His hero is Tintin, he was once a cowboy, and he’s currently dreaming of a nice long skiing holiday! Who are we talking about?
Cattle chaser extraordinaire, and all round stupendously splendid storywriter Anthony Horowitz - that’s who!
And in our latest interview, he’s having a good old natter with Claire Briscoe about all things Alex Rider...
Hello Anthony. How’re you today?
I’m fairly well, thanks. I’m off skiing tomorrow which is a cheerful thought.
Very. Although I’m dreaming more of sunny beach hols thanks to all this cold weather we’ve been having! Anyway, back to business! I’ve just finished reading Snakehead, the latest Alex Rider book and thought it was great, and quite gritty too. Were you pleased with the finished book?
I was very pleased with Snakehead. In fact, I think it’s the best Alex yet in many ways. I try to make each book better than the one before and I really think this one passed the test.
Definitely. Will there be another Alex Rider book?
There will be two. The next one is odd as Alex doesn't appear in it very much. It’s all about the Russian assassin, Yassen Gregorovich and what made him turn bad. Then there’ll be an Alex number 9 but I don’t know very much about it yet.
Would you have enjoyed reading about Alex Rider when you were a young boy?
What a good question. Yes, definitely. I think all my books are written in part for my twelve-year-old self.
And what inspired you to write the series?
Stories were an escape from a horrible school and a disappointing childhood. Even when I was very young, stories were more interesting than real life.
I really liked the Stormbreaker movie. Do you think Alex Pettyfer made a good Alex Rider?
I thought Alex was great. My only criticism was that he was too good-looking!
Hehe! Was it exciting to see the film finally hit the big screen?
The whole filming process was tremendously exciting. Watching some of the stunts being performed and knowing that I was responsible for them was amazing.
There were loads of stars at the premiere. Do you ever get star-struck by celebs?
I’m afraid I do find myself gaping when a celeb approaches and one of the best things about the film was the cast. Without exception (well, maybe one) the actors were all brilliant. Friendly and approachable. And just about all of them came to the premiere.
Your books are very fast paced and keep the reader turning the pages! Is it hard to keep that up for a full book?
The books do wear me out a bit… thinking up new action sequences and keeping that clock ticking. But I find myself swept along by them. I’m very passionate about my work and love writing so I never get bored or tired.
You have two children. Do they help you when you are writing your books for kids?
My sons are now nineteen and seventeen – slightly out of “the zone”. But they still read my books and give me lots of advice. Cass, my 17-year-old, is a great critic. He’s the first to read the finished book.
When you start to write a book do you know right away where the story is headed, or does it evolve as you go?
I work the books out very carefully. Every chapter is structured and planned. But sometimes I surprise myself when I’m writing. I quite like it when something unexpected happens. It keeps me on my toes.
I bet it does! Do you have a favourite character from all of those you’ve created?
It would have to be Alex Rider. Although I’m also very fond of Nick Diamond.
Is it harder for you to write female characters than male ones?
My new book, Necropolis, has a girl as its central character. Her name is Scarlett and she appeared for a time in the last Power of Five book, Nightrise. I thought it would be very difficult writing her but in the end it wasn’t. I think she’s a good character and I had a lot of fun with her.
Do you prefer writing for children or adults?
I find writing for a young audience much easier and much more rewarding.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I didn’t decide, exactly. When I was eight years old, I knew without any doubt that I would be a writer. I was helped by the fact that I was no good at anything else.
You write about lots of different countries – do you ever visit them to do research?
I visit just about every country in which the books are set. Necropolis is set in Hong Kong and I was there a month ago.
Is it true you are a big Tintin fan? I read that you’ve travelled to all the locations in the Tintin books apart from the moon?
Yes, I love Tintin. He was my first inspiration… although many people think he was a detective he was actually a writer. I didn’t go to Tibet but I have been to just about everywhere else he went.
Maybe you could head to the moon next then! Is it also true you once spent a year working as a cowboy in Australia?
That was my gap year, a long time ago. I worked at a cattle station called Anthony Lagoon... it turns up at the end of my book, Granny. I must be the only kid’s writer who has killed a cow and turned it into all the different steaks.
I’m sure you are! Which children’s books, apart from your own, would you recommend we read?
My favourite is Holes by Louis Sacher. I also love the prehistoric series – Chronicles of Ancient Darkness - by Michelle Paver. For slightly older readers, check out anything by Robert Cormier, particularly “I am the cheese”.
What would be your top three tips for any young people who are thinking about becoming a writer?
The more you read, the better you write. The more you write, the better you read. Get out and have adventures… you need something to write about.
Good idea – maybe I’ll take that beach holiday after all!
Thanks for speaking to us, and please come back again when Alex Rider 8 is out!
