Interviewer: Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to our program. Today, we continue our series of programs about modern writers. We all love reading books, but at some point of our lives, we all feel that we can write a bestseller or that an episode of our lives can become a plot for one. That's why you like our program so much, don't you? Well, in our studio right now, we have Alex Smith, the famous writer. Good afternoon, Alex.
Alex: Good afternoon. It's so nice being here. Thank you for inviting me.
Interviewer: Let me remind the listeners about your outstanding achievements, Alex. As far as I remember, you've written over 60 books for adults and children, as well as a variety of academic legal texts. The best-known books you've written refer to the series about a Ladies Detective Agency. The latest addition to this series was published in 2018. Am I correct?
Alex: Absolutely.
Interviewer: Well, to start with, I address all the writers I talked to one in the same question: Why do you write?
Alex: Like most writers, I write because I feel that I have to. It's not exactly a compulsion, but it's quite close to that. Writing makes sense of my world, which is what most of us want to do on some level or other. And then money is important, but most writers would still write, even if they weren't paid for that.
Interviewer: Which novelists do you admire?
Alex: I like the usual ones, the great 19th century novelists such as Tolstoy, Clover and Dickens. However, I very much enjoy reading 20th century and contemporary novels, too. Graham Green was a great master. R.K. Narayan, the Indian writer who created a wonderful series of books set in a small Indian town of Mangawhai, is one of my great literary heroes. He is something of a miniaturist, as is Barbara Pinn, another enthusiasm of mine. Then, for a bit of humour, I greatly admire E.F. Benson.
Interviewer: Will you please describe the route to your first novel being published?
Alex: I started as a writer of children's books. I entered a writing competition and was fortunate enough to be one of the winners. After writing numerous children's books, I started to write short stories and then progressed to writing novels.
Interviewer: As far as I know, you have a literary agent. Has it helped you?
Alex: At a very early stage in my writing career, I acquired an agent. I was very fortunate to have Gina Greene on my side, and she continued to represent me until her retirement. I then went to Carolyn Walsh, who has done a wonderful job for me. A good agent is above the price of rubies.
Interviewer: In what ways do you service your books.
Alex: If you are fortunate enough to have your books taken up in a significant way? There is a tremendous amount to do in servicing the books. I do a lot of traveling and often attend literary festivals and other events all over the world. Although it can be quite burdensome, it is always very interesting to meet the readers and I think that is what keeps me going.
Interviewer: What advice would you give to an aspiring novelist?
Alex: I think that many novelists are at the beginning of their careers, spent far too much time writing and then tinkering with their first book. My advice is to write a book and then immediately go on to the next one and to the one after that. In other words, the more you write, the better you will become.
Interviewer: Thank you very much, Alex. It has been very interesting talking to you.
Alex: My pleasure. I will be happy to come again one more time, if you wish.
