Thursday 23 May 2013

Author Interview and Giveaway: C.C.Humphreys - Jack Absolute

Today I have C.C Humphreys over for an interview (and there is also a giveaway at the end :)

Welcome!

Could you please tell me a little about yourself?
Absolutely! (Sorry – but you’ll be amazed how often that pun comes up!)
I am bi-continental – born in Canada, lived till I was 7 in LA, then grew up in London. But North America drew me back – I lived in LA again as an adult, working in Hollywood, then Canada. I now live on an island in British Columbia.

All four grandparents were actors and so was my dad, so naturally I became a marine biologist. Joking! I acted all over the world for years. Major roles have included Hamlet,  Caleb the Gladiator in NBC’s ‘AD’ and the original voice of Salem the Cat in ‘Sabrina, the Teenage Witch’. And of course, the role of Jack Absolute in the 18th century comedy ‘The Rivals’. But more of that later.

I’d always dreamed of writing. Began with plays but soon moved to my passion, historical fiction.I have written eight historical fiction novels: ‘The French Executioner’, runner up for the CWA Steel Dagger for Thrillers 2002; and its sequel, ‘Blood Ties’, a bestseller in Canada; ‘Jack Absolute’, ‘The Blooding of Jack Absolute’ and ‘Absolute Honour’. My latest are: ‘Vlad – The Last Confession’,  the epic novel of the real Dracula. (Sourcebooks May 2011); and the recently published, ‘A Place Called Armageddon’  published in the US by Sourcebooks in September 2012. My new novel about William Shakespeare’s fight choreographer, ‘Shakespeare’s Rebel’ came out in the UK March 2013 and in Canada in June 2013. I have also written for young adults: a trilogy called ‘The Runestone Saga’ consisting of, ‘The Fetch’, ‘Vendetta’, and ‘Possession’. (Knopf). My latest YA novel is ‘The Hunt of the Unicorn’ (Knopf), runner up in the recent M Awards, Victoria BC. I have been translated into thirteen languages.

You newest book is Jack Absolute. How about a quick intro to this book?
Of course! ‘Jack’ is a true labour of love. Having loved playing the role on stage, years later I decided I could be him again by making him the star of a series of novels. In the play, he’s a bit of a rogue, an adventurer, a ladies man – all things I use in the books. But I knew he had to be something more. Hence the unoffical subtitle: ‘the 007 of the 1770’s’.

In this first novel Jack is caught up in the American Revolutionary War. He has history there – speaks fluent Mohawk, knows the land well – he’s a bit Hawkeye as well as Bond. But he falls foul of a sinister secret organization, the Illuminati – and in love with an American Loyalist, Louisa. His main task is to root out the spies bedeviling the British. This takes him into some very tough scrapes during and after the Saratoga campaign. 

How did you come up with the idea for the character?
As I said, I stole him! But my Jack is very different from the play. My theory of writing is to write my fantasies. So I added to him the whole Mohawk side, the spy, the soldier, the lover. He’s also brave – and very foolish sometimes. Especially regarding women. Don’t know where he gets that from!

You've written about different eras in time. Is there another you’d like to explore?
Gosh, all of them! I love history, most eras. I would like to write about more ancient history, Greek or Roman perhaps. I am also fond of the Wars of the Roses. But my favourite battle is Waterloo, and the 200th anniversary is coming up. Maybe I can get Jack there. He’d be 72 but…

In which period of time would you like to time travel to?
Actually I have just done it – my latest novel, out in the UK and Canada now and the US soon is ‘Shakespeare’s Rebel’. Its about William Shakespeare’s fight choreographer and is set at the time of the first production of hamlet, the play that obsess me. I describe its first performance at the Globe – the place where I would most want to be that afternoon.

What’s coming next from you?
Sourcebooks, my wonderful US publishers, are publishing all my books over the next few years so I get to revisit them all again. And I am just finishing my new novel. Its called ‘Plague’ and is set against the Great Plague of London 1665. It will be followed by ‘Fire’ set against – you guessed it! – the Great Fire of London 1666.

thank you!

Giveaway
1 copy of Jack Absolute

1. US only
2. Ends June 2nd
3. Just enter :)

21 comments:

  1. Wonderful interview and what an exciting life you have lived. Jack sounds like a fun character! Thanks so much for sharing this!

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  2. I really need to go back to books like that. thanks for the review!

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  3. this book looks so fun!! no need to enter me though :)

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  4. I love historical fiction series, and who could resist the 007 of 1770? This sounds really cool! Thanks for sharing :-)

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  5. I love the stolen character. :) I'm curious about the Mohawk angle, and you don't really get too many stories in this time period. Oh interesting.

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  6. I'd heard a little about Jack Absolute before, but I loved the interview and now I know more about the book so I'm really interested in reading it.

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  7. Sounds fantastic! This is the first I've come across this book and it's definitely going on my wishlist :) Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Thank you for the interview :)

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  9. This looks so great! Thanks for sharing with us! I adore that cover as well.
    Books like this make me wonder whether the author had any influence from friends and family while writing it.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    mestith at gmail dot com

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  10. Thanks for the interview and great presentation of your books!

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  11. What a fantastic life he has had! I think I am in AWE!

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  12. Hahaha '007 of the 1770s' so clever. XD Sounds good!

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  13. Really enjoyed the interview. Had to laugh about the voice of the cat in Sabrina. I used to watch that with my kids and we loved the cat.

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  14. Very cool that he wrote about a character he's played before. It would be so much fun to change up someone you knew so well and give them a whole new life:)

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  15. Thanks so much for an amazing interview and wonderful giveaway! I really enjoyed this post! I really love novels from different eras! I get so into them that I can almost hear the background noises and whispers describe within the pages!!!

    Thanks again for the giveaway!!

    My email: mrsjtucker2012[at]gmail[dot]com

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  16. Very Cool. He wrote about someone he knew best without writing about himself.

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  17. I haven't read anything by C.C Humphreys, but if his books are as entertaining as his interview I'm sure want to read them.
    I'm participating with my US address.

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  18. This was a good interview. I have never heard the term "bi-continental" but sounds like a good definition. I like to read about history and so looks like I have found a new author (to me). Appreciate the giveaway.

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  19. This book sounds great! I haven't read this author before, but hope to soon! I love reading about where other people's inspiration comes from, it helps me with my own story ideas.

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  20. This book sounds so interesting. I would love to read it. Thanks for this chance.
    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

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