Peter Worthington - "The Eden Tree"

Here is an interview with Peter Worthington. The original post with this interview can be found here. Enjoy!

 

1) What inspired you to write "The Eden Tree"?

My inspiration to write the Eden Tree comes from my family's experiences as we coped with a toddler with cancer, and also my knowledge of the Bible story of Eden and passages about The Tree of Life. It occurred to me that if someone had access to healing leaves from the tree it could change their lives. From that concept a tale grew.

2) What inspired you to become an author?

During my English Language and Literature A levels (when I was in my mid forties!) I was inspired with the essay writing to delve further into writing. Some magazines published a few articles and later I received generous reviews on a website I post to. Ideas for the novel grew.

3) How do you get over writer's block?

A site I use gives challenges with themes to write or a story beginning with a given sentence. The discipline of that and also a daily writing goal of 250 words plus encourages me. Sometimes just writing anything can help, without thought of editing. There is always support from writers and authors websites and blogs to inspire. I think the problem is that as writers we are too critical of our own work and nervous to put pen to paper unless we are happy with it.

4) What books have influenced your life the most?

As a child I loved the Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. In adulthood I enjoy James Patterson, John Grisham, Bernard Cornwall and laterly Lee Child. I love a character that I can follow on life's journey like Alex Cross, Richard Sharpe, or Jack Reacher. I have also been influenced by non-fictional stories such as The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.

5) What are you working on now? What is your next project? 

Currently I am working on "Return to Eden" as the sequel to The Eden Tree. It is very much at a first draft stage and it is only a third written. I am also considering an offer to write a non-fiction "The Real Wesley" which will be autobiographical. Some ideas to expand my short story "The World Famous Hat Collector" have grown in my creative brain, alongside some further short stories.

Remember to check out my review for "The Eden Tree" here.