Lezersvragen aan Samuel Bjørk en Emma Haughton

Samuel Bjørk: 

Do you add things of yourself or your loved ones in your stories?

Not many thing no, at least not personal things about anybody. I try to keep my personal life separated from my writing. Sometimes I hide small things in there, just for fun, like the licence plate of our car, and innocent things like that.

Would you ever want to write a book in another genre?

I actually have written books in another genre, two literary books for adults called “Speed for Breakfast” and “Pepsi Love”, and I have also written two books for children.

How do you start the writing process?

First I try to find an idea that excites me, then I try to plan the whole book. Then I write two or three intro-chapters, and choose the best one. If it is very good, I sometimes change the plan of my book, so it will fit with the good start.

Which already published novel would you have loved to write and why?

I would have to choose The Secret History by Donna Tartt, I just love that book.

Do you do a lot of research for your book?

I dont do a lot for the police work and  crimesolving, it is most fun to think of this myself.

But I do plenty on more detailed things. Like if I have a scene somewhere in nature, I always research the specific plants, flowers, threes, animals etc that you would find there.

Do you prefer to watch or read thrillers?

I prefer to watch thrillers.

Emma Haughton:

What made you decide to write this story in this particular setting?

I was watching a documentary about the new British Antarctic Survey Halley ice station – it looks like a giant red-and-blue caterpillar! As well as explaining how the station was designed and built, the programme explored the lives of the crew who stay there during the winter. I was fascinated to discover that in addition to 24-hour-darkness for much of the winter, for up to eight months of the year it’s impossible for planes to fly in or out of Antarctica, leaving the crew in total isolation. Apparently it’s easier to get someone off the International Space Station than rescue them from the depths of Antarctica in winter.
Just learning those two things – the darkness and isolation – made me realize this would be an excellent setting for a crime novel.

Have you ever been to Antarctica?

Sadly, no. I would love to go, but it’s not easy. There are cruise ships that visit the continent in summer, but you don’t get to experience anything as dramatic as being near the South Pole in the middle of winter. Only small teams of scientists and engineers ever have that privilege.

How did your work as a journalist affect your writing?

It made me very paranoid about getting my facts right!

Which already published novel would you have loved to write and why?

The Master and Margarita by Mixhail Bulgakov. I love Russian novels, and this is one of the best. In terms of recent crime books, I was very impressed with Will Dean’s The Last Thing to Burn.

Do you do a lot of research for your book?

Yes! Luckily there were plenty of blogs and videos about what it’s like to go to Antarctica as part of a winter crew. I found lots of first person accounts about arriving on the ice, what it felt like living in permanent darkness, the glory of watching the southern aurora, and so on. I couldn’t have written the book if I hadn’t had the opportunity to experience Antarctica through other people’s eyes. I’m immensely grateful to those who took the trouble to document their time on the ice.

Do you prefer to watch or read thrillers?

I don’t think I can choose. I love both. Generally, though, I prefer to read the book before I watch a film or TV adaptation.