Interview with... Eoin Colfer - El Templo de las Mil Puertas

INTERVIEW

Eoin Colfer

El Templo #4 (junio 2008) por Gally

The novel Half-Moon investigations has just been published in our country. The title in Spanish (something like Detective Fletcher Moon: First case), could make us think that this book is the first one of a series. Are you thinking about writting more books with this character?

I do like this character and his friends, so I may come back to him in the future. I know there will possibly be a tv series about him-so then I will need to expand on his cases.

Airman has been recently released in English. How is it going? What can you tell your Spanish readers, who will soon enjoy it, about this book?

Airman is flying out of the shops, pardon the pun. It has been a best-seller in every country so far, thank goodness. It is my favourite book of mine and a story I have wanted to write for years. It tells the tale of a young boy who invents a flying machine ten years before the Wright Brothers, and then must use this machine to escape from a terrible prison. It is written in the spirit of Robin Hood or The Three Musketeers. A real swash buckler.

You are worldly famous due to your fantasy series of Artemis Fowl, but you work on many genres: Mystery (Half Moon Investigations), Realism (Benny and Omar), even science-fiction (The Supernaturalists). Which genre do you prefer?

I am a big fan of many genres and would love to write a book in all of them. I have yet to do vampires or romance. Maybe a book about a romantic vampire? When all is said and done, I think fantasy is my favourite.

How’s a working day for you? Do yo spend many hours writing each day?

I was a teacher so I still try to do a teacher's working day. About 9 to 4, five days a week.

Your characters have a big personality –I love Butler, Foaly and Mulch, and also Lowrie, from The wish list-. Which is your favourite one? How do you build the characters? Do you see them clearly before yo start writing, or do they grow up with the story? We have seen Artemis Fowl growing up and becoming more mature in each new book. Do you imagine an adult Artemis?

My characters seem to grow themselves, which is a strange thing. It is almost as if they decide what they will do next. I know that this is only my subconscious writing the story, but it feels like all these people are alive in my brain. My favourite characters are Fletcher Moon and Artemis. I would like to do adult books about these guys some day.

Do you plan your novels before writing? Did you know that Artemis Fowl would be a series, or did the story grow more with each new book?

I write a comprehensive plan before beginning, then I never stick to it. The plan is like a safety net for me. I had planned to write 3 Artemis books, now I will write another only if the idea comes first.

The Fairy People in Artemis Fowl series are very different from the magic creatures we have always imagined according to the folklore and the legends. Is this because we don’t know very much about the folklore sources, or do you describe them in a very different way? If so, why did you decide to show them in this way? And how about the high technology they use? Is just science-fiction?

When I decided to write a fantasy series I knew from my own reading that there were many wonderful books already written in this genre and if I wanted my books to be different and somewhat original then I would have to add something to the formula- what I decided to add was new weird types of fairy and technology.

The Time Paradox will be released next summer–we hope we have it in Spain in November or December. What can you tell your Spanish readers about this book? Is it true that it’s going to be the last Artemis adventure?

In The Time Paradox, Artemis must travel back through time to steal something from his younger self. Artemis vs Artemis a real battle. This will be the last Artemis for a couple of years while I take a break from fairyland to write some different books.

Recently has been released the graphic novel in our country. We know that you have been involved in it, writing the script, but, did you collaborate with the illustrator in the characters’ design? Did you imagine the characters as the graphic novel shows?

The artist, Giovanni Rigano came up with ninety per cent of the character design himself and his pictures looked even better than I had hoped for. All I did was give a comment or two on minor points such as hairstyles or costumes.

And what about the movie? We know there is a film project since many years ago. Is it still going on? Is it true that Jim Sheridan is working in the script? Will he direct the movie?

I was talking with Jim yesterday and he is still eager to direct the movie. Hopefully the studions will give him the green light soon.

How is your relationship with your readers? Do their comments and opinions influence your writing in any way?

I am always open to opinions and sometimes I do take on board what reader says. Generally when I am writing a book though, I isolate myself from all outside opinions as I have enough voices in my head already.

In The Lost Colony, Artemis visits Barcelona. Have you been there? If so, did you like it? Do you plan to visit Spain someday?

I visited Barcelona on a book tour once and absolutely loved it. While I was there I took notes for Artemis's adventure there. I hope to visit again soon.

What are you literary preferences? Do you read books for young readers? Can you recommend us any author, for example, an Irish author who should be read in other countries?

I read all kinds of books, from literary to thriller to kid-lit. There is a new fantasy writer here called Derek Landy who writes the Skullduggery Pleasant books. They have been a huge hit here and in the UK and I hope they will be read in Spain too.

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