Meet the Author Interviews Films and Books Magazine

Armstrong, author of "Hugely Cinematic" The Game

Films and Books Magazine — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 02:34:13 +0000

Why do you write thrillers?
I don’t write to any genre, really. I’m more about creating wild characters and then setting them loose. But I’ve been called a thriller-writer, and I’m good with that because I like to have fun—and to make fun. Mostly I’m out to poke fun at the zeitgeist. My particular target is reality television. What better way to make fun of reality TV than the thriller?

Would The Game make a good movie?

Yes. It’s funny, though, it’s set against Reality Television, small screen, mainly to give me something to make “fun of.” I’m really hopped up on how stupid reality television is these days. But it’s a big-screen thriller in every other respect. The characters are cinematic. Your reviewer called it “hugely cinematic.”

One reviewer called The Game a mystery, though.
There are mysterious elements, yes. But I wrote it as a thriller. I love mysteries, but if you’re looking for the masterful who-done-it, that’s not The Game. The Game is more thrills, chills and laughs, although it has lots of sleuthing, lots of red-herrings, all that good stuff.

So, when Publishers Weekly reviewed The Game as a mystery, was that wrong?
It was wrong if you’re comparing it as a mystery to all the wonderful who-done-its out there. I don’t really write genre. My novels are more about building the whackiest, non-archetypal characters possible. On the other hand, I don’t write the “mainstream character-driven” novel because I love the complex plot as well. Why do we have all these definitions? Really, it’s just a fun novel. I had fun writing it. I hope readers have fun reading it. I’m told people remember my characters, and chuckle out loud from time to time. I can’t ask for more than a good time and a memorable character.

Booklist’s Reviewer mentioned The Game “injects the trope with new vigor.” That suggests your novel is somewhat derivative?

Everything is derivative. The same reviewer compared Bane to House, the TV doctor, because of his sarcasm. I found that flattering and annoying at the same time. I actually modeled Alban Bane on my mother Anna Kane. She was even more sarcastic than House, and funnier. Booklist is prestigious and they know their stuff, so I was delighted when David Pitt finished off, “But, for all of that, the novel somehow manages to avoid feeling derivative.” Then something about satire and chuckles. I loved that review. He’s right, too. Everything can be compared to something out there, but the key is to bring an originality. In my case, I work this through character and satire. Oh, sure, Bane is a super sleuth who is after a serial killer, but he’s much more than that. He’s a single father with a wicked sense of humor. He’s borderline suicidal, but he never gives up. He’s brilliant an naive. And he makes friends in spite of his attitude, which is why, I think, reviewers and readers — so far — like him.

You don’t take yourself seriously at all?
Not really. I’m not as sarcastic as Bane. In fact, I get tongue-tied in public, so my funniest lines are in my head. But, my mother was the model for Alban Bane. She had a brilliant sarcastic wit. Laugh-out-loud funny. And no, I don’t take myself seriously. If I get a bad review, I just assume they didn’t “get it.” Doesn’t bother me much. But humor’s so incredibly subjective.

You stress humor a lot.
Derek Armstrong in Venice, attacked by birds. A climactic “chase” scene in Venice inspired the trip.
I do, but I don’t write humor. I just write humorously, at times. But there’s plenty of angst and anguish in my thrillers. In The Game, I attack the stupidity of television. I think, perhaps I’d like to take on the idiocy of the internet in a future thriller. MADicine, the sequel to The Game is far more ambitious, taking on a near-armageddon situation that results from the greed of corporations and pharmaceutical research companies. My historical thriller The Last Troubadour deals with historical tragedies and quite important events. But humor helps keep it interesting, prevents the reader from spiraling into depression at the thought of the injustices done. My characters have humorous sides, and my plots are somewhat satirical. But I’m not writing humor.

How many movie production companies are reading The Game now?
Just over twenty. They’re reading uncorrected proofs based on reviews.

Why do you think it will make a good movie?
The characters. Yes, reality TV as a backdrop to a thriller-suspense novel is high concept. But everyone who reads comments on the characters and the dialog.

Do you think it will be a movie?
Some day.

What are you working on now?
MADicine. Bane, my witty “swashbuckling Scotsman” protagonist is back with an amazing new impact character, Doctor Ada Kenner of the CDC. I would have made her the protagonist, but it’s Bane’s show. It takes thriller to the limit, with science run amok, and the antagonist from The Game back — only he’s far more dangerous this time. The world’s at stake, not just a few TV stars.

