Photography: Simon Scarrow. Profiles on Facebook and Twitter.
Simon Scarrow needs no introduction. Certainly not if you are fond of the historical novel. It is difficult to find a reader of the genre who has not read, at least, one of its best known protagonists, Roman centurions Fifth Licinius Cato and his most loyal friend Lucius Cornelius Macro. And they already have 17 titles. Has been a real pleasure to grant me this interview and I thank you very much for your kindness and time. Thank you so much, Mr Scarrowsystem. (bilingual version)
simon scarrow
In addition to the series starring Cato and Macro, he has also written the youth series Gladiator, and three independent novels: The sword and the scimitar, Blood in the sand y Stone hearts. And perhaps his most ambitious project is the tetralogy about the parallel lives of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington: Young blood, The generals, By fire and sword y Killing fields.
Along with Lee Francis, has the thriller Playing with death, starring Rose Blake, an FBI special agent.
INTERVIEW WITH SIMON SCARROW
- ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: Do you remember the first book you read? And the first story you wrote?
SIMON SCARROW: The first book I remember reading was one in the series of The Seven Secrets, Enid blyton. I remember being very proud of myself for having read a whole book and from then on I got the bug! And until now.
I don't remember the first story I wrote. However, I liked to tell stories from the age of eight when I was sent to a interned. After the lights went out in the bedroom, we would take turns telling each other. Then one night I decided to interrupt the story and leave it in the culminating moment, promising to continue the next night. I soon found myself doing the job full time. That taught me to tell stories. Knew when I was doing fine because everyone was quiet and listening. After that, I more and more enjoyed writing stories for homework and for pleasure.
- AL: What was the first book that struck you and why?
SIMON SCARROW: Interesting question. I had a hiatus in reading from age ten to twelve and then one day I was sick and I didn't go to school and I took a book that my older brother had taken from the library. It was The Wolfen, de Whitley streiber, an updated review of the werewolf story. It kept me hooked and terrified and it I read in one sitting.
More recently It has surprised me the work of Yasmina Khadra, the pseudonym of an Algerian writer. It is surprisingly good and it's humbling as a writer to find someone who does it so much better than you.
- AL: Who is your favorite writer? You can choose more than one and from all eras.
SIMON SCARROW: Difficult question. Like all favorite choices of anything, it changes from time to time as my tastes change. If I had to choose, Shakespeare would be the first on my list because of the poetry in his words and the depth of their understanding of the human condition. I have also greatly enjoyed the work of Philip K. Dick y Alan MooreBrilliant, writers who have evoked thought-provoking worlds.
- AL: What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
SS: Sherlock Holmes! I read all the stories when I was in school and that introduced me to detective and detective fiction. I loved the gentleman detective with his quirky demeanor and, well, other habits ...
- AL: Any mania when it comes to writing or reading?
SS: Peanut butter sandwiches and a glass of scotch whiskey on the rocks occasionally. Also, I tend to reward myself with good ice cream from snacks Wasabi when I finish a chapter. Some kind of reward for work!
- AL: And your preferred place and time to do it?
SS: Much easier question. Without a doubt, my favorite place is Villa Jovis on the island of Capri. When I first went there I was alone for an hour or so, I sat on a marble bench near the edge of the cliff and looked out to sea far below as the waves crashed against the rocks, and then I looked across from the sea to Sorrento and the bay of Nápoles beyond. It was a wonderful and peaceful moment and I understood perfectly why the emperors loved the island and its sights. A sight to kill, as they say in the UK.
- AL: What writer or book has influenced your work as an author?
SS: In my job they would be Rosemary sutcliff y The Eagle of the Ninth Legion, a brilliant book by a writer who conjures the past into vibrant life for readers. I used to love it when I was a kid, then I read it to my children and only then did I realize the power of its writing.
- AL: Your favorite genres besides historical?
SS: Science fiction, the geblack nero and non-fiction, particularly test cultural.
- AL: What are you reading now? And writing?
SS: Right now I have finished the fabulous The attack, by (Yasmina) Khadra and I'm moving through the first of my crime novels.
- AL: How do you think the publishing market / panorama is? Too many authors trying to publish? Or too many ways to do it?
SS: There is a spectacular amount of published books, which is brilliant. But muchos from them they can't make money, which is bad for interested authors (although some, perhaps, may not deserve success). Likewise, there are good writers what they do carefully and others surprisingly bad What do they do fortunes. As in the film industry and computer application development, nobody really knows why some texts have <strong>success</strong> and others don't. I suspect that the pandemic will force editors to trim their lists for save costs y many writers will difficulties in the next years.
- AL: Is the moment of crisis that we are experiencing being difficult for you or will you be able to keep something positive for future novels?
SS: My life hasn't changed much so far, thankfully. Like many writers, I'm a bit hermit and I spend most of the time writing alone, going out to eating, Go to sleep now walking the dog. I shop once a week, as before, only now I am wearing a mask and gloves. I wish that I could see my parents and my brother (Alex Scarrow, also a science fiction writer) who live in a nearby town.
Right now I am writing a new roman novel set in Sardinia, where it has exploded a plague and the useless fat, blond-haired governor can't deal with her. I have no idea where such inspiration comes from ...