Interview with Bruce Winter
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Bruce Winters debut novel The Fourth Ace has critics seeing an unusual depth of writing and characterization. Reviews have been consistantly positive even from the hardest of eyes. Here one reviewer interviews Bruce to get to the nitty gritty of his unique writing. If you would like to ask Bruce any further questions, please contact his publisher by clicking here.
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How does it feel to have successfully completed your first novel?
It feels like a major achievement. Writing the last sentence of the book
was extremely satisfying and I was surprised beyond belief that I had
completed a complex story to my satisfaction. I believed that it was
everything I wanted it to be.
Where did the idea for the show 'The Fourth Ace' come from?
I had the idea of convicted killers being eliminated on reality T.V. - a concept that might evolve in the future as program ideas dry up and viewers
demand the ultimate in macabre 'entertainment'. I had to find a way to determine which convict would do the killing in a
manner that would baffle the reader. (and viewing audience of the imaginary program). A card game wherein the designated killer would be decided by which of
them draws the fourth ace.
As you live in Australia what was your reasoning behind setting the book in America.?
To me, New York and Paris are the two cities that conjure up the epitome
of romance, glamour, corruption and night-life. They have the magnetic power
to extract intrigue and desire. Readers around the world are more likely to
relate to Broadway than be enthusiastic about Newcastle?
The book looks a lot at the consequences of peoples actions, did you intent for it to carry any sort of morals?
I suppose to some degree the answer to that question is, yes. Much of my thinking revolves around the consequences of action.
Nothing can happen until someone does something. The Fourth Ace illustrates the consequences of the choices and decisions that people make in life and
how dramatically these choices and decisions impact not only on ourselves - but on other people.
Your book manages to combine a mix of genres from romance to murder mystery is there a reason you didn't make it predominately one or the other? Would you do the same if you wrote another book or would you attempt maybe a comedy?
In The Fourth Ace I set out to write a gripping story that would hold the reader's interest and stimulate the mind with plot changes that were likely
to generate universal appeal? That meant including as many facets of life as I could inject into the story - romance, death, compassion, tragedy, friendship, youth,
old -age, sacrifice and self-forgiveness. I did not concern myself with the genre of the book. It was a story to be categorised as the publisher saw fit?
At the moment I am nearing completion of my next book which is completely different in terms of sentimentality. While I could tackle comedy I feel that it would take a special gift that I might not have, to maintain a level of humour throughout an entire book?
Most authors write so a reader can empathise with a select few characters, but you write so the reader can see the point of view of even the convicts, what was your reasoning behind that and did you ever have a character you favoured?
Difficult question. It is one thing for a writer to simply describe a character and that character's mannerisms, but I tried to actually be each
character as I was writing. I tried to feel and think what that character would feel and think and describe that feeling, not just narrate on how he or she might
react to the situation. I think Molly was the central character whom most would empathise with - there are a lot of 'Molly's' in the world, lonely, loving
and appreciative of friendship and acceptance of their obesity, which she received unreservedly from the boy, Vincent, and his family.
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