E Z Tyler is an unlikely hero who gets caught up in a sinister conspiracy, when a stage hypnotist accidentally discovers a lost memory. What should be an evening of light entertainment soon descends into a living nightmare, as E Z is forced to take a journey of discovery in a society that embraces 'rush hour rules' (where people have abandoned their humanity in the name of self-preservation). Unknowingly, E Z holds the key to salvation, but can he uncover the truth in time to save the world from itself? In the rush hour for survival, it's everyone for themselves.Recently, I caught up with Huw Powell to talk about his debut, Rush Hour Rules. Naturally, my first question had to be:
What are the rush hour rules?
The term is a metaphor for the way normal people behave in certain situations, such as when modern day commuters abandon their manners in the name of self-preservation. In the rush hour, there seems to be a special set of unwritten rules that override people's basic manners (e.g. it's okay to queue jump, or not give up your seat, or drive dangerously, or listen to loud music, etc). If you were to actually write down these 'rush hour rules', the very first rule would be: It's everyone for themselves, survival of the most ruthless.
What do you want readers to take away from your book?
It's difficult not to give away the plot away, but I would like people to finish my novel and appreciate what they have in life - especially the things they take for granted. Most people tell me that they can't put the book down and that they finish it within days. I'm glad they enjoy it, but I'm also hoping they take some time to reflect on it afterwards.
Tell me more about E Z Tyler - why did you choose him to be your hero?
E Z Tyler is no one special at the start of the book and he gives a refreshingly human perspective on some very unusual situations. In fact, he reacts as anyone normal person would when faced with danger - he's afraid and wants to run away. E Z certainly doesn't want to become a hero, but then what would we do in the same predicament? What I like best about E Z is his sense of humour.
A key plot point occurs in Rush Hour Rules when a stage hypnotist discovers a lost memory. Are you a hypnotist? Have you ever been hypnotized? Did you do research on hypnotism?
I've been interested in hypnosis for years, but have never volunteered for it (as far as I'm aware). I'm the same as E Z Tyler, who doesn't want to get hypnotised as he is far too paranoid to trust his humility to a stranger. I find it both fascinating and disturbing that someone can control your mind and body for other people's entertainment.
What with video cameras on every corner, the UK seems to me to be generating a lot of paranoid fiction. Do you see it that way, too?
E Z Tyler is totally paranoid. In a way, he reflects today's society where everyone is nervous about everything, because the media is constantly bombarding us with grim messages of war, terrorism, knife crime, paedophiles, recession, swine flu, and so on. People are going to such extents to protect themselves from life, that we're losing our innocence and sense of community. Therefore, you could argue that the current climate is giving UK writers a lot of paranoid ideas and source material.
So, is there a difference between American and British thrillers?
Not a huge difference these days, the world is a smaller place now and with international books so easily accessible, the geographical boundaries have blurred for most genres. In the past, the British thrillers played heavily on stereotypes (e.g. they were set in old London town and featured Scotland Yard detectives investigating murders on steam trains), while the American thrillers were much more dynamic (e.g. dashing heroes pitted against cold war spies, chasing each other across country at night). British authors still focus heavily on the streets of London, while a lot of American authors have moved their novels inside the court rooms and corporate offices.
How did you hook up with your publisher?
As a debut author, I wasn't sure where to start, so I purchased a book that contained a UK directory of publishers and agents. I used this to short-list potential publishers (e.g. those that specialise in thrillers and accept unsolicited submissions from first time authors). I then sent out my synopsis and sample chapters to several of them and waited to hear back. I had a few disappointing knock-backs, but in the end I was asked to send my full manuscript to three publishers and I received three contracts back as a result. The one from Vanguard Press stood out, as they are part of Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Ltd in Cambridge and they had the most reasonable terms and conditions.
Any plans for publication outside the UK?
I think that people can order my book from around the world using UK websites. It was available on a couple of American websites as well, however, I'm not a well known author yet, so it's difficult to get wider distribution at this stage. I'll certainly be aiming for international publication in the future, especially as my next novel will be set in a number of locations around the world.
You grew up in the village of Pill? Come on, that sounds made up.
No, it's true. Pill (or Crockerne Pill as it was known) is a village in North Somerset. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon for 'creek' or 'inlet' after its small harbour on the River Avon. Pill is only a small village, but it used to boast 21 pubs and it's bursting with history. John Cabot stopped in Pill on his way to discover Newfoundland, and John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, described the village as famous for 'abandoned wickedness'.
What are you reading for fun now?
Unfortunately, I've not had much time for reading lately as I've just moved house from London back to North Somerset, and I'm getting married in September. Any spare time is used to write my next novel. I'm enjoying doing signing events in various bookshops, as I get a chance to check out the latest titles. The last good book I read was my brother's collection of science-fiction short stories, The Last Reef by Gareth L Powell.
You're a flash fic writer. What's that all about?
Flash Fiction is the most extreme version of short stories with a limit of a thousand words, also known as Micro Fiction or Postcard Fiction. This means that you can quickly fire off ideas and practice writing when you don't have time to get into anything longer. There are a few examples on my website www.huwpowell.co.uk. Personally, I enjoy the challenge of writing an engaging and full story in only a few paragraphs. I've recently heard of even shorter stories being written in Japan using a single mobile text message.
What do you think of the writer's life? What's next for you?
I'm a brand spanking new author, so it's all very exciting for me at this stage. I have a lot of energy and enthusiasm at the moment, but I can't find enough time to sit down and write. I'm working on my next novel, a modern day fantasy thriller, on trains and buses, as well as the occasional coffee house. Ideally, I would love to become a full time author, however, I'll probably need a couple more books under my belt first. My biggest fear is taking myself too seriously. I can see how easily some authors slip into grammatical snobbery, but I want to keep writing fun - the moment it becomes a job is the moment I stop writing and open a restaurant.
Keith Raffel wrote DOT DEAD, "without question the most impressive mystery debut of the year" according to Bookreporter.com. His next novel, SMASHER: A SILICON VALLEY THRILLER, will be available October 1.
