Simon: I've always said that it's the same, but different. We have houses, cars, schools shopping centres and all that, but I think here in Canada, people have a different attitude to life in general. Canada also regularly places high, if not top, of the UN's list of the best places to live in the world. I do prefer Canada, but have very fond memories of the UK and have visited family over the years since my move here in 1990.
10.SR: How did you deal with rejections?
Simon: I never took them personally. Your work isn't going to be loved by everyone, even if it's published all over the world and wins prizes.
11.SR: Can you describe a typical writing day?
Simon: I'm not sure if there is such a thing. At the moment I am very busy with promotion of 'The Alchemist''s Portrait' in the approach to Christmas with bookstore events. I am also putting together a children's book fair with other local writers in Calgary in time for the festive season. I tend to spend much of the daytime on administration and promotion work; arranging signings, book reviews, school visits etc and responding to e mails. Oh yes,and in between, I find time to run my kids back and forth to school twice a day. I find that I can only be creative later in the evening, so the writing day for me sometimes ends around 2 A.M.
In terms of a typical writing process, it depends on the book really. I have a huge ideas file and some are no more than a title, a sentence, or a paragraph, others are more developed. Once I sit down to write the novel, I like to create a plan, including a chapter by chapter outline, even if some chapters are more developed than others. Often the rest comes to me once I start writing. A novel can be completed in three or four weeks, at least in a basic form. This would be the first rough draft of the text. I would then immediately begin making revisions, even deleting some portions altogether. If things aren¹t coming together, it¹s often best to leave the story for a while. Take a break, do something else and come back at it fresh. I may then work on different sections individually. Altogether, before the publisher and editor add their suggestions, it would be a five or six month process.
