut into Richmond Park) so while my gym’s shut I go on 10km walks three times a week before breakfast. And I like reading biographies, and anything scurrilous about Donald Trump.
Alex: Which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Chris: I have a few favourite novels but not many favourite novelists, mainly because I tend to love one book then be a bit disappointed by their next two or three … Except Alexander McCall Smith - I love ALL his No.1 Ladies Detective Agency novels. A holiday’s not a holiday without one!
Alex: Thank you so much for that Chris. It's a real pleasure having you on. I've read all your books and thoroughly enjoyed them all.
Chris: Thanks Alex. It's greatly appreciated.
