Author Khaled Talib discusses development of his newest thriller "Gun Kiss"

Today we're welcoming author Khaled Talib to The Book Cove. He's the author of three novels -- the most recent titled Gun Kiss was published December 2017 and has received rave reviews.



TBC: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? 

KT: I was born and raised in Singapore. I've been writing since I was a kid. Although I did attain some recognition, I never realized my full potential until much later. My little voice, once lost, kept pressing me on. To date, I've authored three novels. I am self-taught, never once having the opportunity to attend a workshop or a school to learn the craft. Along the route, I experienced agony and ecstasy. I ended up being a magazine writer before switching to the field of public relations. It also involved some form of writing though different from fiction. I find myself more interested in writing fiction as it allows my imagination to thrive in more ways than one. It's like baking a cake, you know; there are many versions of the same cake but you can make your own.


TBC: How long have you been writing?

KT: I tried writing a detective novel when I was 15 but I gave up halfway. I remember seeing a contemporary novel in the basement written by a 16 year old French girl, so I thought I could do the same. Alas, I didn't understand the techniques of novel writing back then. But I had plenty of stories at the back of my mind.


TBC: What was the inspiration for your most recent book, Gun Kiss?

KT: After completing my second work, I was worried about a dry spell. I had no idea for the next until I saw an old movie past midnight on TV with a famous movie star. Somehow the actress inspired me and I decided to concoct a story that I felt would appeal to readers. And so Gun Kiss came to be. The novel feature several themes based on what's been happening in Hollywood and beyond, including racism and the war on drugs. So, it's a hotchpotch of everything.


  TBC: What was the hardest part about writing Gun Kiss?

KT: For some mysterious reason, many readers seem to like my secondary character Jack. The irony because I had a hard time trying to create his character. I made it too complicated initially but when I decided to simplify things, I wasn't sure if this was the way to go. I doubted him. Somehow, Jack is a favorite, and I even have readers telling me to bring him back, along with the other characters I created.

I also had difficulty trying to research some of the U.S. legal procedures and practices undertaken by the F.B.I. I didn't want to fake it as I felt the story needed to be factually correct. Somehow, I managed to get the answers, but it wasn't easy. A little bit of digging here, some research, and interviewing the right people helped me in overcoming the pangs.

TBC: Do you often develop characters from your personal experiences or draw from that of others?
KT: A little bit of both. It's better to draw them from your own experiences so readers won't be reading a cliche. I meet enough people to have a whole box of character development. But I hope never to meet a serial killer. Yikes!


TBC: Are your comfortable writing in different genres? What is your go-to genre?

KT: I haven't tried, honestly. But the temptation is there. Who knows? I might surprise myself. I might work on a romance novel. There was a time when I used to read lots of romance novels. Besides, I watched a lot of Hallmark movies, so the influence is strong.


TBC: Is your writing genre one that you read a lot of?

KT: I read various genres, including literature. But for some reason I find myself always excited in writing thrillers. I am not picky when it comes to authors as I like to give everybody a chance, just as I hope readers will give me a chance. 

Apart from books, I think certain movies helped shaped my interest. Sydney Pollack's Three Days of the Condor was a thriller that really intrigued me. I was about fifteen when I saw it, and I remember saying, "Wish I could produce a story like that."
I have my own style of writing though many authors have inspired me. Reading other books is equally important because it provides you with added knowledge.


TBC: Do you have a favorite writing theme?

KT: I am always exploring new themes, so I don't have a particular favorite.


TBC: When did you decide that it was time to take your writing public?

KT: I was about twenty-nine. I drafted my first manuscript but it got rejected so many times I decided to throw in the towel. Then, when I was around forty, my little voice reappeared. It told me to keep trying. The rejection slips from agents and publishers continued but I remained steadfast. Never say die! Finally, a publisher agreed to offer me a contract, and my debut Smokescreen was born. It even received blurbs from several notable thriller authors, including two New York Times bestselling authors. The novel was also hailed as one of the six "boundary breaking" works by IndieReader.


TBC: Is writing your first job? If not, please tell us what you do when you’re not typing away.

KT: I wanted to be a fireman when I was seven. At thirteen, I decided I'd be a scientist. At fourteen I wanted to be a movie star. Also thought about being a private detective (thanks to The Hardy Boys). There was also a time I wanted to be a lawyer and a banker. It took me a long time to realize that writing is my actual passion. I started as an oil and gas staff writer. It was a stepping stone into the world of journalism. Then I switched to magazine journalism, and found it more favorable. Later, I spent some years in Cairo, Egypt, working for several publications. I wanted a sense of adventure. I became jaded somewhere along the line, so I went into the field of public relations. I was pretty good at it. But novel writing makes you feel colorful inside.


TBC: Writers block is inevitable. Either a plot is not developing how you want or something about your character feels missing. What’s something that you do to help find new inspiration?


KT: Take a break, come back to it and try again. Repeat. Have some desserts in between. Beats pulling your hair.


TBC: What is your next writing project?

KT: I'm working on a thriller set in South Australia. The bulk of the tale takes place in a vineyard. I've been there several times when I was handling the PR account for the state's tourism office. This one is a wee bit tough as I need to understand some of the Australian slang. There's more than "G'day mate." 

TBC: Now for one of my favorite requests - tell us a random fun fact about yourself.

KT: Would you believe it that I created my own book trailer for Gun Kiss? I did it all by myself and I'm proud of it. In fact, another author even asked me for the contact details of my designer and got a big surprise when I told him it was me.

Comments

  1. AWESOME interview! I read Gun Kiss in January of last year and could not put it down!

    ReplyDelete

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