Special Guest Michael Cargill Author of Underneath

Michael Cargill is an author from Surrey, England. I loved his book Underneath. His descriptions are so detailed without overpowering the narrative that his writing transports you right into the story/ I was glad he was interested in doing an interview!

Michael’s other titles include:  Shades of Gray, Slaughter in Barnaby Close, Shelter from Thunder, and Diary of a Dork. You can also get a good sense of his humor by reading his blog at http://michaelcargill.wordpress.com

Alright, here comes the questions!

Who is your favorite character in Underneath?

Tricky one, this.  Robert would probably be an obvious choice, but I rather liked Clare.  She is smart, organized, and likes a laugh.  She has empathy for those who need her help, and plenty of guts to take down any criminals.

Which character was the most fun to write?

Probably Robert.  As I was writing some of his lines, I was chuckling to myself as the thoughts popped into my head.  I was able to have some fun with him.

By the way, I laughed at some of his lines too.

What have you learned as a writer?

That the editing process is suicide inducing.  I never realised just how soul destroying reading your own work, over, and over again, could be.

I reckon that in the future, professional editors will offer a suicide assistance package.  They’ll make a killing.

Ha, Ha, I agree!

What was some of your inspiration/sources?

Nothing in particular for this story, really.  I popped onto Wikipedia for five minutes, to research what sociopaths were like.  I also know some people who are in the police force, so I was able to use some of the things they have talked about when it came to cop-shop stuff.

What are you reading right now?

I’m having a trip back into the world of non-fiction at the moment, reading a book on the Holocaust.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Stephen King by far, followed by honourable mentions for Michael Crichton, and John Grisham.

Stephen King is my favorite author too!

How much reading do you do within your chosen genre of thriller?

A fair bit, actually!  I never realised it until fairly recently, but I seem to write what I read.

What is your next project?

I’m actually working on a story at the moment.  It’s about antelopes galloping through a shopping centre, and they get told off for making a mess in the women’s toilets.

Nah, not really.  It’s set in a school, but I am still in the early stages really.  Ideas are bouncing around my head like a mad ‘un.

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Practice, and don’t panic.  You really need to be aware of how much work goes into just one book – proof reading is a big part of it.  No-one can write a bestseller in one go.  If you write something, then feel embarrassed by it a few days later, then that’s good!  It means you see what needs to changed, which is how all authors work.

Thanks Michael!