You also write feature articles and columns?
Less and less, but I do always find time to regularly submit to Literary Culture on Suite 101. It’s an important connection with readers and the industry. The whole culture of literature is something I’m very passionate about. I was delighted they asked me. I still do some reviews, although not so many now. I’m on the road a lot these days.

Derek Armstrong is the author of The Game (Kunati Books), The Last Troubadour and The Persona Principle (Simon & Schuster). His books have been translated into five languages. He also writes scripts.

Controversial Author of RABID Claims She's Not Anti-Religion or Anti-Science

Films and Books Magazine — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 21:05:46 +0000

Today Films and Books interviews TK Kenyon, author of the highly controversial novel RABID (ISBN 9781601640024, Spring 07), already creating buzz because of its portrayal of religion at war with science:

Q: The book blurb is very provocative. “Science proves it: there is no God.” Are you anti-religion?

A: No, I present Science as too arrogant as well. Religions can bring comfort to people and improve their quality of life. Religious charities drastically improve the world by helping some of the poorest people on Earth with far more efficiency than governmental groups. However, I’m anti-stupid religion.

Q: Can you give an example of stupid religion?

A: Many. Too many religions border on being cults. An example of a stupid religion would be one that tells people that they will go to Hell unless they believe what the religion tells them to. It smacks of junior high school girls ganging up on other kids and harassing them until they conform. It’s like teasing someone because they drink the wrong flavor of soda or wear the wrong brand of shoe. It’s an attempt to feel superior based on a stupid reason.

Q: Another?

A: Religions that rationalize murder astound me with their stupidity. People who kill other people in the name of religion are idiots or insane.

Q: Sounds like you could go on.

A: Yep. Any religion that makes you unhappy, guilty, hateful or angry is stupid. Religion should lead you to a closer relationship with the Divine and give you strength and serenity.

Q: But you’re a scientist. What’s your field?

A: My PhD is in molecular virology. I did postdoctoral research in neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania.

Q: Yet in your book you paint the scientists as equally dangerous, at least some of them. Do people really conduct secret and dangerous experiments in university science labs?

A: All the time.

Q: Tell me about one.

A: I’ve attended conferences where they presented results of experiments such as adding human receptor proteins to animal viruses like Pseudorabies virus (PRV) or Herpes B (an encephalitis virus), which could result in a terrible new plague to which no one has any natural immunity. These things are joked about because the possibility of creating a superpathogen is low, but it is possible.

Q: In your book you suggest the Inquisition still exists.

A: It’s now called the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and is part of the Roman Curia. It deals with heresy.

Q: One of your main characters Dante seems to be an inquisitor in pursuit pedophile priests.

A: Yes. The Vatican document Crimen Sollicitationis demands that priest sexual abuse cases be dealt with in secrecy. The CDF is charged with investigating pedophile priests.

Q: Your novel takes both religion and science to task. It can only be described as highly controversial.

A: I think I take certain practices to task. Dangerous science. And dangerous religion. And blind faith in either religion or science regardless of what they do.

Q: Your characters are very complex, all quite naughty.

A: Nothing in Rabid is far-fetched, though. Sexually predatory professors often view incoming classes of graduate students or undergraduates as “fresh meat.” Naïve graduate students believe that either the professor is attracted to their mind or talent or it’s some kind of compliment. Some priests are pedophiles, and the Church has protected pedophiles by hiding them. Sooner or later, the Catholic Church is going to have to face the fact that seminary admission standards and the celibate priesthood are perhaps the most perfect system ever devised to recruit pedophiles. Both religion and science in their extreme forms appeal to the most damaged and unstable people among us.

Q: But you really stir the stew at high boil.

A: Yes. My characters do spin out of control. Their situation is compounded by the fact that these four damaged, twisted people are thrown together and have to survive each other. If you threw four sane, stable, normal people into this situation, well, the book wouldn’t have a murder, a trial, and an exorcism in it.

Q: That’s what makes it fun. I thought the characters were quite brilliant. The trial scene is one of the best I’ve read.

A: Thank you.

Q: Do you expect a backlash from the Church or Science?

A: Maybe. Probably. I certainly think these issues shouldn’t be hidden.

TK Kenyon’s RABID, releases in April 07 from Kunati Books

ISBN 978-1-60164-002-4