Interview with David Bilsborough

Q: Were there any perceived conventions of the fantasy genre which you wanted to twist or break when you set out to write THE WANDERER'S TALE and its sequel?

Good vs. Evil. Heroes who are either "reluctant", "unassuming", "handsome" or (gag!) all three, who are always Good, always single/unattached, and always get the girl in the end. Beautiful heroines, skinny femme-fatale ninjas/sorceresses who wear nowt but brass brassieres and chiffon, or willowy, long-tressed Arthurian maidens who stand atop cliffs gazing out to sea contemplating their role in "a man's world" (Blech!). Gypsies who wear colourful silk and speak in rhyme (?!) The short, stocky, salt-of-the-earth sidekick who loves a good brawl and a pint. The strong, silent, mysterious, hooded stranger who sits alone in a darkened corner of the inn smoking. The quirky, croak-voiced and cowardly comic-relief character. Dashing rogues with wry smiles. Baddies in black. Evil magic-users. Slap-headed, bandy-legged, smart-arsed gurus who are always right. Exploding castles at the end out of which the heroes only just escape.

But above all, people who pronounce "warrior" as "war-year". (Give me strength!)

You know. The usual.

Q: In light of the current market, are you tempted to write one of those enormous fantasy epics which continue to be the most successful series at the moment?

I thought I just had.

Q: Given the choice, would you take a New York Times bestseller, or a World Fantasy Award? Why, exactly?

Rather than either of those, I'd love to have my stories recognised in Scandinavia, the British Isles and Germany, as it's those cultural/folklore traditions that have inspired me, and those I really hope to be a part of.

Q: What authors make you shake your head in admiration? Many fantasy authors don't read much inside the genre. Is it the case with you?

There are only two authors who have truly inspired me: Richard Adams, and - of course - Tolkien. J.R.R. in particular wrote with such unearthly, poetic beauty that I can't imagine any other author coming even close to him. (He was a frequent walker of the Malvern Hills, too.)

Apart from that, I can only think of two others I look up to. Graham Greene's concise summation of the human condition in all its boundless stupidity, need for self-delusion, and varying shades of evil, are themes I try to reflect in my own writing. And Michael Frayn for his sheer cleverness.

So unfortunately I hardly read fiction at all now. Not because I don't like to, but simply because 90% of it is so disappointing - uninspired, predictable, cliched, and written mainly for money, i.e. all that Tolkien's writing is not. Like him, I teach for a living, and write for the love of it. I only ever write when inspired, or at least enthused; I will not hurry, compromise, or write for a target readership. Many people in the publishing world agree that there are far too many books being written nowadays, and maybe this is why. Even the most lauded bestselling authors seem to me to write as if they have a bland Hollywood film deal in mind.

Q: Cover art has become a very hot topic of late. What are your thoughts pertaining to that facet of a novel, and what do you think of the cover that grace THE WANDERER'S TALE?

I never stuck my oar in during the cover design stage; I always wanted it to be a complete surprise, like a Xmas present, seeing it on the day of publication.

That said, Peter did show me the initial design a while back, and I was very relieved that it didn't conform to the stereotypical fantasy designs I hate so much. Both Peter and I always wanted to avoid standard clichés, wanting this story to appeal to a much wider, more general audience. So this cover, though having a wonderful and entirely apposite 'misty romance' about it, certainly does not scream "Fantasy" or "D&D", thank Grud. And the cover for "A Fire in the North" is even better.