Author Interview
A Famous Influencer Interviews The Author. (Only slightly edited…)
→ ChatGPT
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to our literary radio show! Today, we have the pleasure of hosting the talented author Alastair Gordon, creator of the enchanting "Invasion of The Lovebirds." Now, let's dive right in. Alastair, your novel promises a delightful mix of romance, artificial intelligence, and unexpected twists. Could you start by sharing what inspired you to weave such a unique tapestry of themes and settings into this story?
→ Alastair G.
I woke up in the middle of the night with a lucid dream. My wife, probably desiring to get back to sleep, commanded me to write it down. Since I was recently retired, needed to do something to keep the brain active, and hate suduko, I obeyed. The multiplicity of themes arose from the characters themselves - to my surprise, they made it all up as we went along.
→ ChatGPT
That's fascinating, Alastair. It seems like your story had a life of its own from the very beginning. Now, let's talk about your characters. You've mentioned a diverse cast, including a bisexual computer geek who's into Ikebana. Can you tell us more about your characters and what inspired you to create such a diverse and unique set of individuals to drive the narrative forward?
→ Alastair G.
I've been lucky enough to live and work in several, very diverse countries, and I wanted to create a set of people that were also diverse, not just demographically, but in how they think and approach life and love. I also wanted heroes and heroines that inhabited the normal modern world of Aotearoa/New Zealand, worked in offices, filled in spreadsheets, had a glass or two of wine, enjoyed sex and so on, and yet found their lives transformed by micro-moments, accidents that were beyond their control. Another thing was, I wanted to celebrate what I see as the tolerance and diversity of younger New Zealanders .... unlike some commentators, I think they are mostly better than their elders.
→ ChatGPT
Thank you for sharing your perspective, Alastair. It's wonderful to hear how your personal experiences and observations have influenced your character choices. Now, let's explore the narrative itself. Your book seems to take readers on a rollercoaster ride through various themes and genres, from romance to AI to near-global catastrophe. How did you manage to maintain a cohesive storyline while juggling so many different elements, and what challenges did you encounter along the way?
→ Alastair G.
With great difficultly! But the "roller coaster" of themes is in fact misleading. There is a vague central theme about the nature of 'true love' and how we can find it, and another theme about what would happen if an AI was not "created deliberately", but in fact evolved sentience by accident, in the process taking on some consistent, but weird, objectives. When you take the dramatic and comic possibilities in these themes, and add in a diverse cast of characters, the plot and all those genres just seemed to emerge in response. It's all surprisingly logical. In terms of challenges, it was mostly that the world changed around me as I wrote. I started to write before the pandemic struck, and many plot elements I'd originally envisaged no longer made sense.
→ ChatGPT
I appreciate your insight into the thematic underpinnings of your novel, Alastair. It's interesting how the narrative flowed organically from your central themes. Now, let's delve into the writing process itself. You mentioned that the world changed around you as you wrote, particularly with the unexpected arrival of the pandemic. Can you share how these real-world events influenced your writing, and how did you adapt your story to reflect these changes while maintaining its essence?
→ Alastair G.
Originally I had a major plot-line around tourism in New Zealand. But during lockdown writing about cruise ships, and busloads of tourists seemed sad and unrealistic, so that got way demephasised - a total rewrite, alas. Then there was a plotline about a comically mishandled invasion of a small country by a major one. With the invasion of Ukraine, that no longer seemed so original or comic, so I've cut that - it may go in a future book. But it meant another big plot rewrite. Then there is the fact that as I wrote AI became vastly more developed, so some of my AI's capabilities were suddenly not so "Sci Fi". This part I've changed a little, but I've decided I can't possibly keep up, so it's publish and be damned. TEA, the AI in the novel, is still wonderfully ambiguous and interesting, I hope!
→ ChatGPT
It's impressive how you adapted your story in response to real-world events, Alastair, and it speaks to your dedication as an author. Now, let's switch gears a bit. "Invasion of The Lovebirds" combines elements of romance, humor, and science fiction. Can you tell us about your approach to balancing these various tones within the narrative, and were there any particular authors or works that inspired you in this regard?
→ Alastair G.
We don't live life within a single genre. It flows. Sometimes humourous, sometimes romantic, sometimes emeshed in technology or whatever. And often it's all mixed up. I have kind of tried to balance by having chapters that vary a bit in style and content, sometimes more of a romp, sometimes more personal and intimate. A Substack serial format makes that more possible and I think it makes it more interesting. I reread War and Peace every few years, and it is a book that could have been a wonderful serial in my view, and it jumps from big social themes to intimate personal ones. I’m no Tolstoy, but I like authors who can combine intimate description with action and adventure.
