Rhys Ford: author interview and giveaway!
G’day people! I hope you are all having a great day, I know I am! Today we have a special treat! Not only do we have the talented and fabulous Rhys Ford over for an interview in which she share a bit about herself, her books and upcoming releases, but there is also a give-away. If you had a bad day, it’s going to be better now!
Give a warm welcome to Rhys!
Hiya Rhys, welcome to the blog and thanks for agreeing to do an interview! So tell us, who is Rhys Ford?
– Thank you for having me! Like bologna! Wooot!
Aish, who is Rhys Ford? I have no idea how to answer that one. I kind of have no life. I write, work, sleep, cook—rinse and repeat. Wow. I’ll have to get back to you. Mostly I just am.
A lot of people are very happy you started writing, but can you tell us a bit about how you became an author?
– Hah! Oh dear. Let’s see. I wrote my first book on a manual typewriter when I was 12. I am sure it was brilliant and is now lost in the sands of time, never to be found again. I can’t even tell you what it was about. I’m sure it was trite and maudlin but damn it, it was a story. I come from a family of liars. Really, telling stories is a family pastime. For good or evil.
I try to use my genetics for good.
You have a number of series with strong male, if not a little tortured, leads. Where do you get your inspiration from for your characters?
– I don’t really think about the archetypes of the characters when I write. I mostly form my characters by their personality traits. Adversity is a common theme in life. Some people have it pretty easy while others suffer their existence. *grins* I get inspiration by the what-ifs of a personality. How would this character fit into this other character. Then add spice, background and a few bits of trauma. Sometimes it starts with a scene or a conversation. Miki’s story began when I was in San Francisco and saw a fire escape in Chinatown. It was a tight alley and there were old wooden doors and signs in Mandarin and I thought, there’s the beginning of a story.
Can you tell us something funny that happened to you while writing?
– I will admit to writing something, it not fitting then backing up only to find myself adding a little piece of silly to it. I’ve discovered silly goes a long way in smoothing out the brain. I did once say out loud to my cat, Yoshi, I thought a passage was shit and she horked up a hairball right then. So obviously she shared my opinion.
What are important character traits for you in the characters your write?
– Balance. They can’t be perfect. There has to be flaws. Even my most “heroic” characters have flaws. Because people are like that. Shine the boy up then dent him a bit.
How would you describe your writing style? And what is important to you when writing a story?
– Ah, I go full bore writing then hit a wall, back up, retrofit, full bore then stop, stall and write again. It’s annoying. I’d love for it to just flow. Sadly, it does not.
I write by instinct mostly. How does the story taste? How does it feel? It has to fit around me when I write.
Time to ask a funny question. You are on a fabulous cruise, but alas the ship enters the Bermuda Triangle and you are transported to a different unknown world. Fortunately you can choose three characters from any book to take with you and maybe some coffee. Who will you choose?
– Oh… so difficult. Um… Whyborne from Jordan L. Hawk’s Whyborne and Griffin series, Gael from Donald Kingsbury’s Courtship Rite and Buckaroo Banzai from Earl Rauch.
Your upcoming book Murder & Mayhem is the first in a new series. Can you share with us a bit about what and who the series will be about?
– Oh, Rook and Dante. In a nutshell, Rook’s an ex-con cat burglar whose caught red-handed, literally, with a dead body. Dante is the LAPD detective tasked to tightening the case’s noose around Rook’s neck. They share a bit of history but Dante tries to not let that sway him. Dante’s a bit of a white knight and Rook’s a bit of an asshole who now owns a geek memorabilia business and is trying to stay legit.
It was a fun book mostly to write. It’s hard to start a new series because I don’t know the flavour of the world. I expected it to be a bit more slap-dash but it came out noir-ish and a bit gritty. Who knew?
Murder & Mayhem is not the only new series you have coming up. In July the first book in your new series Ink & Shadows will be released. An Urban Fantasy it has…the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Where did the inspiration for this story come from?
– Ink and Shadows. There is a pool of stygian darkness tar sludge in my soul. That’s where this book came from. Probably the darkest piece I’ve ever written but the Four are…necessary for humanity to thrive. Kismet is a human who happens to be caught up in a war for the world(s) the Four live in. I had fun with this book. It’s a no-holds-barred kind of book for me. Still a step away from realistic but steeped in a lot of intricate mythos about life, war, death and complicated destinies.
You write predominantly series, do you prefer writing series? Do you have a different approach to writing a series from a standalone?
– I actually have tried to write one-offs. Fish and Ghosts was a one-off. So was Sinners until I started writing it and then that all went to shit. I’m currently writing a one-off I have no title for but I am determined to let it stay a one-off. *grins* An HEA!
What are the stories you like to read for yourself?
– I read pretty much anything. Historicals when I’m writing because they’re a style farthest from what I’m doing. That’s key. To balance out my brain. Hell, I read regencies when I’m doing mysteries to cleanse the palate and contemporaries when I’m doing paranormal. Usually opposite helps.
Before we wrap this up, is there anything you would like to add?
– Other than saying truly, thank you for having me. It was a welcome respite from killing people. I appreciate the time you’ve given me! Thanks!
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About Rhys
Rhys Ford was born and raised in Hawai’i then wandered off to see the world. After chewing through a pile of books, a lot of odd food, and a stray boyfriend or two, Rhys eventually landed in San Diego, which is a very nice place but seriously needs more rain.
Rhys admits to sharing the house with three cats, a black Pomeranian puffball, a bonsai wolfhound, and a ginger cairn terrorist.
Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and a red Hamilton Beach coffee maker.
But mostly to the coffee maker.
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