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Being a novelist did not come easy to Simon Tolkien, grandson of the legendary 'Lord of the Rings' author.
As a writer and a son, Simon Tolkien understands the influence of rejection in his life.
Even with the pain it caused him, the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien still believes something positive occurred when agents and publishers turned down his first attempt at fiction. The rejections proved to Tolkien that his work wouldn't be published just because his grandfather was the legendary author of "The Lord of the Rings," the epic that has been turned into recent movie blockbusters.
So now that Tolkien's second effort "Final Witness" has been published to mostly favorable reviews, the 44-year-old London resident believes his writing can stand on its own merit.
"When I knew the movies were coming out, it was like a freight train coming at me," he says in a phone interview from home. "I wanted to say, 'Hey, there's more to me than sharing the blood of this really famous man.' Having written the book and having it be received so well has been a fantastic experience for me."
Father-son conflict
Now, if he could just overcome the rejection by his father, who has cut off all personal contact.
Father-son struggles are at the heart of "Final Witness," a courtroom-murder thriller in which a government minister in England distances himself from his teenage son, who has accused his father's mistress of planning his mother's murder.
"I wanted to write a page-turner that people would stay up to read," says Tolkien, who drew upon his experiences as a barrister for the novel.
"But it's also very much about the difficulties between a father and a son, which is like the relationship I have with my father. I don't think it will ever be resolved. He won't have anything to do with me."
Movie rights are part of it
Of their falling out, the son will say only that conflict over the movie versions of the trilogy is a part of it.
He supported their making; his father, Christopher, didn't, because J.R.R. Tolkien sold film rights to "The Lord of the Rings" in 1968.
"I always thought the books could be filmed in a very exciting way," Tolkien says. "They have great stories and great landscapes. I think that's what Peter Jackson (the movies' director) has done. I really have enjoyed the movies. But at first I found them difficult to watch because I knew the books so well."
He also had difficulty thinking about following in his grandfather's footsteps as a fiction writer.
"It was very inhibiting for a long time," he says. "I was sure I couldn't write fiction. But I started writing four years ago. I wanted to express myself more. Now, I feel I can be comfortable being his grandson because I have something of my own."
He says he always had that comfort level on a personal basis with his grandfather, who died in 1973.
"My parents split up when I was 5. My mother was working full time as a teacher. I spent an incredible amount of time alone. I read a lot, including 'The Lord of the Rings.' I would go and stay with my grandfather for a weekend or a week at a time. I spent a lot of time with him on a one-to-one basis.
"He lived in a seaside town. We did lots and lots of word games. We skimmed stones in the sea and walked on the beach. I asked him endless questions about 'The Lord of the Rings.' He was patient and very nice about it. We had a lot of fun together."
Four years ago, Tolkien began reading his grandfather's works to his son, Nicholas, now 12. He says it's one way he's tried to bond with his son as he and his father never have.
"When my relationship with my father broke down, there was not an innate sense of love and affection... to get us through that difficult time," says Tolkien, who is also the father of 1-year-old Anna.
"I've been very conscious with my own son of having a different relationship. We've had a lot of fun together. When the troubles and the difficulties come, we'll be able to get through them."
Tolkien is focused on continuing his career as a fiction writer. He's been encouraged by the reviews he's received.
Tolkien offers this one last thought about his grandfather:
"I think he'd be really pleased that I got around to writing a book."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by The Indianapolis Star 23/03/03.
As a writer and a son, Simon Tolkien understands the influence of rejection in his life.
Even with the pain it caused him, the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien still believes something positive occurred when agents and publishers turned down his first attempt at fiction. The rejections proved to Tolkien that his work wouldn't be published just because his grandfather was the legendary author of "The Lord of the Rings," the epic that has been turned into recent movie blockbusters.
So now that Tolkien's second effort "Final Witness" has been published to mostly favorable reviews, the 44-year-old London resident believes his writing can stand on its own merit.
"When I knew the movies were coming out, it was like a freight train coming at me," he says in a phone interview from home. "I wanted to say, 'Hey, there's more to me than sharing the blood of this really famous man.' Having written the book and having it be received so well has been a fantastic experience for me."
Father-son conflict
Now, if he could just overcome the rejection by his father, who has cut off all personal contact.
Father-son struggles are at the heart of "Final Witness," a courtroom-murder thriller in which a government minister in England distances himself from his teenage son, who has accused his father's mistress of planning his mother's murder.
"I wanted to write a page-turner that people would stay up to read," says Tolkien, who drew upon his experiences as a barrister for the novel.
"But it's also very much about the difficulties between a father and a son, which is like the relationship I have with my father. I don't think it will ever be resolved. He won't have anything to do with me."
Movie rights are part of it
Of their falling out, the son will say only that conflict over the movie versions of the trilogy is a part of it.
He supported their making; his father, Christopher, didn't, because J.R.R. Tolkien sold film rights to "The Lord of the Rings" in 1968.
"I always thought the books could be filmed in a very exciting way," Tolkien says. "They have great stories and great landscapes. I think that's what Peter Jackson (the movies' director) has done. I really have enjoyed the movies. But at first I found them difficult to watch because I knew the books so well."
He also had difficulty thinking about following in his grandfather's footsteps as a fiction writer.
"It was very inhibiting for a long time," he says. "I was sure I couldn't write fiction. But I started writing four years ago. I wanted to express myself more. Now, I feel I can be comfortable being his grandson because I have something of my own."
He says he always had that comfort level on a personal basis with his grandfather, who died in 1973.
"My parents split up when I was 5. My mother was working full time as a teacher. I spent an incredible amount of time alone. I read a lot, including 'The Lord of the Rings.' I would go and stay with my grandfather for a weekend or a week at a time. I spent a lot of time with him on a one-to-one basis.
"He lived in a seaside town. We did lots and lots of word games. We skimmed stones in the sea and walked on the beach. I asked him endless questions about 'The Lord of the Rings.' He was patient and very nice about it. We had a lot of fun together."
Four years ago, Tolkien began reading his grandfather's works to his son, Nicholas, now 12. He says it's one way he's tried to bond with his son as he and his father never have.
"When my relationship with my father broke down, there was not an innate sense of love and affection... to get us through that difficult time," says Tolkien, who is also the father of 1-year-old Anna.
"I've been very conscious with my own son of having a different relationship. We've had a lot of fun together. When the troubles and the difficulties come, we'll be able to get through them."
Tolkien is focused on continuing his career as a fiction writer. He's been encouraged by the reviews he's received.
Tolkien offers this one last thought about his grandfather:
"I think he'd be really pleased that I got around to writing a book."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by The Indianapolis Star 23/03/03.