RANDOLPH LOWE is a distinguished British Secret Agent in the twilight of his career.
When he is handed a mission to kill one of the world’s least accessible, yet most wanted assassins, he never expected a beautiful young woman with the alias, STELLA.
Stella leads him around the world as she picks off her marks with ease, during which time Randolph grows infatuated and falls in love.
But Stella has her own dark secret. Forced into making a terrible sacrifice, she is destined to live her life as a lone killer.
The love of one man may be enough to free her, and only that man can save her now… but only if he can find her...
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Q&A with Colin Galbraith
It's so exciting to witness friends and colleagues publishing their work. I'm delighted to introduce to you Colin Galbraith, a multi-dimensional poet and writer whose new book, STELLA, is hot off the presses. After reading the Q&A below, leave a question or comment for Colin here in the comments section, and you'll be entered to win a free copy of STELLA! (Winner announced on Friday, June 12.) Enjoy!
What was the inspiration for Stella?
The idea for STELLA first came to me in 1988. I was listening to an album of the same name by Yello, and I developed a series of images to certain songs in my mind as I listened to the album. I always promised myself I would one day write these images down into a cohesive text, but it wasn’t until 2007 that I felt my writing had developed enough that I could give it a bash.
I began by writing down these images, and from that I used the music to further inspire the gaps in between. Slowly, a story began to unfold until I had a first draft. It took a lot more work to make it into what it is today and I’m delighted with how it turned out.
Why write a paranormal mystery; you’ve never written in this genre before?
It wasn’t meant to be a paranormal book. My original idea was for the book to be a spy novella, something with its roots in the mysteries of underground eastern Europe. As the ideas began to develop on paper, though, the book began to take on its own form and it made sense for a paranormal aspect to come into it. I can’t honestly see it working without it now.
Did you enjoy writing in this genre?
Very much. Looking back, my writing has diversified naturally over the past couple of years. My favoured “genre” is crime, but I have found the two other most enjoyable types of writing I have indulged in has been paranormal (through STELLA), and children’s poetry, through my e-chapbook, Silly Poems for Wee People Vol.1.
At the start of 2009 I vowed I would write more about the things that made me happy, and since making that decision and sticking to it, I’ve had more success and fun with my writing than any other year.
What research went into writing Stella?
Not as much as you might think. Most research concerned the locations in the book that I hadn’t been to, but which I wanted to appear in the book. It’s fast moving story and takes the reader all around the world, so while I could write vividly about Prague, Amsterdam and London, I knew little of San Francisco, Brooklyn NY and Fes, Morocco.
There was also a bit of research into demons and black roses, but mostly it’s all made up - the kind of writing I enjoy most.
Will we see more of Stella and Randolph?
STELLA was originally meant as a personal writing experiment and I never meant, or expected it, to ever be published. However, now it has been, and having enjoyed working with Stella and Randolph so much, I want to do more with them.
Both Stella and Randolph are such strong characters and there are so many questions I have now STELLA is behind me, that I want to find out more about them. And where the author has questions, so too I expect will the readers.
I’ve already begun work on the sequel and am planning on making their story into a trilogy. The book I am writing just now – the sequel to STELLA - is called BACCARA BURNING.
Baccara Burning sounds interesting – what’s it about?
I’m not going to give a lot away – obviously - but it will take Randolph and Stella’s relationship to the extreme. It will be a real test of their love and trust, and through this we will get to know the real them. Both have lived dark and hidden lives, but in Baccara Burning the cloaks are gone and there is no hiding any longer.
The book starts in Sorrento, but ultimately I want to bring them to my home town of Edinburgh, throw in a local ghost legend or two and see what happens.
What else are you working on?
Other than the sequel to STELLA, I have various projects on the go. I have one novel and a novella both in the editing stage, and I’m working on a new chapbook of poetry to be released later in the year. I also have plans to complete writing a crime novel I began near the end of last year. What with all that and writing gig reviews for News of the World, it’s a busy time!
* * * * * Colin Galbraith has published many short stories, poems, articles and reviews, in both print and online publications.
His novel, Hunting Jack, was serialised in 2004, and his chapbook, Fringe Fantastic: The Poet's Experience of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, was published by Smashing Press in December 2005 to critical acclaim. Poolside Poetry soon followed, published in March 2007.
Colin has published three e-chapbooks: Brick by Brick (2005), Silly Poems for Wee People Vol.1 (2006), and Selektion (2007). He edited his first anthology, Full Circle, in 2007 and his hugely popular children's poem, River Monkeys, appeared in the anthology, A Pocketful of Fun, published by Forward Press in 2006.
He is proud to be the Chief Editor and Publisher of The Ranfurly Review literary e-magazine, and an Associate Editor at The Scruffy Dog Review.
Colin lives in Edinburgh with his wife and daughter, two rabbits and a shoal of fish. He is a fully trained expert in the art of fake falling.
Visit his website: www.colingalbraith.co.uk
Visit his daily blog: www.colingalbraith.co.uk/blog
Follow Colin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/colingalbraith
Colin on MySpace: www.myspace.com/colingalbraith
Colin is available for interviews, guest blogs, readings and appearances. To arrange any of these and more, you can contact Colin directly at colin@colingalbraith.co.uk.
Press queries should be directed to: press@colingalbraith.co.uk
Thanks for being a great host, Sage! Delighted to be here. :-)
Posted by: Colin Galbraith | June 08, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Great stuff, Sage and Colin. Isn't it wonderful when our characters have more to say than we originally envisioned?
I have a copy of STELLA, so I don't need to be entered into the contest!
Posted by: Devon Ellington | June 08, 2009 at 11:34 AM