The Minister of Chance Interview with Dan Freeman

Editor James Hornby talks to award-winning author Dan Freeman about his upcoming book, The Minister of Chance.

Q: For those who have never heard of The Minister of Chance, could you give us a brief description?
A: Oh God! Please don’t make me do that! It’s hard enough writing without having to write about the writing! :) It’s kind of a Fantasy, a sort of fairy-tale about a girl discovering the nature of the Universe as she travels through it with a kind of brooding techno-wizard.

Q: How was the Minister of Chance created?
A: He started off as a character in an audio series. He’s been wandering around in my head for years.

Q: How did this new novel come into being?
A: Well a very nice lad called James Hornby messaged me online asking if I’d be interested in writing a novel about the Minister. I said yes, expecting nothing to come of it, but to my surprise and delight he was very serious and enthusiastic and here we are! I’m absolutely thrilled.

Q: How did you find the writing process?
A: Hate me, but it was pretty easy. I knew the story I wanted to tell, so I threw it down expecting to be told it was rubbish and to have to rewrite it severely. However, I sent it to my old friend Vince Henderson and he gave me some notes and broadly said it was good. I also read it to my daughter as I wrote it, and she enjoyed it. I read the first chapter to her class at school, and they sat still, so I thought I might be onto something. And dear old James the publisher was very enthusiastic, so I went back and revised it with confidence.

Q: What should readers expect from The Minister of Chance?
A: I always write worlds that I want to be in, so I hope people will want to come with me. I hope I’ve given them a credible system of magic and excitement and wonder, and characters they can love and hate or get involved with.

Q: What are you most proud of about your story?
A: I’m proud to have finished a novel! I’m proud that there are strong women in it, and I’d be immensely proud if it made a difference to somebody.

Q: Where else can we find your work?
A: I’m working on a play and a film at the moment, you can sign up for news about all that on my website www.danfreeman.co.uk or my company www.secretplanet.co.uk, and who knows? Maybe another novel or two!

Q: Will we see the Minister again?
A: Oh yes please! Where do I sign up?