'I find women more fascinating than men'

Shruti Kedia / TNN / Feb 1, 2007, 00:57 IST

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One of the greatest writers, Sidney Sheldon was widely acclaimed as the most prolific author of the modern era.

'I find women more fascinating than men'

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REMEMBERING SIDNEY: Writer Sidney Sheldon passed away on Wednesday. He was 89.
One of the greatest writers as far as best-sellers go, he was widely acclaimed as the most prolific author of the modern era. Sidney Sheldon in an email interview done a few days ago...
When did the idea of a writing a memoir �� The Other Side of Me �� strike you?

It seemed to me, several years ago, that I had to write it while I was still young.
Why are most of your books female-oriented?
I write about women because I find them more fascinating then men in general. The women I write about are smart, clever and tenacious but never at the expense of their femininity, which is a reflection of the important women in my life.
It is said that success did not come easily to you. What was the source of your inspiration?

I have always been driven to success for whatever reason. Also, I had no alternative but to continue to strive for my goals. Failure was not an option. If an individual believes he can accomplish whatever he attempts, he will succeed. Give it a try!
You are one of the most well-known authors in the world. Where do you get your ideas from?
I spent my years in libraries reading and learning about myriad things. When an idea captivates me, I begin to research that idea and sometimes a book develops. I write about those things that I find interesting and fascinating while trying to convey that excitement to my readers.
When the memoir begins, you're 17 years old, living in Chicago and very depressed and suicidal.Why did you decide to start your memoir this way?
I decided to start with my being ready to commit suicide because it happened exactly that way.
With which historical figure do you identify?
Abraham Lincoln, because he was a man with great compassion and believed that all men are created free and equal. He once said, "I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end."
What are your most treasured possessions?
My writing pads and pens. Years ago, when a fire broke out in Los Angeles, where we were living then, the police told us to evacuate.
There were many valuables in our home-but I took only my yellow pads and pens. I knew we would be holed up in a hotel for days, and couldn't imagine not being able to write.
How is writing a screenplay different from writing a novel?
Writing screenplays is like shorthand. You don't describe a character as tall and lanky and laconic because if Clint Eastwood turns you down and you show it to Dustin Hoffman, you are in trouble. But you describe the clothes, the characters and what they are thinking.
How do you research your novels �� especially locations in different countries?
I will not write about any place in the world unless I have been there to personally research it. It's my custom to hire a driver to give me a tour of whatever city I am in. One night in Switzerland, I asked my driver where a good place might be to dump a body. I'll never forget his face!
Interviewed by Shruti Kedia, an NIE reporter & a class X student of Bishop Cotton Girls School, Bangalore

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