Author Q&A: Colin Falconer

Today we're interviewing author Colin Falconer, who writes historical adventure thrillers, which reflect his passion for history and travel.

His popular Epic Adventure series includes the bestselling Silk Road, Harem (translated into fifteen languages) and Feathered Serpent (which topped the bestsellers lists in Mexico for weeks).

Born in London, Falconer worked in advertising, TV, and radio before becoming a full-time author.

SADYE: What have been the most surprising, rewarding, and challenging parts of your writing career?

COLIN: The most surprising is that I’ve made a good living as a full-time writer for over thirty years. No one in my family knew about writing, and it didn’t seem possible when I was growing up.

The most rewarding part is writing for my audience, taking them to new places, and hearing their feedback.

The most challenging bit has been staying within my chosen genre and being disciplined about not writing about anything and everything I think of.

SADYE: What has been the most touching or memorable piece of reader feedback you’ve received?

COLIN: My work is inspired by my passion for history, travel and people, so I liked this Amazon review.

"Colin Falconer lets you travel around the world sampling the heights and depths of the human condition as well as the darkest depths of the human heart."

And I was very pleased when Wilbur Smith wrote "a fantastic read" about Colossus.

SADYE: What message or theme would you like readers to take away from your work?

COLIN: That there is no one version of history. That history is a lens through which we view past events — and it changes depending on whose eyes we look through. 

SADYE: What advice, as relates to your writing career, would you give your younger self?

COLIN: I’d tell myself to write a series and to taking branding and marketing seriously.

When I started out I wrote a lot of one-off books, based on what I wanted to write about, rather than working out who my audience was and what they wanted to read.

I also left far too many decisions to publishing companies.

SADYE: What experience in your past or general aspect of your life has most affected your writing

COLIN: When I was a child, my Aunty Ivy used to come to visit me in London.

She would bring with her Classics Illustrated comics, that she’d picked up at the markets. I devoured them, and I had read all the classics like Jules Verne and H. Ryder Haggard by the time I was ten.

It planted the seed of adventure in me. I wanted to travel, and I wanted to write.

* * *

Learn more about Colin Falconer on his website, where his books can also be purchased; like his page on Facebook; and follow him on Twitter and Instagram. 

Know an author you'd like to see featured? Email us with a recommendation!