torm Constantine
is an artist, a poet, a teacher and a student. In a former life she was probably a witch. In a future life she'll be a hermaphrodite. In this life, however, she is one of the most talented and original gothic-fantasy authors the U.K. has to offer.
With a bibliography that includes The Wraeththu Trilogy, The Grigori Trilogy and The Magravandias Chronicles, as well as the non-fiction work Bast & Sekhmet—The Eyes of Ra (with Eloise Coquio), Constantine continues to surprise and delight with each new project she takes in hand.
Here she talks about the beginning and the end, New Agers and angels, and all the juicy bits in between.
How long have you been writing, professionally and otherwise?
Constantine: I've written all my life, and before I could actually string a sentence together, I lived out fantasies in my head. I first became published in 1987, with the first of the Wraeththu books, The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit.
Is it all natural talent or have you taken courses?
Constantine: I've never taken any courses, so I think storytelling was in my blood. Once I became published, I realized I had a lot to learn about the structure of language, so applied myself to studying grammar, etc. Words are like magical spells. You have to learn how to put the right ones together in the right order to achieve the desired result. I have taught creative writing myself, and learned a lot from my students. I think one of the best ways to learn the craft is to edit other people's material. I could be correcting someone's story, saying, "No, no, you can't do this," then think, "Hang on, I do that!" It helped me look at my own work with fresh eyes.
Did reading inspire you to write?
Constantine: Not at first, no, because I was only very little and couldn't read! Once I could, I devoured books on the Egyptian and Greek myth, and this did inspire me. I used to make up new myths, using the same characters. Later, certain writers inspired me to write my own "serious" material, such as Michael Moorcock and Tanith Lee. I began to read them in my early teens.
Have you always read a lot?
Constantine: Yes, I'm the sort of person who has to read while I'm eating breakfast, when I'm in the bathroom, everywhere!
How did you become interested in the subject matter of your work?
Constantine: I suppose, in many ways, it was a natural development from being interested in mythology and exotic gods and goddesses, which in turn led to an interest in occultism, and non-Christian religion.
You were extremely fortunate with your debut as a published author with the Wraeththu trilogy. How did it come about?
Constantine: I was in the right place at the right time! Although I'd always written stories, I'd never actually sent any off anywhere, as I cringed at the idea of others reading my work. But eventually, realizing that all I wanted to be was a professional writer, I plucked up courage to make inquiries about how to get published. Well, I got a friend to do the talking, while I skulked, crippled with nerves, in the background. We went into the Andromeda sci-fi and fantasy bookshop in Birmingham, and my friend asked the manager about it. He told the guy about the Wraeththu book. Luckily, there was a sales representative from Macdonald publishers in the shop at the time, and he heard the story. He thought it sounded interesting and said he'd take a synopsis and sample chapters down to London for me. This happened, and then the next thing I know, I've sold a book. It was surreal, and not a very common way into the industry.
Your first books [the Wraeththu trilogy] have a massive cult following both in the U.K. and the States. Did you expect them to be so well received in spite of the lack of promotion?
Constantine: I suppose, in my heart, I knew that the books would find the right homes, as it were. I was passionate about the material, and somehow sensed there were others out there who would share my passion. I could be the bard for these folk, tell the stories they wanted to hear. I do still think the books were treated very badly by the industry in the U.K. and suffered from no promotion, bad distribution, all the usual gremlins. The thing that surprises me the most is that the Wraeththu books did so well, even though the first one was not that well written. At the time, I was a fledgling writer in many ways, and had yet to learn mastery of my craft, so I couldn't see the faults clearly. Now, I certainly can. But readers have been very forgiving of the shortcomings of the prose, because they just got into story. Fortunately!
I heard that there were some problems regarding the front covers for the Wraeththu books. Is this true and can you explain?
Constantine: Basically, I just didn't like them. I'm talking about the U.K. covers here, rather than the ones Rick Berry did for the U.S. editions, which were far superior and which I still like. The U.K. covers just didn't capture the essence of Wraeththu, although by the time the third paperback came out, the artwork was better.
The heroes (or anti-heroes) of your books seem to fit a similar mold—that of androgynous or feminine men with lovely long locks and a touch of the misunderstood bad boy about them. Has this been deliberate?
Constantine: I think it's an archetype that many people relate to, the fallen angel thing. So, I suppose it must be deliberate.
Can you think of any actors who physically embody the image of your characters? Which characters?
Constantine: That's a tough one! I'm sure there must be individuals who could carry off a Wraeththu or Grigori role, but I can't think of any offhand.
More recently, you have published books more factual rather than fictional in nature, Bast & Sekhmet—The Eyes of Ra for example. Is this a recent turnaround or have you always wanted to write non-fiction as well as fiction?
Constantine: I always thought I'd turn my hand to non-fiction one day, but first I needed the experience to write with authority on my chosen subjects. As a practitioner of magic for over 25 years, and now an Iseum teacher, I now feel I know what I'm talking about, although I continue to learn.
I understand that you are a great fan of Andrew Collins and that it was his work From the Ashes of Angels that initially inspired The Grigori Trilogy. Is it likely that we will see a joint project between the two of you?
Constantine: I would say I am a friend of Andy's rather than a fan, but it was his research material that inspired the Grigori trilogy. Andy suggested to me that I should write the definitive Nephilim novel, and he was working on Ashes at the time. So he helped me out with all the background material. We don't have any plans to write a joint project at present, but who knows? Anything is possible.
Which other authors do you find inspiring? Do you have a favorite?