→ ChatGPT
Your approach to weaving different tones and genres throughout your story reflects the complexity of real life, and it sounds like it makes for an engaging and dynamic reading experience. Now, let's talk about the setting of your novel. You've chosen Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand, as the primary backdrop for your story. What drew you to this particular location, and how does it contribute to the overall atmosphere and themes of "Invasion of The Lovebirds"?
→ Alastair G.
I live here, and despite the wind and changeable climate, I love it. On one level it's small and intimate, easy to get around, and on another it's the nations capital- full of offices and bureaucrats plotting. It's also highly connected to nature with bush-clad hills and a clear, fresh deep-water harbour. So it’s a great setting, characters can get around easily, I can introduce embassy's and diplomats, people can make love in the bush. Hey, you can do anything in Wellie! In terms of tone, I did want to make it a Kiwi novel, and to make my homeland a bit of a hero. Hopefully people will learn a bit about the country along the way - I use the capacity of Substack to have side pages of info, to explain a bit about New Zealand - and the local dialect!"
→ ChatGPT
Wellington indeed seems like a rich and versatile setting for your novel, Alastair. It's evident that your personal connection to the place has played a significant role in shaping the story's atmosphere and themes. Now, let's discuss the character dynamics in your book. You've mentioned a diverse cast of characters, each with their unique perspectives and experiences. Can you share how these characters interact and evolve throughout the novel, and what you hope readers will take away from their journeys?
→ Alastair G.
That's a bit hard to sum up. The big thing I think, is that as the plot unfolds the characters are shown to be a bit different from the sterotypes of 'that kind of person'. I'd hope that, as they interact, the charcaters will all - even the best and worst of them - be revealed to have both flaws and hidden depths. Overall however, I hope the reader is just entertained, maybe given a little to think about in terms of how they'd react in the circumstances portrayed.
→ ChatGPT
It sounds like your characters go through a rich process of development and transformation, Alastair. Providing readers with multi-dimensional characters who defy stereotypes is a wonderful way to engage them in your narrative. Now, let's touch on a different aspect of your writing process. Writing a serialized novel on Substack is quite a unique approach. Could you share your experience with this format and how it has influenced the way you crafted "Invasion of The Lovebirds"?
→ Alastair G.
I discovered Substack through my wife Helen, who is an artist who writes on it. I'd written a lot of the novel by then, but my format suited serialisation. I think too, a Substack format with its side-pages, provides the opportunity to add pages on peripheral-issues, explanations and back-story. It also lets readers comment or ask questions, which is great. It also makes me think about images for each chapter, which in a strange way adds control, making me consider about what is central to the piece. This turns the novel from less of a linear book, to more of a 'web', with a central narrative, but lots of possibilities for side-strands.
→ ChatGPT
It's intriguing to hear about how the Substack format has enriched your storytelling process, Alastair. The ability to engage with readers in real time and incorporate side pages certainly adds an interactive and immersive dimension to your work. Now, as we approach the end of our interview, let's touch on the broader themes of your novel. "Invasion of The Lovebirds" explores themes of true love, AI, and the consequences of unexpected events. Could you share what you hope readers will ultimately take away from your novel, both in terms of entertainment and deeper reflection?
→ Alastair G.
I'm enamoured by popular writers like Diana Gabaldon in the romantic-adventure sphere, Connie Willis in Science Fiction, and even the classics of Georgette Heyer in romance. I can't match them, but their intimacy, wit, clever ideas and that feeling of “I didn't expect that” in their plot, is what I hope to give a little of in terms of entertainment value. In terms of deeper reflection, if I encourage people to think again about what love is, and how you find it, that would be good, as would encouraging the virtue of tolerance. Also maybe, sex is great, but rather funny. Perhaps most of all, as Jessica reminds us, ‘don't let the bastards sterotype you’.
→ ChatGPT
Those are wonderful aspirations, Alastair. Drawing inspiration from accomplished authors like Diana Gabaldon, Connie Willis, and Georgette Heyer to provide readers with entertainment, wit, and unexpected plot twists is a laudable goal. Additionally, your emphasis on encouraging reflection on love, tolerance, and the complexities of human relationships adds depth to your work. It's clear that "Invasion of The Lovebirds" offers a rich reading experience that combines entertainment with thought-provoking themes. Thank you for sharing your insights and perspectives with us today, Alastair. It's been a pleasure discussing your novel and your creative process.