Over the years I seem to have developed a probing
type of writing that digs very deep and very wide, curious to
find out where the beauty and all the hurt began. First cutting
through the crap, I frequently stumble upon how matters really
stand in relation to each other--- issues, trends or conditions,
ostensibly linked or not but in the end affecting us in a fashion
that isn't always evident. Next, I attempt to relive my findings
through 
half-real
or fully fictional characters placed in some sort of dramatic
context, recreating everything I've put my fingers on while attempting
to involve the same core dynamics that produced these in the
first place. In other words, real bits of history felt and re-lived
from the sidewalks on up.
* The Applicant has just been published
by The Book Guild in the UK and may be ordered through Yahoo
or Google by going into amazon.co.uk and simply typing in Anthony
Steyning under "books" and then "search"
followed by "go". You end up on my page featuring The
Applicant. It tells you how to order and includes the first
critiques from readers and others. They'll ship anywhere in the
world by priority mail, which takes about a week on average.
Enjoy ...
www.AnthonySteyning.com
PageOneLit.com: Thank you for taking the
time to talk to us. Please tell us a little about yourself.
Anthony Steyning: I'M CUTE AND SIX FEET
THREE... NAW, ONLY KIDDING. JUST AN ORDINARY GUY WITH A BUILT-IN
LASER FOR OBSERVATION, THEN READY TO SHARE IT ALL PLUS ENTERTAIN
A LITTLE, CHILD OF MANY COASTS AND CULTURES, NOT FOND OF CRUELTY,
ARROGANCE AND DISHONESTY, ALL OF WHICH ARE FORMS OF ABJECT STUPIDITY
PageOneLit.com: Have reading and writing
always been a part of your life?
Anthony Steyning: PRETTY WELL, THOUGH I'M
A BIT OF A LATE BLOOMER
PageOneLit.com: Who and/or what have been
your biggest influences with regard to your writing and why?
Anthony Steyning: AS I'VE STATED ELSEWHERE,
CURIOSITY COMPELS ME TO DIG DEEP & VERY WIDE, I WANT TO SEE
WHERE ALL THE BEAUTY AND ALL THE HURT BEGAN. I CUT THROUGH CRAP
THEN RECREATE MY FINDINGS USING BELIEVABLE THOUGH SOMEWHAT ECCENTRIC
CHARACTERS IN A DRAMATIZED SETTING. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE ELSE
DO THIS, SO I CAN'T SAY I WAS INFLUENCED BY ANY SINGLE WRITER,
LET'S JUST SAY THAT LIFE... INFLUENCED ME.
PageOneLit.com: Please tell us about your
fascinating psychological thriller, "The Applicant."
Anthony Steyning: MY NOVEL IS AN ATTEMPT
TO FUSE EXISTENTIAL THOUGHT WITH INTRIGUE,
HUMOR AND UNEXPECTED SOCIAL
INSIGHT. THE NOTION THAT SOMEONE WISHES TO LIQUIDATE HIMSELF
AS AN ACT OF COURAGE AT A TIME SET SPONTANEOUSLY BY ANOTHER PERSON
IS QUITE UNIQUE. HALF THE TRICK IS TO CONVINCE THAT VERY SPECIAL
SOMEONE ELSE TO APPLY FOR THE JOB. THIS IS NOT TO BE A CRIME
OR ANY SORT OF SADISTIC ACT BUT A GESTURE OF GRACE, BUT EVEN
SO.....I THINK THE STORY WORKS, SERIOUS READERS SEEM BOWLED OVER
BY IT. YOU TELL ME!
PageOneLit.com: n "The Applicant,"
the main character, Albert, chooses to commission his own murder
before old age catches up with him. What led you to deal with
the issue of "turning of the tables" on our own mortality?
Anthony Steyning: THE INDIGNITIES OF VERY
OLD AGE THAT I OBSERVED. GOING OUT WITH AN EXCITING, UNEXPECTED,
PAINLESS BANG, IT SEEMS TO ME, MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE. PROPER
TIMING IS THE TANTALISING DILEMMA.
PageOneLit.com: Are the characters Albert
and Devi based on anyone from your life? Generally what process
do you go through in coming up with your characters? (i.e., what
they look like, their background, mannerisms, etc.)
Anthony Steyning: ALBERT, DEVI AND CASEY,
THE UNHOLY TRINITY OF THE BOOK, ARE COMPOSITE CHARACTERS, A MIX
OF PEOPLE I DREAM UP, PEOPLE I HAVE SEEN BUT DON'T KNOW, AND
SOME PEOPLE I KNOW VERY WELL.
PageOneLit.com: What does the title "The
Applicant" mean?
Anthony Steyning: DEVI IS ASKED BY ALBERT
TO APPLY FOR THE JOB OF DOING HIM IN, ISN'T SHE?
PageOneLit.com: What do you hope readers
walk away with after reading "The Applicant?"
Anthony Steyning: TO FEEL BEMUSED, SPIRITUALLY
AND INTELLECTUALLY ENRICHED, NOT WITHOUT HAVING BEEN ENTERTAINED.
