Interview with Author Chris Coppel
Chris Coppel
I am thrilled to have interviewed author Chris Coppel, who shared with us details of his writing life, his book ‘Latency‘, which was released on 25th June 2024, and answered a few fun questions. This post contains affiliate links.
Chris Coppel was born in California and has since split his time between the USA and Europe, living in California, Spain, France, Switzerland and England.
Chris has held senior operations positions for both Warner Bros. and Universal Studios. Chris also held the position of Director of Operations for UCLA’s Film School where he also taught advanced screen writing. Chris and his wife Clare spent many years helping animal rescue with Best Friends Animal Society in Utah. Before joining Best Friends, Chris was President and Managing Director of the Home Entertainment Division of Testronics in Los Angeles.
Following in his father’s footsteps (Alec Coppel wrote Vertigo among many other successful movies) Chris has written numerous screenplays as well as the novels Far From Burden Dell, Luck, The Lodge, Legacy, Lakebed, Liner, Lucy, Logistics, Lingering, Lifetimes, Lunacy and Latency. Lusas Naturae will be out in May, 2025.
Chris is also an accomplished drummer and guitarist. He and his wife currently live in the UK.
1) Where did the inspiration for your book come from?
I have always been stunned by the overly lavish Los Angeles ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ mentality. At the same time, I’ve always wanted to write a good crime novel but felt I would be stepping too far from my comfort genres of horror, ghosts and stretched reality. As I started to consider the creepy crime story alternatives, the idea of combining, avarice, horror and crime all in one story grabbed me.
2) How did you plan out the plot?
I doodle around on paper to find a good opening and a good ending. Once that’s done, I tend to sit down each day to write with only a vague concept of where I’m heading. The only notes I make from that point on are when a thought for a line or story point comes to me outside a writing session. I then put it down in an email to myself.
3) When did you choose the title for your book?
In this case, the title came to me while I was working on the opening. As all my book titles start with L, it’s not that easy to find a title that fit both alphabetically and thematically. Thankfully, this one just popped into my head.
4) How did you come up with the names for your characters?
I have no system for this. I know by the time I start writing in earnest what I want the characters to be like. Usually a name comes almost immediately to mind. I have on many an occasion changed a main character’s name after their personalities have developed beyond my original scope.
5) How did you go about researching the content for your book?
As I know Los Angeles very well, I was able to carry out what little research was needed via google.
6) What made you choose this genre?
It’s a mixture of my two favourite genres… Horror and Crime.
7) How long did it take you to complete your book?
About 18 months.
8) Can you describe your book in three words?
Enthralling, creepy, surprising
9) What’s the hardest part of being a writer?
Physically sitting down every day and writing even when every part of my being is screaming at me to do something more fun.
10) Why should our readers pick your book up?
Latency is unique. The main characters are flawed yet likeable. The story keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The twists and turns may cause whiplash, but the pain is worth the pleasure.
Publisher – Cranthorpe Millner Publishers
Pages – 440
Release Date – 25th June 2024
ISBN 13 – 978-1803781914
Format – ebook, paperback
Synopsis
Up until now, the only monsters the LAPD had ever seen were of the human variety…
When two down-on-their-luck detectives are forced to work together on a series of cold cases, they slowly begin to uncover a common thread that may hold the key to solving some of their town’s grizzliest unsolved murders.
Little do they know that the same key will unlock secrets from a different dimension; one filled with monstrous creatures that should never be disturbed…
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Fun Questions
1) Do you have a writing buddy (i.e. a pet)?
Absolutely. Here’s Tony
2) Do you have any writing quirks?
Not really. I try to wrote two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon, Monday – Friday, but, other than that, I have no need for quirks.
3) Where do you write?
Our dining table is my desk and my guitars are my muses. I have no excuse for the diving helmet on the right.
4) Your book has been made into a movie, you’ve been offered a cameo role, what will you be doing?
I would play Detective Teri Grey’s father. I like his dress style and laid back persona.
5) A talking owl has just finished reading your book, what’s the first thing he says to you?
‘Whooo the f*ck wrote this. ‘It’s brilliant. ‘I give it 5 hoots.’
Author links
Goodreads
Website
A big thank you to Chris Coppel for sharing his writing life with us and for a wonderful interview.
