Today I'm delighted to welcome writer Leon Steelgrave to the blog. Raised and educated in what he describes as a town of narrow streets and even narrower minds, Leon was afforded plenty of opportunity to hone his acerbic wit. That's something that has stood him in good stead ever since, not least in his writing career. With Leon's debut novel White Vampyre due out in a matter of days, it's the ideal time to ask him some questions not only about the book, but also about his future plans.
Tell me about your book.
White Vampyre is ostensibly a dystopian Sci-Fi novel, but with elements of both crime and horror genres. It centres on the protagonist’s drug addition, personified by Lady Methedrine, the titular White Vampyre. It’s fast, abrasive and violent, although I like to think that there’s some social commentary within the text too.
What was your motivation for writing it?
Back in the day, I would have said something about art. These days, I’m just in it for the chicks and the money!
But seriously, I wanted to explore drug addiction in a manner that avoided moralising but showed the destructive side of loving something to the exclusion of all other considerations.
How much difference does an editor make?
I’m informed it can make a world of difference, but to date I’ve not had much experience of working with an editor. I was involved with a would-be new publishing venture a few years back but as no one was on salary, I found the amount of effort the editors put in to be variable. Additionally, while there were a number of valid criticism and points made which undeniably improved the book, there were some suggestions that struck me as being more akin to censorship. I particularly remember being asked to change the dialogue of a female character who, in the midst of dumping her boyfriend informed him: ‘You’re never gonna fuck my little pussy again!’ Apparently, this was not a credible thing for a woman to say. Personally, I’ve heard a lot worse in my time, but perhaps the common denominator there was that the women in question were involved with me …
At present, I edit my own work with the input of comments from a couple of close and trusted friends. How well it’s working will, I guess, be proved by the reaction to the books.
How important is a good title?
I spend a good deal of time agonising over titles, so it’s an important consideration for me. Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas, A Scanner Darkly, Heart Of Darkness — instantly recognisable and, most importantly, they resonate in the psyche.
One of deal breakers with the publisher above was their insistence that I change the title of White Vampyre to The Sword Of Damocles on the grounds that it sounded too much like a horror novel. I went along with it for a good while, but in retrospect I would have regretted putting the book out under that title.
White Vampyre is ostensibly a dystopian Sci-Fi novel, but with elements of both crime and horror genres. It centres on the protagonist’s drug addition, personified by Lady Methedrine, the titular White Vampyre. It’s fast, abrasive and violent, although I like to think that there’s some social commentary within the text too.
What was your motivation for writing it?
Back in the day, I would have said something about art. These days, I’m just in it for the chicks and the money!
But seriously, I wanted to explore drug addiction in a manner that avoided moralising but showed the destructive side of loving something to the exclusion of all other considerations.
How much difference does an editor make?
I’m informed it can make a world of difference, but to date I’ve not had much experience of working with an editor. I was involved with a would-be new publishing venture a few years back but as no one was on salary, I found the amount of effort the editors put in to be variable. Additionally, while there were a number of valid criticism and points made which undeniably improved the book, there were some suggestions that struck me as being more akin to censorship. I particularly remember being asked to change the dialogue of a female character who, in the midst of dumping her boyfriend informed him: ‘You’re never gonna fuck my little pussy again!’ Apparently, this was not a credible thing for a woman to say. Personally, I’ve heard a lot worse in my time, but perhaps the common denominator there was that the women in question were involved with me …
At present, I edit my own work with the input of comments from a couple of close and trusted friends. How well it’s working will, I guess, be proved by the reaction to the books.
How important is a good title?
I spend a good deal of time agonising over titles, so it’s an important consideration for me. Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas, A Scanner Darkly, Heart Of Darkness — instantly recognisable and, most importantly, they resonate in the psyche.
One of deal breakers with the publisher above was their insistence that I change the title of White Vampyre to The Sword Of Damocles on the grounds that it sounded too much like a horror novel. I went along with it for a good while, but in retrospect I would have regretted putting the book out under that title.
What are your views on e-book pricing?
There are obviously good reasons for e-books to be cheaper than their physical counterparts — no printing or material costs, no warehouse storage or transportation, no shelf space within a shop, all of which, set against the costs of an online shop and space on someone’s server, are going to drive the cost down. Although I’ve not decided yet, in all likelihood, I’ll price my books at the bottom end of the scale. Better, I think, to reach ten thousand people at 86p a book than six hundred at £6.99.
Despite owning (and loving) a Kindle, I remain rather ambivalent about e-books, largely because I’m from a generation used to physical product. A well-bound hardback book is a thing of beauty, although I’m the first to concede that being able to carry several hundred books around in a portable device is equally wonderful in its own way. In a similar fashion, I couldn’t imagine being without my iPod, although when I’m at home I prefer to play vinyl, CDs and even cassettes!
Returning to e-books, I read recently that their sales overtook that of physical books in the US for the first time this year. If that’s what it takes to keep people reading and by extension writers in a job, I’m not going to complain.
It might sound like some sort of joke, but I’m quite serious when I say that one of the things that saddened me most about the riots in London this summer were the reports of Waterstone's being left unscathed! I find it troubling that we have raised a generation for whom books have no value. Although not nearly as sad as the fact that we allow an obscene number of children to leave primary education without basic literacy. How can we have gone so wrong, and, more importantly, what needs to be done to correct it?
What aspects of marketing your book do you enjoy?
