You’d have thought that Ben and Nikolas would have learnt that their romantic holidays inevitably end up as disasters. A short break on the polar ice sees them trapped in a nightmare of murder and deceit. Neither of them, however, foresees the long-term impact that endless winter has on their relationship. They return with a metaphorical darkness that threatens everything they have created together. Desperate and fearing for Nikolas’s life, Ben makes a bargain with a surprising ally. For the first time, Nikolas meets an enemy more powerful than he is. But fortunately, not as sneaky…
Prologue
The view from the window hadn’t changed since the last time Ben had studied it—one grey, depressing wing of the building, the car park below, and some scraggly trees, still bare in January. Farther away, he could see the roofs of some houses, and perhaps, if he let his imagination run away with it, the distant hills of Bodmin moor. He didn’t speculate in the realms of fiction much these days. He brought his gaze back to the utilitarian architecture.
The seagull was back, perched on the sill, as it had been day after day. Sometimes, it tapped the window with its beak. Ben was never sure if the gull wanted in, or for him to open the window and join it outside, flying or falling. Freedom either way.
Secretly, Ben thought the gull was an albatross. It was so vast, so impressive, that it seemed inconceivable that it could be an ordinary gull blown in from Plymouth Sound and sitting on the grimy ledge. The first albatross perhaps to make it to England, tossed on ocean currents all the way from the Chatham Islands, lost, alone. If it was, then it was in good company. Ben had never felt so lost or so alone, and he had spent a fair proportion of his life being buffeted by metaphorical winds far stronger than those that prowled the vast oceans of the world.
Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing John Wiltshire author of Enduring Night
Hi John, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.
Tell us about your book.
Hi, yes, it’s called Enduring Night and is the 7th in the More Heat Than the Sun series about Ben Rider and Nikolas Mikkelsen published by MLR Press. The boys had a hard time in Book 6. Nikolas badly underestimated Ben, and Ben took his eye off the ball, just wanting their lives to be easy and fun. In Book 7 they are still suffering from the after effects of these errors. They decide to go on a Polar Night romantic holiday. As the title implies, all doesn’t go well.
How difficult was it to get into the main character’s head?
To be honest, after seven books, not difficult at all. The trouble I seem to be having these days is getting out of my characters heads when I need to surface and do other things. My life doesn’t seem quite as exciting as theirs, I have to confess.
Is this book a standalone or do you plan on visiting it again?
Book 8, His Fateful Heap of Days, is already written and with my editor. And I have no intention of ending the series there.
Why did you choose to write M/M stories?
I think they chose me. I wrote my first aged ten. It was very much guys on a camping trip having to share sleeping bags to keep warm type of drivel—very innocent. But I’ve never been interested in women and their concerns. I prefer the world of men. I actually don’t choose books to read with female protagonists, and if one slips in for romantic interest, I always think how much better the story would be if she were male.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I occasionally teach at a writing class, and I tell my students that writers are readers first. I’m a voracious reader in all genres, except m/m, ironically. I never consciously copy a plot outline, of course, but inspiration inevitably seeps in. Then real life lends themes too. I’ve lived in eight different countries so far, and had some odd adventures in my time—from nice things like dining with a Prince to not so nice like being bombed. So I still have lots to draw on for plots ideas. One of my novels coming out this year, Ollie Always, was inspired from my more recent travels—emigrating to New Zealand and all that followed from that drastic step. The book I’m currently writing is set in a small Devon village, and every character is real (only disguised, because I’d like to go home some day and don’t want to be lynched).
John is English, an ex-army officer, who emigrated to New Zealand and now spends his time surfing and procrastinating on YouTube.
3 comments:
Lived in eight countries. Does that count training and overseas deployment?
Hi John! I can't wait to read your book.
I've downloaded my copy and can't wait to read it. Also, extremely pleased to know another in the series is in the pipeline!!!! Thank you so much for writing these amazing books.
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