PageOneLit.com: People have said that "The
Applicant" would make an excellent film. If you could choose,
who would play the lead roles?
Anthony Steyning: OH I DON'T KNOW. SOMEONE
LIKE BEN KINGSLEY AS OLD ALBERT, EXOTIC ANGELINA JOLIE MADE TO
LOOK A LITTLE OLDER THAN SHE IS, AND OF COURSE SOMEONE LIKE NICHOLSON
OR KEVIN SPACEY AS CASEY THE SPOILER. MATURE, SPELLBINDING CHARACTER
ACTORS, NOTHING LESS WILL DO AND GIVEN A HITCHCOCK OR WELLES
TYPE OF TREATMENT, A SUSPENSE NOIR
PageOneLit.com: Of the three novels that
you have written, is there one that is more special to you?
Anthony Steyning: NOT REALLY.THE THEMES
ARE VERY DIFFERENT, AND I LIKE HAVING FUN WITH LANGUAGE IN DIFFERENT
WAYS, AS YOU'LL SEE.
PageOneLit.com: Are you a daily disciplined
writer? Do you have certain tricks you use so that you don't
stray from your writing?
Anthony Steyning: NOT AT ALL. JUST GET UP
AND SIT RIGHT DOWN, EVEN AT FOUR IN THE MORNING IF STRUCK WITH
A BRILLIANT NOTION, AT LEAST THAT'S THE WAY IT'LL APPEAR AT THE
TIME. MUCH LATER YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO THROW
IT OUT, OUCHHHH.
PageOneLit.com: What is your advice to an
aspiring novelist?
Anthony Steyning: JUST THAT. BE LARGE OF
SPIRIT. CONSTANTLY PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOURSELF,
DREAM UP CHARACTERS YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE MET ON A SLOW
MOVING, TRANSCONTINENTAL TRAIN.
PageOneLit.com: What's next? Are you working
on another book?
Anthony Steyning: YES, EMBARCADERO, A TRAGICOMEDY
SET IN SAN FRANCISCO.
PageOneLit.com: Who are your favorite authors,
and why do they inspire you?
Anthony Steyning: I LIKE CERTAIN WRITERS
FOR CERTAIN THINGS: DURRELL FOR EVOCATION THOUGH HE DIDN'T HAVE
MUCH TO SAY BEYOND THAT GREENE FOR HIS POLITICS AND HIS OFF-BEAT
SETTINGS, THOUGH HE WAS PRETTY CONFUSED HENRY MILLER FOR HIS
UNORTHODOXY THOUGH IN THE END HE ALSO LEAVES YOU EMPTY BELLOW,
EVEN THOUGH JEWISH AUTHORS TEND TO MAINLY WRITE ABOUT THEIR OWN
ENVIRONMENT AND SO SOMETIMES INVOLUNTARILY DIMINISH THE OTHERS,
DID BRILLIANTLY CAPTURE UNIVERSAL VALUES, EARNING MUCH EVIDENT
RESPECT. CAMUS FOR HIS SUBLIME CLARITY, THOUGH AGAIN, WE DON'T
HAVE TO NECESSARILY AGREE WITH HIM.
PageOneLit.com: When you're not working,
what are your favorite ways to relax?
Anthony Steyning: HAVE A DRINK, SIT AROUND
IN A CAFÉ, READ THE PRESS, AND LOOK, AND LOOK AT THAT
NEVER ENDING SPECTACLE: OURSELVES.
PageOneLit.com: Having traveled extensively
throughout your life, do you have a favorite destination?
Anthony Steyning: HORIZONS SHIFT, LIKE FEELINGS,
BUT THE PACIFIC'S ENTIRE EASTERN RIM, FROM ALASKA DOWN TO PATAGONIA
TAKES THE CAKE, LOCAL LIFE ICING ON THAT CAKE, FROM NANAIMO TO
BIG SUR TO ZIHUATENEJO, TO PUNTA ARENAS
PageOneLit.com: Is there anything you would
like to add to this interview that we have not covered?
Anthony Steyning: YES, I FEEL FEMALE CHARACTERS
ARE UNDER-REPRESENTED OR TRIVIALISED IN WORLD LITERATURE, EITHER
REDUCED TO IRRELEVANCY OR BESTOWED WITH SILLY, CONTRIVED IMPORTANCE.
I LOVE AND ADMIRE WOMEN, ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTERS AND MY WIFE
AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE MY HEROINES ESSENTIAL
NOT JUST TO THE STORYLINE BUT TO ALL FACETS OF
THE TIMES IN WHICH THEY MOVE. HEDDA GABLER WAS A SUPERIOR PERSON
FORCED TO LIVE AN INFERIOR LIFE, THOUGH I DO WONDER IF IBSEN
KNEW HER ALL THAT WELL, MAKING HER SO DESTRUCTIVE WITHOUT APPARENT
CAUSE: WOULDN'T YOU BE JUST AS ANGRY?
