An interview with Paul Clayton

Amazon interview with Paul Clayton

Amazon.com:

How did you begin writing? Did you intend to become an author, or do you have a specific reason or reasons for writing each book?

P.C.:

I started writing in grade school. I entered an essay writing contest. I won second prize; my sister won first. I like stories and I like to tell stories; I think I got this from my mom, Irish Catholic, with lots of stories of ghosts and graveyards. I never intended to become a writer; I simply wanted to write and kept at it. More than anything however, Viet Nam made me a writer. I was drafted in 68 and sent over as a footsoldier. I was wounded nine months later, medevaced to Japan and then to the states. I wanted to write that experience into a novel (and did) because I wanted everyone who wasn't there to know what it was like. Revenge, I guess.

Amazon.com:

What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?

P.C.:

I majored in English Literature in college, with a minor in American Literature. I like the novel the most and will always remember works such as Conrad's Heart Of Darkness, all of Dickens novels. I've read Faulkner, Mann, Cheever, Marques, and loved them all. The one writer who had the greatest impact on me would be James Jones, the author of From Here To Eternity. I had a deja vu experience as I read the scene in which Milt Warden and a bunch of guys from companies F and G fire the machine gun at the Japanese planes from the roof of the barracks. Of course I was never there, but the strong deja vu was a tribute to Jones's writing power. I read his other two WW II novels and will probably read them all again at least once before I die.

Amazon.com:

Could you describe the mundane details of writing: How many hours a day do you devote to writing? Do you write a draft on paper or at a keyboard (typewriter or computer)? Do you have a favorite location or time of day (or night) for writing? What do you do to avoid--or seek!--distractions?

P.C.:

I write an average of an hour a day. It doesn't sound like much, but I have a full time job (few writers support themselves on their writing) and a family I don't want to ignore. I write in the garage (how romantic) and usually at night after the kids are asleep.

Amazon.com:

Do you meet your readers at book signings, conventions, or similar events? Do you interact with your readers electronically through e-mail or other online forums?

P.C.:

I do signings. I want people to get to know my books. Signings are better than no signings, but unless your Colin Powell, not many people are going to show up. The last one I did was attended by the store manager, his wife, and a crazy guy that walked in off the street - and he ended up getting kicked out.

Amazon.com:

When and how did you get started on the Net? Do you read any newsgroups such as rec.arts.books and rec.arts.sf.written, mailing lists, or other on-line forums? Do you use the Net for research--or is it just another time sink? Are you able to communicate with other writers or people you work with over the Net?

P.C.:

I am just now dipping my toes into the net. I buy books for research. I do go to the library on occasion, but I find I can work more efficiently at home.

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