Author Interview 004: Francis H Powell - Embracing Diverse Storytelling

Welcome to another installment of our Author Interview series! Today, we have the pleasure of diving into the creative world of Francis H Powell, a British author who seamlessly transitions between genres, from children's literature to horror. Let's explore the intriguing insights he shares about his writing journey, inspirations, and upcoming projects.

Discovering Diverse Narratives: An Interview with Francis H Powell

Francis H Powell's interview offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a versatile storyteller. From discussing the influences of his upbringing in Reading and current life in France to sharing the creative process behind his short stories and children's books, Powell provides valuable insights into his writing philosophy. Moreover, he gives readers a sneak peek into his upcoming horror book and reflects on the intersection of his various artistic pursuits.

Featured Excerpts

On navigating between genres: "Maybe because the two genres are so different it is possible to slip from one to the other. Even with children's stories, you have bad characters, think Roald Dahl. They do require different mental approaches."

On crafting short stories: "With short stories, you have to make sure each sentence is powerful and that the story evolves. If I can work out an ending the reader least expects, then the story has achieved its aim."

On the intersection of art forms: "When I paint I am in a different mental state to when I write. Writing is calming, and painting makes me more agitated. Doing concerts is great when the public likes the work as much as you."

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Full Questions and Answers

1. You've mentioned that you work in various genres, from children's books to horror. How do you navigate between these different genres, and what inspires you to explore such diverse storytelling avenues?

Maybe because the two genres are so different it is possible to slip from one to the other. Even with children's stories, you have bad characters, think Roald Dahl. They do require different mental approaches. The dialogue with a children's book has to be appropriate, children's books are often fun and light-hearted. I like to have quirky characters, which can be found in most of my stories. My horror stories are more sort old-fashioned style horror stories, horrible things happen but not gratuitous gore and violence.

2. Your upbringing in Reading and current residence in Moret sur Loing, France, suggest a life rich in cultural experiences. How have these locations influenced your writing style and the themes you explore in your works?

I am from the UK and my stories often cover British themes, like the class system. I have recently written something that in-cooperates France, Paris and the locality where I live.

3. Your book "Flight of Destiny" is described as a collection of 22 short stories characterized by unexpected final twists. What draws you to the short story format, and how do you approach crafting these intriguing twists?

I submitted a story for a magazine called Rat Mort (Dead Rat). When the story got accepted this inspired me to write more short stories, I liked the format and still do. With short stories you have to make sure each sentence is powerful and that the story evolves. If I can work out an ending the reader least expects, then the story has achieved its aim.

4. Could you share a bit about your creative process when writing both prose and poetry? Do you find one form of expression more challenging or rewarding than the other?

Poetry is more spontaneous, you write the first two lines and set up the theme and then more follow. The last two lines are also important.

Even with prose, the title of the story sets the tone, as well as the first few lines. My poems are not usually long, I do a bit of editing, and search for better words sometimes.

With prose, you have to manoeuvrer the story in the right direction, building and building. You have to build characters and situations for your characters to interact. You have to keep the reader immersed in the story and think about the language you are using. As a writer, you develop techniques. You have to be aware of how your reader will react, not write indulgent stories for your own pleasure.

5. As an artist, musician, and writer, how do you see these different forms of art intersecting in your work? Do you find that your experiences in one discipline influence your approach to another?

An artist does a piece of work in the confines of a studio or workplace, maybe in their house, then if they have the possibility of showing their work in a gallery, their work is hung or displayed for people to see but there is a gulf between the two, the initial process to hanging work on white walls. Musicians write in studios or at home then play what they have written to a public and there is a connection between the conception and the concert. I have done “live paintings” in front of people, which is different from painting alone and maybe more of a challenge. When I paint I am in a different mental state to when I write. Writing is calming, and painting makes me more agitated. Doing concerts is great when the public likes the work as much as you. I am not sure if there is an obvious connection between my art, music, and writing.

I get paint on my hands and clothes, it's not relaxing for me. I'm sure some painters relax while they are working, I'm more in a trance; absorbed in what I'm doing, in a world of my own. With writing I live the story, even when I am not writing. When I wake up early, and can't sleep, I imagine things that I am going to put in a story I am working on.

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6. "The Fish King and the Two Wise Ghosts" sounds like a captivating title. What can readers expect from this children's book, and what inspired you to venture into children's literature?

I have a son who does a lot of drawings. With one of his drawings, I imagined a king-like fish holding the hands of two ghosts. I tried to imagine a story from this drawing and invented other characters. The King is lonely and needs a wife but all the candidates he meets are not suitable or even bad. He meets the right woman (or fish) and has a son, who when he grows up goes off on adventures. In fact, the story started off as a long poem, I decided to change it to prose but decided to keep a lot of the poetry.

7. Your upcoming horror book sounds intriguing. Can you give us a sneak peek into what readers can anticipate from this new venture into the horror genre?

It's called “Unforgivable”. It is set in four different periods, the ancient past, a couple of centuries ago in Italy, the present, and the future. The stories involve priests being killed, but it's not straightforward, in the first story a normal middle-class man imagines he's killed some priests, but this is not the case. In the second story, a woman who has been wronged by two priests kills them. In the last story, a druid priestess is killed by a man who is suffering delusions. In the last story set in the future, a priest is killed by a woman, but it's a psychological killing, not physical.

8. As someone who writes both children's books and short stories, could you share with us which writers have inspired you the most in each genre? Additionally, what are some of your favorite children's books and short stories that have left a lasting impact on you as a writer?

As I said Roald Dahl, who is famous for his children's stories also wrote adult short stories, which I read a long time ago, but which stuck in my mind. I am part of a book club, so I read a variety of different books. Recently we looked at "Lessons in Chemistry",  I have also seen the TV series.  I liked the character of Elizabeth Zott. The story is a bit improbable in parts but raises a lot of interesting points about women and how they were treated in the 50s. 

9. Social media plays a significant role in modern author promotion. How do you leverage platforms like Twitter and Instagram to connect with your readers and promote your work effectively?

I do a lot of tweets on X...as it is known these days. I also have posted a lot of poetry, doing challenges. I post on Instagram and Facebook and put blog articles on WordPress. 

10. Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors who are looking to explore multiple genres and creative pursuits, based on your own journey as a multi-disciplinary artist and writer?

Enjoy what you do, work with your strengths, and be careful who you work with to publish books. Write the kind of things you enjoy yourself. Ride over unfair criticism. Don't take knockbacks too harshly, there might be unexpected successes further along the line. Absorb things and put them in your work. Keep at it. 

Conclusion

We extend our gratitude to Francis H Powell for offering us a glimpse into his creative universe. With a diverse range of influences, a passion for storytelling, and a commitment to artistic exploration, Powell continues to captivate readers across genres. We eagerly anticipate delving into his latest works and encourage readers to explore his captivating narratives.

About Francis H Powell 

Francis H Powell is a British author, artist, musician, and video maker currently residing in Moret sur Loing, France. His literary works include "The Fish King and the Two Wise Ghosts," "Adventures of Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation," and "Flight of Destiny." Powell's writing spans across genres, showcasing his versatility and imaginative prowess.