Interview with Author Graham Sharpe

What is your current book and tell us a little about it?

Purple. After a purple storm sweeps around Planet Earth, stealing millions of people, four teenagers struggle to make it alone in London. Drawn together by a series of bizarre coincidences, they soon find themselves entangled with a bunch of interfering pensioners.

How did you come up with the title?

Purple is the colour of the storm that sweeps around Planet Earth, stealing everyone between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five. The colour purple represents something important, but the reader won’t discover its significance until the end of the book. I hope that has grabbed your attention and got you interested!

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I think there are several messages in Purple and readers can engage with the story on various levels. Some of the obvious messages are about friendship, courage and respecting others. It’s impossible to divulge the central theme without giving away the plot (it has something to do with the colour purple). Sorry, you’ll just have to read it to find out!

Are the experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

There’s a bit of me in every character and my writing is definitely influenced by all of my life experiences. For example, one of the characters in Purple is bullied and attacked because he’s black and has an American accent. I was bullied in school because I’m gay and it’s an experience I’ve never forgotten.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Finding the time. I work as a flight attendant and although I’m lucky to travel around the world I’m constantly in different time zones.  It can be exhausting. When I’m not sleeping it’s tempting to go out and have fun. Last week I was in New York and tomorrow I’m off to Hong Kong. When I’m home I have all the usual stuff to do – family, friends, going to the supermarket, doing the laundry – you know how it goes!

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’ve always loved stories. When I was a child I read constantly. At school the only subjects I really enjoyed were English literature and drama. I arrived late for my final English exam, I thought it was in the afternoon and I was home fast asleep when the teacher called. My mum dragged me out of bed and drove me to school at the speed of light! Amazingly, it turned out to be my best grade! In my early twenties I was a member of a touring theatre company and we wrote lots of our own material.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I love to be moved by a story and feel empathy for the characters. I want to laugh and cry with them. I don’t have a favourite author, but I do have favourite books.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy – it took me a few chapters to get into it, but then it took me to India.

Running With Scissors by Augustine Burroughs – the book I read in two days (it usually takes at least two months).

The Colour Purple by Alice Walker – contains my favourite line in a book, I am so happy. I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl – when I was ten years old this book really excited me, and I still think about finding a gold ticket inside the wrapper of my chocolate bar.

What inspired you to write your first book?

When I was thirteen, my best friend’s dad died in a car accident, and it completely shocked me. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that someone could be here one day and gone the next. It also made me think about the fact that life doesn’t last forever and contemplate where we go when we die. A lot of people have strong religious views that answer those kinds of questions, but I don’t. I really wanted to investigate this in the novel. I’ve always followed my passion, and I think that’s ultimately why I became a writer. After working in lots of different jobs I realized that I missed having a creative outlet. One day I mentioned to a friend that I had an idea for a book, and she challenged me and asked me why I hadn’t started yet. At first, I thought, “Who am I to write a book?” As a writer you have to get over that fear. Just go for it. Use your own life experiences and channel them into the creative outlet that gives you a sense of freedom and happiness. I think that’s what inspiration is all about at the end of the day.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No, I love it exactly as it is. I know it’s not the perfect book, but perfection is subjective and I’ve come to realize it’s impossible to please everyone.

You can find Graham’s book, Purple at Amazon.