Today I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Amalie. I’m sharing a Q&A with the author, EJ Wood, with thanks to Zoe and the team at Question Mark Press for inviting me on the tour and to the author for answering my questions!

Have you always wanted to write?

I have wanted to write since I was about 15 years old. I was studying English literature at the time, and it was a requirement to write essays about famous poets.

What were your previous jobs? Have they helped you with your writing process?

No, certainly not. My background is Business Marketing, and I co-own a custom automotive workshop, although saying that, I do get to meet a lot of people, some of which end up in my books….

What was your inspiration for Amalie?

Whilst Amalie does not claim to be an academic piece of nonfiction, it is a story based on some facts. At the time I started Amalie, Holocaust denial was being reported with greater and greater frequency despite the number of memoirs being published, and the airing of hundreds of programs about the prisoners, the camps, and newly discovered material relating to the Nazi’s Final Solution. Sadly, that denial is still prevalent today. I also find it extremely fascinating how the world recovered from the Second World War. The fifties were all black and white and then came the “swinging sixties” which remain the defining decade for Britain.

How do you construct your characters? Do they have traits of people you know?

That would be telling! I think with every story, a writer is influenced by events and people in their lives. My books certainly are.

What does your writing process look like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

To start with a plotter, but that only plays a small part of the story. My characters dictate to me how, and where they want to go, who they want to kill so, I think a pantser would be more appropriate.

How did you research Amalie? Did you enjoy it?

I really enjoyed researching Amalie. One key point I wanted, was for the plot to be in real world time. By that I mean, whilst eluding authorities she experienced the changes the world went through during the 50s/60s/70s. I was born later on so I found it fascinating.

Who are your favourite writers? Are you influenced by them?

My favourite writers include Kathy Reichs, James Patterson, Peter James and Michael Connolly. They tell a good story and aspire me to perfect the art.

If you could invite three people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be and why?

Just three?….Sir Anthony Hopkins, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Nighy. I know what you’re thinking…sounds like a bad joke. There was a Welshman, an Austrian and an Englishman… Why these three? Well, I can imagine the three of us sitting around a beautifully made table and Hopkins just comes out with, “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti”, followed by his hissing. I’d probably look at him not unlike Clarice Starling. Arnold would get up from the table, stating, “He’ll be back”, and Bill Nighy would break out in song to lighten the mood singing, “I feel it in my fingers. I feel it in my toes”. That would be my perfect evening.

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

There are probably a few I could think of but, the first to come to mind would be Steven Seagal. I couldn’t handle the intensity…or the urge to squawk like a Seagull.

Who would play the main character/s in a film version of Amalie?

For Amalie, I’d probably think Natalie Portman. I have been a fan of Portman since she portrayed Mathilda in the action thriller; Leon alongside Jean Reno, who, I think would make an excellent Charriere.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I don’t really have much spare time, so I try to do a little bit of everything. I enjoy my motorcycle, so if I can get an hour or two a week I’m happy. I also enjoy photography, and writing of course. I love telling stories.

What is next for you?

Next, I’m hoping to finish my historical suspense and finish renovating my new home.

Favourites:

Book? This is a hard one! Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally is definitely up there in my top 10. Anything by Kathy Reichs, and James Patterson.

Film?So many choices and in no particular order: Ladyhawke (1985), Predator (1987), Silence of the Lambs (1991), Hannibal (2001), Orca (1977), and Schindler’s List (1993)

Band/Singer? Again in no particular order: Ennio Morricone, Itzhak Perlman, John Williams, Michael Nyman, 80’s, Debussy, and some Sia / LadyGaga

TV show?At the moment I’m enjoying The Walking Dead, Homeland, Game of Thrones, Lucifer… I couldn’t name just one.

Colour? A warm beige (sandy fawn or Elephant’s breath by Farrow & Ball)

Place? My soon to be new home. I’m in-love with the view.

Biscuit? I’m not really a biscuit type person, but if I’d have to choose, a Jammy Dodger.

***

Amalie is available from Amazon.

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here: