Kevin Ansbro.

First up today, I'd like to welcome Kevin Ansbro, author of “Kinnara” to The Thursday Interview. Before we get started, a quick intro!  

Kevin Ansbro was born of Irish parents, and has lived in Malaysia and Germany: He was educated at Hamond’s Grammar School in Swaffham, and at the Norfolk College of Arts and Technology, King’s Lynn. Kevin also has a background in karate and kickboxing and has travelled extensively – particularly in the Far East. He is married to Julie, and currently lives in Norwich, England.

OK - HERE WE GO !!  

No.1  Would you break the law to save a loved one? .. why?

Of course! We all harbour a visceral urge to kill. Our homicidal inner monster (chained, starved and ignored), waits dutifully beneath the trapdoor of our consciousness. Johnny Depp’s fictional character in the film ‘Nick of Time’ exemplifies what someone might be prepared to do to save a loved one.

No.2  What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

If we’re talking about humans here, we all ‘live’ for as long as our organs cooperate. But most of us only ‘truly live’ every now and then: it’s a transient thing, whether you’re a rock star or a street urchin. Fortunately, I’ve had my moments.

No.3  What motivates you to write?

I love to write, always have done; but in terms of being an author I started writing purposefully to combat the all-consuming strain of slowly losing a loved-one. It was a cathartic experience.

No.4 Why do humans want children?

You are probably asking the wrong guy, as I don’t have any. Hey, I’m certainly glad that my parents wanted children, and I’ve derived vicarious pleasure in watching our friends’ kids growing up; but I’m also extremely fond of dolphins, elephants and pandas, none of which I would particularly want sprawled across my sofa!

No.5  What was the biggest challenge in creating your book "Kinnara" ? 

The biggest obstacle in writing my book was not having enough hours in a day. The characters and storyline grew far quicker than I could type, and before I knew it my wife would be saying, “You need to get into the shower, the taxi’s arriving in half an hour!”

No.6  What is the most important thing you have learned in life so far? 

The most important thing (I’ve learned) is that the humility acquired in my middle years is preferable to the cocksure arrogance of my youth. God! I was an over-confident, contemptuous fool!

No.7  How did you come up with the title "Kinnara"? 

Because my wife and I are frequent travellers to Thailand, we are continually aware that religion and folklore are an integral part of Thai culture. The Kinnaree – mythical half-bird, half-human creatures - are widely depicted in traditional art magazines and sometimes on restaurant signs. The road into Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is guarded by several gleaming statues of these creatures. It was there, approaching the terminal, that the book idea and its title were conceived.

No.8  How do you handle personal criticism? 

Strange as this might seem, I actually enjoy personal criticism if it’s levelled at me face-to-face. Bring it on, I say! And, if the criticism is justified, I calmly accept it and take it on the chin; if it isn’t, then oh yeah, I love to fight my corner! Censure from venomous people who hide behind pseudonyms is disappointing. Whenever someone comes to me with a mean or jealous spirit, or perhaps a review that had a very negative instead of helpful attitude, then I have learned to simply let their words roll off my back like water on a duck. In those cases, I have found that their words do more harm than good if I take them in. In addition, I have realized that I won’t be everyone’s favorite author and some people may not enjoy my style of writing. I can’t allow any harmful words to cause damage to me personally. I don’t want them to taint one of the things I enjoy the most — writing stories.

No.9  Why should people read your book? 

It would be presumptuous of me to say why people ‘should’ read my book. Of course I would love everyone to read it! (Who wouldn’t?). The novel might appeal to anyone who is bored by formulaic ‘paint-by-numbers’ thrillers and who prefer their lead characters to have a ‘real-life’ romance. It’s certainly outlandish; it’s likely to make you laugh and it might make you cry. Kinnara is a rambunctious killer-on-the-loose beach read with a difference! The book’s USP is that the destiny of its chief protagonists lies in the hands of a mythical creature who resides beneath the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea. It’s nasty, funny, heartbreaking and uplifting. Intrigued? You bet you’re intrigued!

No.10  Why is there something rather than nothing?

Once you’ve identified something as being ‘nothing’ it immediately becomes ‘something.’ If a tree comes crashing down in a forest, it doesn’t make a sound, unless an ear - or recording equipment - is there to perceive the noise. Once you are aware of ‘something’, it exists! (Note to self: you are going into this far too deeply).

Thank you Kevin :)

For taking the time to answer my questions 

& the best of luck with your new book! 

Check out “Kinnara” on

GOODREADS & AMAZON

“Sawat, I want to go into the water…”

Phuket, Thailand, seemed to be the perfect getaway choice for twenty-two-year-old Calum Armstrong: What he saw, and did, on that holiday proves to have far-reaching consequences; not only for himself, but also for those closest to him.

In Germany, uncompromising Frankfurt detective, Otto Netzer, is leading the manhunt for a brutal serial killer who preys on heavily-pregnant women…

Neither Calum, nor the killer, yet realise that their destiny lies in the hands of a mythical creature who resides beneath the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea.

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