I am the Tendulkar of England: Jeffery Archer

Perhaps the fact that Lord Jeffrey Archer churns out one or two books every year, explains why he has never had writer’s block. He’s a ruthlessly disciplined writer, he tells us, before adding that the next five years of his life is set. “I’m writing a series of five books called the Clifton Chronicles.”

Archer is in the city to launch Landmark’s latest store at Palladium and announce the worldwide release of his latest collection of short stories — And Thereby Hangs a Tale. He has included true stories from all over the world — US, Germany, England and even India. “People tell you stories all the time and if you’re lucky you get one story in that 20, that you really want to write about,” he says.

He tells us how he found the Indian story, Caste Off: “About two years ago, I was in Mumbai at a party where I met this couple — two Hindus from two different castes who fell in love. The twist that I’ve given is unbelievable.”}

Full report here Hindustan Times

Jeffrey Archer on his Indian love story

English author Lord Jeffrey Archer loves India with all of his heart, but knows he'll never write a broad sweeping novel set in the subcontinent.

"To write about India like that, I think you have to be here from day zero. You have to feel it. You have to be born here," he explained on Tuesday night, at the grand opening of the new Landmark bookstore at the Palladium Mall in Lower Parel, Mumbai.

He was also quick to acknowledge, with great humility, that India loves him back. Indeed, his book Kane and Abel remains a best-seller here, 30 years after its release.

But Archer also advised his Indian fans to explore their own rich literature, pointing to the works of Vikram Seth and RK Narayan.

Full report here Rediff

Three things he won't do

Show a manuscript to my wife. Write a book with an audience in mind. Use a computer or typewriter to write

"I'm in agony right now," he says, after we are done with hellos. Dressed in a comfortable bubblegum pink T-shirt, beige pants and a broad grin, English author Jeffrey Archer hardly looks like he is in pain. But he is.

He has sent the first of his next series-of-five, The Cliffton Chronicles, to his editor. "I sent it on Friday and I'll know what they think when I get back. This waiting period, it's agony," he repeats.

Archer is on his fifth trip to India, this time to launch his new short story collection, And Thereby Hangs A Tale.
"You get it before anyone else," he says about the India-first launch, settling down at a five-star coffee shop.

Full report here Mid-day

India is now an international country: Archer

On A visit to Mumbai to inaugurate the country’s largest bookstore — Landmark — author Jeffrey Archer said: “The fact that India has invited a British author to inaugurate the country’s biggest book store proves that India is very much an international country now.”

The author of Kane & Abel and A Prisoner of Birth says the country’s youth reads well and is not influenced by the TV and internet. Advising aspiring writers, Lord Archer told ET: “It takes me around 1,000 hours of hard work and energy to write a single book. If anyone wants to write a book, one should read books. Great writing evolves from great reading.”

Lord Archer, who has also been an MP, says India has a great appetite for reading good literature. “Indians are basically story lovers, just like the Irish. They like stories where it should have a beginning, a middle and an end. If possible, it should have a twist also. Malgudi Days is the best example of that.”

Full report here Economic Times

Dino meets Jeffrey Archer!

For book lovers across the city, this was one evening they wouldn’t forget, as they got to interact with none other than Lord Jeffrey Archer!

The author, who’s on his third visit to India, unveiled his latest book in the presence of Mumbai’s glitterati and his fans. Dressed casually in jeans and T-shirt and sporting funky green shoes was Dino Morea, who was seen waiting patiently for the author to arrive. Simone Tata settled herself comfortably in the front row to wait for him as well. Then strode in Lord Archer, clad in a simple striped shirt and trousers and looking quite as ease, even in the stifling Mumbai heat. He headed straight for Simone and the two chatted with each other for a while. And then it was interaction time as the audience got a chance to talk to one of their favourite authors. In the audience were Nisha Jamvwal, Anish Trivedi, Gary Lawyer and wife Anita. At his candid best, the author invited everyone to chat with him about anything under the sun, including politics and cricket. Lord Archer’s revelations:

He doesn’t like T-20 cricket one bit. “There was a time when Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman batted all day against Australia in a test match and won. I would rather watch that than a T-20 match.

Full report here Times of India