Thanks for this. Tom Holt is my favorite writer of the past decade and this is really honest and revealing. I'm glad this guy is still young and there's even more to come!
Just sitting around the breakfast table sipping my coffee with K J and Zara. Listening to Tom talk about books and writing and upcoming projects was a real treat. I've already ordered the Byzantium books by John Julius Norwich. I've been looking for a good book on Byzantium since I read A Brightness Long Ago and Toms recommendation settled it. Agian this was such an unexpected treat, thank you.
I think it makes sense now why his books read more like historical fiction. Great interview, Zara. I want the rest of it now. Don't make us wait for another week 😂
Excellent work, can't believe this was a first interview, you're a natural. I'm just sorry I didn't realize this happened until I saw you posing about him dedicating a book to you! How cool! Clearly he's a fan as well
Much appreciated, good interview. I stumbled across this by accident. I’m getting the word out about this interview to other KJ Parker appreciators like myself. He’s probably my favourite fantasy writer, I’m sure he would have made a tragic, maybe cruel, but good Emperor of Byzantium himself.
This was an incredible opportunity. When he spoke about compelling characters being the right character in the right time and the context of the time and place, was really interesting. Can't wait to see part two! I’m so intrigued by the work he’s currently writing with the warrior-type female character!
Interesting that he said that he has trouble writing female character due to him relying on experience to write his characters, but before KJ Parker's real identity was made public, people mostly assumed KJ to be a woman, esp on reddit.
OMg this is awesome. You met the great Tom Holt, who is more elusive than Pynchon hihihi. I am still hopeful he will come to the Second Life Book Club sometime!
After looking at interview #2 if you’re not familiar with earlier Tom Holt books I highly recommend some historical fiction he wrote under that name between the comic Tom Holt style and the more serious KJ Parker. “The Walled Orchard”, about ancient Athens, is about as good a historical fiction as I’ve read, and in the wry, dark, humour style of KJ Parker. A doorstop of a book but cheap nowadays as an ebook!
Ooh, I have been so looking forward to this! :D It's so cool to see the creative mind behind all the incredible characters and stories that I have enjoyed spending time with over the last year. I'm excited for the rest of the conversation, and I hope that a follow-up, and an even more in-depth discussion will happen at some point in the future (like you tentatively mentioned). I think I could listen to Tom indefinitely when he talks about his work, inspirations, and the craft in general. Thanks to both of you for taking the time! And thank you, Zara, for sharing this gem of an interview with all of us! :)
Wonderful video! Zara, could you please publish the list of K.J. Parker's fave books? I got snippets of titles but never understood who the author was and some of them sound so interesting. Thank you!
the mystery in his his novels makes a lot more sense now. Peter Wimsey is an interesting character to have as your favorite. I'll have to go and reread some of those soon to get a renewed sense of him soon. great job, can't wait for the next part!
Not 10mins in and he already mentions Star Trek!....and Janeway no less. “Only in a very left handed way” lmfao..... When you asked that question I was shaking my head so hard my wig nearly fell off. Then he gave THAT answer lol. I could be my imagination but he eyeballed your left hand, real quick, as you took a note just afterwords. Lol. I like watching interviews, usually and obviously some celebrity. The focus shouldn't be on the interviewer the way I see it, well done once again. Bring Oz out from the curtain for a cup of tea.
Thank you very much for such an anticipated interview with K J Parker! I didn't get, which author he mentions after Wodehouse at 16:17 though. Could anyone help me with that, please? Also, a question for Zara, if that's possible. Tom Holt, or K J Parker doesn't appear in the media frequently. How did you manage to persuade him to agree to a video-interview? =)
Sorry for the delay! The author is Ernest Bramah! As for how I managed to persuade him - the issue was actually finding him. It took me about 7 months of emailing people who might know him and finally, I found him. As for why he agreed, you'd have to ask him :)
Watching this video feels almost blasphemous. I'd been reading KJ Parker for about a decade before we learnt his true identity, and I was in the camp that thought he might be a woman. Only to be contrarian, mind you! :P I never believed I'd be able to watch an interview like this with probably my favourite fantasy author. Thanks for doing this! On to Part Two.