Constantine: My favorite writer is Alice Hoffman [author of Practical Magic and The River King]. Her style and command of language is superb. She is not a fantasy writer, but her works are very magical. I recommend her to anyone who asks for advice on learning how to write fiction. If you can read her material with the eye of a writer, rather than just as a reader, she has a great deal to teach you. I also love Tanith Lee's work and have all of her novels. She is a mistress of language too. Another favorite is Jack Vance, for the same reasons.
What are your absolute favorite books?
Constantine: My favorites by the above named authors are Hoffman's The River King, Lee's Faces Under Water and Vance's Lyonesse. There are many other books I admire and reread, too many to list here, but a couple I could mention are Alice's Masque by Lindsay Clarke and Human Croquet by Kate Atkinson.
How did you find working with Michael Moorcock on Silverheart?
Constantine: Mike was a dream to work with, because he just gave me free rein. He'd written the first draft of a novella that he didn't have time to turn into a novel, so he asked me to do it. I added more characters and scenes, although the world itself was Mike's vision.
Your novel Thin Air has taken some beatings from many of your regular readers and is a huge departure from your usual style. How do you feel about this book and how it was received?
Constantine: Thin Air was a very difficult book to write, not least because I was going through hard times while I was trying to complete it. I was satisfied with the result, though, but understand it might not have been to everyone's taste. However, there are other readers who prefer it to my fantasy material. It's all a matter of taste.
Out of all your books, which are your personal favorites? Which are you most proud of?
Constantine: I still love the Wraeththu books, and am enjoying immensely writing the new material. I was proud of the Magravandias Trilogy, because even I could see progression in my writing there. It's difficult to say which I love the most, because while I'm writing a book, I'm in that world, and it becomes part of me. Therefore, to say I like this one more than that one is like saying you prefer one of your children to another one. Best not go there!
Which book was the hardest to write?
Constantine: Thin Air, definitely!
You have written a lot of short stories, poems and articles as well as your novels. What kind of writing do you enjoy most?
Constantine: Non-fiction is the easiest to write, but even though writing a novel can be so hard sometimes, you can't beat the feeling of achievement once you've finished it.
You have been published in a lot of magazines, which magazines (if any) do you actually read?
Constantine: I read Sight and Sound, which is a film industry magazine, SFX, which is a U.K. fantasy/movie magazine, and Viz, which is an adult comic. My husband Jim and I like the sick sense of humor in Viz!
You have achieved wonderful things and created a successful writing career after bravely giving up your day job. What's left on your personal agenda of things to do? What are your goals for the future?
Constantine: One day, I'd love to see a movie get made of the Wraeththu stories. How feasible this will ever be or not, I don't know, but it's a dream. I also have a yearning to write a bitchy mainstream novel about the New Age movement. This would be rather tongue in cheek and humorous, but I don't know when I'll get round to doing it. For the next three years, I'll be working on the new Wraeththu trilogy, so I've no complaints there. I also hope to be working on other non-fiction projects during this time.
You have managed several bands over the years. Do you find this as satisfying or enjoyable as writing? Or is it just for the variety?
Constantine: Managing bands was a thankless task, if you ask me! It was fun to be part of the music scene in the late '80s/early '90s, but I don't really miss it.
How did you end up managing bands?
Constantine: A lot of my friends were in bands and some of them were hopeless at managing themselves.
Did you ever consider putting together your own band?
Constantine: No, I'm not at all musical, I'm afraid.
What do you do for fun and/or relaxation?
Constantine: Play Heroes of Might and Magic on the computer, listen to music, get drunk with friends, visit sacred sites around the country. Jim and I like to find unusual places to stay. Last year, Andy Collins recommended Bryn Kir Tower in Wales, which is a fabulous folly you can hire out. Six of us went to stay there and it was divinely spooky, out in the middle of nowhere. Just a huge tower on a hill.
Do you do a lot of studying? What are your personal study subjects?
Constantine: I'm always studying occult topics, mainly to find material for Eloise's and my witchcraft courses. But for each novel I write, I have to do a lot of research. I have a huge library in my house, and must be one of Amazon's best customers!
How do you believe humanity started? Do you believe in the evolution theory or something more intangible?
Constantine: Who knows? I'd like to believe it was "something more intangible," but as one philosopher said, "belief is the death of intelligence." It's best just to keep an open mind and enjoy reading other people's theories!
How do you think humanity will end?
Constantine: I don't. Crucial factors change all the time, and what could finish us off today might not in two years' time. We could be hit by a comet, we could poison ourselves to death, we could blow ourselves up. Or, we might actually grow up as a species, become more responsible and reach out to other worlds. I'm not psychic, nor a prophet, so I don't bother to conjecture. I just live in "the now."
How do you imagine your personal utopia to be?
Constantine: If I could walk into the landscape of [Peter] Jackson's vision of Lord of the Rings, I wouldn't complain. So, maybe I should be living in New Zealand. As for the political side of my personal utopia, it's too big a topic to go into here. Suffice to say I'm not that impressed with the way things are in this reality.
You have been teaching creative writing. How did that start?
Constantine: I saw an ad in the paper for a creative writing lecturer at a local college and applied for the job out of curiosity. I got it, and ran a writing course there every week for about three years. It was fun for a while, but eventually I wanted to do other things.
Do you consider yourself to be a good teacher?
Constantine: I've been told I'm a good teacher and seem to be able to keep students, so yes, probably.
What's your advice to any aspiring writers?
Constantine: Write the book you've always wanted to read but have never found. Work with other aspiring writers and edit each other's work. Read, read, read! Pick apart your favorite writers to get to the cogs and wheels of what makes their material work for you.
Is there anything you'd like to say to your critics?
Constantine: No.
And finally, what would you like to say to your fans?
Constantine: Thanks for your support. When things have been really dark and difficult, knowing there are people out there rooting for me has been immensely encouraging.
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