Interview with writer Rudi Kuik

This is the sixth writer interview in the Schrijvers Uit Dalen series.

Rudi, Anita and their labradoodle welcome us warmly in their cozy home, which is somewhat hidden on a side path of the street. Rudi installs us at the large round dining area. He mentions that he is not used to being interviewed and that he does not like to be in the spotlight at all. But: marketing is also part of publishing a book. That is why he would like to participate in our writers’ series. In this way, his crime novel “Women’s Flight”, which was published at the end of last year, is brought back into the spotlight.

Rudi is a man with a motto

The back cover of his book already mentions Rudi’s motto: Where there is a will, there is a way. It not only reflects his vision on life, but it is also reflected in the fate of the main characters in his book.

How did you come to write a book?

“That’s actually a hobby that got out of hand. As a child I was a rascal, a real rascal. I have loved reading since I was fourteen. I started reading the books that my father also liked to read, for example Konsalik. And I’ve kept reading ever since. I read a lot during the holidays. At one point I read a book that I didn’t like very much, and then I thought: Couldn’t I do that? I also wanted to do something different, something for myself, something other than working alone. Then I started writing. I had a story in my head, but as I wrote, a completely different story developed. I liked the writing. It went fast too. I finished the book within six months. But then there was a lot of follow-up work!”

What happened once you wrote the story?

“I noticed that writing the book is the easiest for me! I sent the manuscript to a journalist friend. He had a lot of feedback! For example, he could tell from my language that I am from Drenthe. So I had a lot of work to do to change that. And once I sent the book to the publisher, a few more rounds of editing followed! “

Rudi says that he finds it difficult to promote his book. But it is part of it, the publisher also expects you to seek publicity. So he thought that it would be nice if a well-known person, for example someone like Eus Akyol or Johan Derksen, would like to receive his book. But he discovered that famous people simply don’t respond to your request! He approached bookstores to sell his book, received permission to sell his book at the PLUS in Dalen, was interviewed by the Dagblad van het Noorden and RTV Drenthe. As far as Rudi is concerned, all the effort he put into promotion could have led to slightly higher sales figures!

Do you have a purpose for your book?

“No. I hope that readers like the book and that they enjoy it. I have no other intention; people don’t change anything when they read my book. I like getting responses. It gives me satisfaction when people let them know that it is good. People ask me if there will be a part two.”

Will there be a sequel?

“Yes, and it’s already written too! I write quickly. I started Women’s Flight in January ’23, it was released in December. The next book will probably be out in a few months.”

Where and when do you write and do you have any writing rituals?

“I write in my spare time, often in the evening or at night, here in the living room in my writing corner, or in the caravan on my laptop. The threshold for starting to write is not high; If I sit down I’ll get back into it quickly. I can be in a kind of flow. It’s not difficult to stop writing, so I just switch again. It’s not like the story has to be finished, and I don’t think the family suffers from it. When I’m not writing, I don’t think about it.”

What are the important themes in your book for you? What do you like to write about?

“I like to write about how people interact with each other and I like to put myself in the shoes of the characters. I’m curious about what people are like and how the story and the main characters develop. Themes in my book are travel, crime, love, and eroticism, which were added through the development of the story and the main characters. The subject of political unrest will be added in the next book.”

Do you discuss your work with others?

“I sent the first book to 5 or 6 people, but I didn’t get the feedback I actually wanted. I wanted criticism and there wasn’t much of it. I would like to have fellow readers who can respond professionally. This is especially helpful to you as a starting writer. I would like to receive feedback like that, because then you know for sure that it is good.”

Which writers and books are important to you?

“I loved the first book by Konsalik that I read, it was called Anousjka, the girl from the tundra. I really enjoyed reading Lucinda Riley’s books, and I devoured them one after the other. A writer I admire is Stieg Larsson, from the Millennium series.”

How do you see your future as a writer?

“I would like to continue writing, but I want to be proud of it. As a writer, I also want to be read and hear whether it is a good book. That gives me satisfaction. If I didn’t get any response at all or if my books sold very poorly then I wouldn’t do it. I have now written the follow-up book. The publisher has rated it positively and says it invites a third part. But I don’t know that yet, I feel some pressure. So maybe I’m starting a completely different story. I think I’ll keep writing for the time being.”