Huw Langridge was born in 1973, the year his favourite novel was written. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke gave him the motivation and desire to write science fiction. Prior to that, a healthy obsession with all things horror had him emulating the work of Stephen King and Dean Koontz at every available opportunity.


Schaefer’s Integrity:
A science fiction story set a couple of hundred years in the future at the edge of our solar system. Mankind is stuck there on the brink of interstellar space and they’re trying to perfect a new propulsion method. Schaefer is a rather naïve young chef who follows his heart more than his head and comes into contact with a virus which is baffling science. Over the course of the book he learns that the virus has serious implications for the future of mankind’s place in the universe. So the concepts get very big by the time the story reaches its dramatic conclusion.




Let's go in at the deep end: Why do you write?
I write because without some sort of creative outlet I’d be like a pressure cooker with no valve. I’d probably explode and it would take ages for my wife to pick up all the bits.

It sounds like writing is pretty essential to your well-being. What else do you do to relax?
I love listening to music and I love watching films. I couldn’t live without them. When I was younger I wanted to be a film director, and a musician. I tried my hand at both, but writing took over in the end. I also do a lot of walking, which is great for the spirit.

What themes do you write on?
I started by writing a lot of science fiction, but it was almost impossible to get family and friends to read my stuff. When I tried writing my other favourite genre, the supernatural, more people found it accessible and it was really encouraging to get their feedback. Since then I’ve had success in both genres so I’m still dancing between the two. One theme that often comes out is how fate aligns itself for things to happen. The serendipity and coincidence that brings people together for friendship and love.

Which leads me naturally to ask: Do your novels contain any autobiographical material or scenes based on your own experiences?
It’s impossible to disconnect yourself from your stories I think. “Spireclaw”, which is free on my website, is a novel that has so many autobiographical elements, my brother read it and started to correct me on some of my descriptions. It’s a ghostly tale set where I grew up. I probably overdid the autobiographical stuff with that novel, but people write to me and say they loved reading it and that the twist ending blew them away, and that’s the important thing.

What aspects of writing drive you?
With the science fiction I always wanted to be the person who wrote sci-fi for people who didn’t like sci-fi. When I was on my Arvon Foundation writing course, so many non sci-fi people were really into what I’d written in “Schaefer’s Integrity” and were engaged by it, it really made me feel like I might have achieved that aim. With the supernatural stories I really want to get back to that traditional English ghost story. Susan Hill and MR James are the keystones of the genre for me, but I like to bring it up to date, and almost mix it with contemporary chick-lit. “Spireclaw” was in that bracket, and I’m working on a novella called “The Fourdrinier Operator” which fits that too. The latter is part of a collection of spooky stories I’m writing that revolve around Britain’s railways, old and new.

What things make you angry?
Narrow-mindedness and hypocrisy.

What do you think is the best piece of advice you could give to aspiring writers?
Don’t get put off when you read other people’s stuff. So many times I’ve read pieces by other people and thought, why am I wasting my time? I’ll never write this well. It’s mainly Ian McEwan that makes me feel that way. But you have to remember that there’s an audience for everything, if it’s original and comes from the heart.

What for you was the best period of history/ time of your life and why?
The most inspirational time I had was in the Falkland Islands, working with an oil exploration team on an offshore rig. I was there for 2 weeks in 1998 and just being in that remote place really expanded my mind and got me writing proper science fiction. It was like someone switched me on, I’ll never forget it.

Tell us one piece of amusing/ interesting/ peculiar information about yourself.
Every day I accidentally look at the clock at 11:17am

If your book became a best seller, what would you do?
Buy a big house by the sea with a study and a great view, and move there, raise a family, entertain, stargaze, and write all the time (or is that too obvious?)


Thanks Huw- here's to your dream.

You can buy Schaefer's Integrity On Amazon, Book Depository or order it at major bookstores.
For further details follow the link above to Huw's website. As Huw mentioned, you can also read some of his work for free there or download the audio version.
Huw asked me to point out that the present cover to Schaefer's Integrity which is featured on Amazon, is soon to be replaced by the one featured above.


t.
Click here to add text.
           An Interview With Huw Langridge- Author of Schaefer's Integrity