Colin R. Parsons Author Interview

Colin R Parsons’ second book with us (his thirteenth overall) is due for release on the 26th January. It is the story of bullied teenager Joseph, and the new power and adventure he unleashes when touching a mysterious disc. Read on to hear Colin’s thoughts on the story, his inspiration, and his advice for those going through similar problems to Joseph.

How would you describe D.I.S.C and who would you say it is aimed at?

This book is aimed at ages 8yrs to 80 yrs – if you enjoy a really good fast-paced adventure… then you’ll love D.I.S.C. I’ve a fascination with time travel and parallel universes, so my stories are always filled with these types of situations. As a kid I watched a lot of television: Captain Scarlet, Land of the Giants, The Time Machine and The Time Tunnel. I’ve enjoyed writing my own stories with these themes in mind.

This book is both a science fiction adventure and a story about a bullied teenage boy finding a new kind of power. What inspired you to write this story?

I was lucky as a child and didn’t really get bullied at school (I’ve an older brother, and he looked after me.) But, I did see a lot of bullying and it sickened me. There are always going to be bullies, and the weaker of us are always going to suffer, unless one day a person gets pushed too far, and retaliates. So, I combined the two – being a science fiction author I wrote a fantastical space adventure, but from my experience in school brought in the bully element. There is a part of the story where Joseph has to confront the bullies, but you’ll have to read it to see what happens.

How does this book differ from your previous book, House of Darke? Are there any similarities?

The only similarity really, is that there are a group of five kids working together to get through their situation in D.I.S.C, as in House of Darke are four teens. The rest is a completely different story. And as with all of my books, there’s a huge twist in this adventure. D.I.S.C. is set in another universe and the teen’s involved are not who they think they are, so yes, it is completely different.

This is your thirteenth published book! Where do you continue to find inspiration from?

I get asked this a lot in school visits. An idea can pop up from anywhere, and usually does. I also find inspiration from people I meet, who want to become writers themselves. I can’t put my finger on where all my stories originate, but, for instance, I wrote a short story the other day called ‘Tram’. And this was because I was doing an event in Nottingham last summer. The night before my visit was spent walking around the city, taking in the culture. The place was swarming with trams – taking off from one place, and coming back from another. This got me thinking of something, and off I went, jotting down a plot.

Are you already working on your next book? If so, what will it be about?

I’m actually editing a book at the moment. My very first book was about a group of wizards (way back in 2005) and that was a trilogy called Wizards’ Kingdom. I haven’t written a wizarding book in many years, so now I’m three quarters the way through Wizards Exile. Which is a totally different adventure. My last series was a mythical fantasy, and this one is more futuristic. Set in sky cities, and obviously with magic and an unassuming hero. And I’m also working on another sci-fi idea too.

You spend a lot of time visiting and giving talks at schools. What are some of your favourite experiences from these visits?

I get to work with very talented children (able and reluctant writers) in workshops, and the results are really amazing. Sometimes when a pupil is reading back the story he or she has just written, it takes me back to where I started, but I feel I was never as good, and as talented as they are today.

What advice would you give to any young people who, like Joseph in the book, are experiencing bullying? Assuming of course that they can’t find a disc, which grants them the powers Joseph receives.

Don’t suffer in silence; you have to find an adult that you can confide in, and tell them. Because unless it’s brought out into the open and put to the proper authority, then that person will either keep on bullying you, or just make someone else’s life a misery. In these days of digital technology, there’s a lot of cyber bullying going on too, which can be worse sometimes, because you can’t pinpoint who is doing it.

Which sci-fi book’s world would you most like to be a part of?

I would love be part of a world where I’m living in a community that is travelling through space and time (Star Trek – Star Wars). You don’t need money. Robots are the norm, and you can spend your hours on the Hologram Deck, or discovering new worlds. I would totally immerse myself in that scenario… especially the robot part! OK, back to reality…

What book, or books, most engaged you with reading as a child/teenager?

I was a late bloomer as a reader and used to listen to audio cassettes, such as The Time Machine by HG Wells, The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle, and Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. I eventually became a member of my local library (and still am.) But, I would read books older than my age: James Bond by Ian Fleming, Jaws by Peter Benchley and popular adult science fiction books like those by Philip K Dick.