For me, the downside to self-publication is the marketing! Running a web site, Facebook account, Twitter account, whatever the hell is the latest hot social media account, all takes time away from writing. Not that I don’t appreciate the input of people who have enjoyed my work, but I’m sure they would like to have more of it and delivered more quickly. That said, I’m planning to shoot a promo video for White Vampyre. I have no money, no equipment and no experience — naturally, I’m looking forward to it immensely.
How do you feel about interviews?
That rather depends on who is asking the questions and what the questions are! I have a very low frustration threshold and am not someone who suffers fools gladly. I freely admit that these are not particularly desirable character traits, but unfortunately that’s just the way I am.
What are you reading now?
Ian Rankin's The Impossible Dead. It’s the second of his Inspector Malcolm Fox series, and while it’s something of a departure from Rebus, the character is as well defined and credible as you’d expect from Rankin. He’s the master of plot, although Stuart MacBride is starting to give him a run for his money, albeit in a more fantastical fashion. I’m planning on getting stuck into his Shatter The Bones next.
What makes you keep reading a book?
Plot and good characterisation. A character or characters that you can grow to love or loath over the course of a series always appeals to me.
What are you currently working on?
A sequel to White Vampyre called Though Your Sins Be Scarlet. A version has existed for a number of years but requires extensive revision in line with the recent changes I’ve made to the e-book edition of WV. It fleshes out a number of the supporting characters in addition to continuing the main narrative. I also have a Norse based fantasy novel, Web Of Wyrd, which I really need to do something with, and a novel set during the First World War. I had great hopes for the latter but the initial draft has proved disappointing, so it’s probably best that I let it sit for a year or two before coming back to it.
Having said all that, my next book will be A Pauper's Shroud, a police procedural set in Inverness. Readers will find a teaser included in the new edition of White Vampyre. I'm working on the final edit and hope to have it out by the end of February.
How can we keep up to date with your news?
The usual social media, plus my website.
What would your epitaph be?
Sell by date? That’s just a guide …
There are obviously good reasons for e-books to be cheaper than their physical counterparts — no printing or material costs, no warehouse storage or transportation, no shelf space within a shop, all of which, set against the costs of an online shop and space on someone’s server, are going to drive the cost down. Although I’ve not decided yet, in all likelihood, I’ll price my books at the bottom end of the scale. Better, I think, to reach ten thousand people at 86p a book than six hundred at £6.99.
Despite owning (and loving) a Kindle, I remain rather ambivalent about e-books, largely because I’m from a generation used to physical product. A well-bound hardback book is a thing of beauty, although I’m the first to concede that being able to carry several hundred books around in a portable device is equally wonderful in its own way. In a similar fashion, I couldn’t imagine being without my iPod, although when I’m at home I prefer to play vinyl, CDs and even cassettes!
Returning to e-books, I read recently that their sales overtook that of physical books in the US for the first time this year. If that’s what it takes to keep people reading and by extension writers in a job, I’m not going to complain.
It might sound like some sort of joke, but I’m quite serious when I say that one of the things that saddened me most about the riots in London this summer were the reports of Waterstone's being left unscathed! I find it troubling that we have raised a generation for whom books have no value. Although not nearly as sad as the fact that we allow an obscene number of children to leave primary education without basic literacy. How can we have gone so wrong, and, more importantly, what needs to be done to correct it?
What aspects of marketing your book do you enjoy?
For me, the downside to self-publication is the marketing! Running a web site, Facebook account, Twitter account, whatever the hell is the latest hot social media account, all takes time away from writing. Not that I don’t appreciate the input of people who have enjoyed my work, but I’m sure they would like to have more of it and delivered more quickly. That said, I’m planning to shoot a promo video for White Vampyre. I have no money, no equipment and no experience — naturally, I’m looking forward to it immensely.
How do you feel about interviews?
That rather depends on who is asking the questions and what the questions are! I have a very low frustration threshold and am not someone who suffers fools gladly. I freely admit that these are not particularly desirable character traits, but unfortunately that’s just the way I am.
What are you reading now?
Ian Rankin's The Impossible Dead. It’s the second of his Inspector Malcolm Fox series, and while it’s something of a departure from Rebus, the character is as well defined and credible as you’d expect from Rankin. He’s the master of plot, although Stuart MacBride is starting to give him a run for his money, albeit in a more fantastical fashion. I’m planning on getting stuck into his Shatter The Bones next.
What makes you keep reading a book?
Plot and good characterisation. A character or characters that you can grow to love or loath over the course of a series always appeals to me.
What are you currently working on?
A sequel to White Vampyre called Though Your Sins Be Scarlet. A version has existed for a number of years but requires extensive revision in line with the recent changes I’ve made to the e-book edition of WV. It fleshes out a number of the supporting characters in addition to continuing the main narrative. I also have a Norse based fantasy novel, Web Of Wyrd, which I really need to do something with, and a novel set during the First World War. I had great hopes for the latter but the initial draft has proved disappointing, so it’s probably best that I let it sit for a year or two before coming back to it.
Having said all that, my next book will be A Pauper's Shroud, a police procedural set in Inverness. Readers will find a teaser included in the new edition of White Vampyre. I'm working on the final edit and hope to have it out by the end of February.
How can we keep up to date with your news?
The usual social media, plus my website.
What would your epitaph be?
Sell by date? That’s just a guide …
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