What influenced this author to write a book about a child assassin? What was his favorite part of the book, and which part of it was the most fun for him to write? Does he believe that books should always have happy endings? What advice does he have for authors?
What influenced you to write a book about someone who was a killer as a child? Was it something you witnessed? Something that really happened?
Nathan: My Daughter, My Assassin was based on something my young daughter said to me. We were having a friendly verbal stoush across the dinner table, laughing as we tried to outdo one another with silly comments. Our conversation went something like this:
Daughter: “When you run, you’re so slow people think you are walking.”
Me: “Well when you run, people think you are a washing machine.”
Daughter (laughing): “When you laugh, you sound like a washing machine.”
Me (laughing): “Well, your favorite color is brown.”
Daughter (not laughing): “No, it’s not. It’s purple.”
Me: “It can’t be, because purple is my favorite color.”
This last comment must have really annoyed her because then she said, very seriously:
“One day, you are going to wake up with a scarab in your mouth.”
Oh my goodness! How bizarre!
It was! I was flabbergasted! I had no idea where this had come from! I had no idea she even knew what a scarab was, let alone could think I’d wake up with one in my mouth! Needless to say, she won the verbal stoush! But it got my mind ticking over. The idea was morbid to me, the idea of waking up with a scarab in my mouth, put there by a child, my child even. It got me thinking…what if this really happened? What would be the personality of such a child? The book grew from there.
Have you ever woke up with a scarab in your mouth?
No! And just to make sure, my favorite color is no longer purple!
I really liked Mina, and I applauded and understood some of the murders she committed. Do you believe that an assassin can really have feelings and care about what happens to others?
In the context of the story, I think some of the murders Mina commits are understandable. I think in reality, an assassin could have feelings / care about what happens to others but would have to suppress any such feelings when they would carry out a murder. Or perhaps they could have feelings towards their target’s victims, which could help them carry out the assassination of their target, or, perhaps an assassin could have a “frame-of-mind” that treats such assassinations as a job or a business and could completely disconnect from their job at hand.
How long did it take you to choose a title for this book? Do you feel it gives the reader a sense of what is going to happen in the book?
The title My Daughter, My Assassin chose itself. I think it showed itself immediately at that dinnertime verbal with my daughter. The title could give a hint about what is happening in the book but I feel it can be read in different ways.
Sure. For example, in a way of love and admiration?
Perhaps.
Or in a more direct sense?
That’s also possible. I don’t want to say too much. In some ways though, it was perhaps a risk to make such a bold statement in the title. But the scenario of the book is laid out quite clearly in the first few chapters anyway. And I feel the tension created by the set of circumstances makes the reader want to keep reading to find out what happens next, and as they progress, that they want to know how the story ends as well. Well, at least I’d like to think that’s how it might work for the reader!
The father-daughter relationship between the main character Daniel and his daughter Mina is very close. Did you draw on your own experiences as a father to write the book?
I was the at-home parent for our young kids for a number of years. I feel this book is in some ways a self-examination of my time doing this job.
Is it a job that you enjoyed?
Yes, definitely. My kids are now old enough that they don’t require a permanent at-home parent, and I look back at my time as the at-home parent really fondly. There were many joys and moments I witnessed in their growth and development that I would have missed had I not been a permanent fixture in their lives.
What sticks out for you as some of those moments?
Being there for their first day of school, the time they lost their first tooth, the first time they rode a bike and swam by themselves. I think I’m lucky to have been there for this part in their lives, instead of say, working in a 9-5 job full time, like I did before the full-time parenting.
Was it all good times?
No, it wasn’t, and towards the end of this time, I felt like I’d lost myself. I’d lost my individuality a little.
Can you elaborate?
I think as parents, whether stay-at-home or not, we give a lot or everything to our kids, or for our kids. Personally, I hit a point where I didn’t feel “me” anymore. I was defined by my kids to a certain extent. At the end of this period in my life I found myself wondering “Whoa – what now? Who am I now?”
Have you found the answers to these questions?
Yes. And no. I think it’s an ongoing process that could include finding a new job, or new training in something I haven’t done before.
And what about your writing?
I’ll always write. I continue to write. Writing is an essential part of what makes me feel good!
My Daughter, my Assassin is based a mostly in France. You give a strong description of what life is like in France. Is this based on your experiences?
Yes it is. I live in France with my small family – my wife is French. We’ve been back here for nine years now. I really like it. I think in My Daughter, My Assassin I was able to relive my first moments in France: the discovery of a new culinary and cultural life, the difficulties I had with communication at the start, the “newness” of it all. I really enjoyed writing about that.
A small part of the book also takes place in New York. Did you need to go there to research this part of the book?
Yes, I did but after I’d actually written that part. My book The Freeing of Jonathon Mark won an IPPY award last year for best fiction, and we flew over to New York to accept it (a really exciting experience!). I took the opportunity to visit landmarks that had featured, or could feature in the book, to make sure I was on the mark with my writing. It was important for me to do that.
You speak at times in the book about pieces of Australian life. As an expat Australian, do you miss your home country? How do you deal with these feelings?
I do miss Australia from time to time, but I must admit, less and less. Mostly it’s just a feeling of nostalgia or wishing I could be at a match of Australian football or drinking my favorite beer with mates. Catching up with friends and family face-to-face. Or definitely, visiting my favorite café, Wall 280, in Melbourne, to drink a cappuccino and write – writing always flows in this place!
I deal with these feelings by writing, mostly. Riding a nostalgic or melancholic feeling makes for productive writing sessions.
When you write, do you demand complete silence, or are you able to write amidst chaos?
Chaos is good. My only prerequisite is headphones and loud music blasting in my ears. That way chaos can take place all around, but I am insulated and in my own world.
What is your favorite part of My Daughter, My Assassin? Which part was the most fun to write?
I loved writing most of it actually. Probably the best part to write was as the book headed towards its end. It just flowed, and when I read it back to myself, I felt it worked too. There’s also a chapter I wrote as if it was a film scene, inspired by two of my favorite directors, Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. I had a lot of fun with that.
Do you plan to write any more books about Mina?
No, not at this stage. I seem to write about periods in my life, even if I don’t realize it at the time of writing. It seems to be a way for me to subconsciously process things.
So you’ll be writing about your next stage in life in your next book?
I might actually be heading further back, and examining a past period of my life back when I was single.
What will it be about?
In a word? Belonging.
Do you believe that books should always have happy endings?
No, I don’t believe they should. I believe a book should have its correct conclusion. As a writer, I often know the ending before I start writing and try to head that way, but the story will dictate the ending. I try to write a believable and satisfactory ending for the characters and scenario. I just make sure I stay true to the premise.
What is the most memorable life experience, one you will never forget, that you’ve ever had? Have you had that one moment that forever changed your life?
Yes. The night I met my (future) wife.
Can you elaborate?
(laughs) Hmmmm…sorry. That story I’m keeping for my wife and myself. But, I guess I might have pulled on some or our experiences when writing the parts of My Daughter, My Assassin between Daniel and Helena. Maybe…
Finally, do you have any advice or encouraging words for all the indie authors out there?
Yeah – do what you do best. Keep writing!
Recommended Articles:
My Daughter, My Assassin – a Review
Bullied. Bullied. Bully. – Guest Post by Nathan Gross
The Freeing of Jonathon Mark – a Review
Nathan Gross Interview – Life, MS, and Writing
