Nicholas Sparks: on 'Safe Haven', writing and Ryan Gosling

One of the most successful authors working today, Nicholas Sparks has our hearts and minds. With his tales of love, loss and redemption, he has seen many of his films adapted for film (including The Notebook starring Ryan Gosling). With Safe Haven about to come out, we spoke to Nicholas about his writing process, about adapting his work for film and how he manages to get through 100 books a year.

What is your favourite thing about London?

I think my favourite thing about London is that it's a melting pot these days. You walk through these crowded cities and you feel like the entire world is coming together.

What makes the male characters you write so successful and unique that people just fall in love with them?

I suppose that I do my best to create characters, male or female that feel authentic. I try to create characters who have flaws. And yet, these are characters that are aware of their flaws, even if they don't want to admit it to themselves. They're just trying their best to make their way through this journey called life. They tend to be honourable, they tend to have integrity, but they tend to make mistakes as well. In the end, they're just trying to be the best person they can be. I try and create people as best as I see them.

Like the main character, Alex, in Safe Haven?

Alex is a widower and he's raising a couple of kids. He's a guy who has found himself in the role of being both mum and dad - it's a role that he never imagined himself being in. And yet, he's trying to make the best of it. He struggles in his relationship with his kids at times, and yet he tries to be everything that they need. If you're me - I have children and I work a lot, although I'm not a widower, it's the same thing… how do you maintain that balance in your life between work and being a parent? He's just a guy who is doing his best and when he meets someone and falls in love, he still keeps his kids as front and centre of that relationship, as well he must. He's just a guy trying to do his best, just as most guys are.

This is the eighth adaptation of your work. Have you noticed your writing style changing to make your novels easily transferable to the screen?

I think it has to do with the conception of the story than the actual writing. When I conceive a story before I start writing it, I have to believe that it will make for a wonderful novel, but also a wonderful film as well. Ideas are thrown away that might be great in a novel but I know won't translate to the screen. An example, I would not write a novel with too much introspection. Because introspection is difficult to film. When I conceive a story, it's filtered through the prism of both novel and film. However, the moment I start to write, it's only about the novel. It's about writing the best novel I can.

Safe Haven is about second chances and starting again. What was it about these themes that appealed to you?

It goes to something that is intrinsic with human nature, in that every day is a new day and we can strive to make amends and improve our life in some life, or chase a goal, or simply put the past behind us and move on. It's what keeps us moving forward, that no matter what has happened in your past, the only thing that can keep you moving forward is your present with an eye towards the future.

Did you have any say in the casting of Safe Haven and indeed all your films?

I've had a role in all the castings. With that said, I'm one of the voices in the room. The studio has a voice, the director has a voice, the other producers have a voice. Occasionally, the star has a voice. When Kevin Costner was in Message in a Bottle, he had a voice for who he wanted to work with or might be good in the film. It's a collaborative process.

Given that Ryan Gosling looms large in popular culture currently, you introduced him to the world - are you responsible for gifting the world with him?

We cast him because he was perfect for the role that we were looking for. The work he did in that film speaks for itself. He should take credit for that and for the career choices he made afterwards. I'm thrilled for him. I can look back at my CV and say I worked with Ryan Gosling, Kevin Costner, Channing Tatum… really big names! And yet, I don't want myself undue credit for the careers they've made for themselves.

Being such a prolific writer, I wondered if you could talk a bit about your writing process…

As a general rule, I work on one novel at a time. While I'm in the process of working on a novel, I might write in a different medium. For instance, I might rewrite a film script, or a television script or work on a short story. But I can't do that with two novels. I write at home. I have an office above the garage. That's where I write. Usually, a novel takes five to five and a half months to complete. I don't write everyday. I'm at the computer most days. I might write for three days and spend the rest of the time editing. I try to average 6-10,000 words a week.

I read that you read 100 books a year on average. What books do you tend to read and how do you come across them?

I would say 30-40% are non-fiction: history, biography, economics and sociology. Those are my main interests. Of the remaining 60%, the books are divided into different categories. There's some classics, some literary fiction, some foreign fiction, some straight commercial fiction. I suppose, I'm typical of many book lovers in that I love to walk into a bookstore, thumb through books, read the back flap and finding authors. There's nothing better than discovering new works that are amazing.

Now you've established a particular style you're known for, do you think you'll work on anything completely different and surprise us in the future?

Probably not in the novel world. I'm happy writing what I write. Certainly with television or my film production company, I can explore other worlds. For instance, I'm developing a Western. That's a lot of fun to work on. I'm comfortable writing what I write and exploring these extra worlds in different mediums.

Do you read with your kids and what is the best thing about sharing reading?

Of course! I think to introduce children to books is to allow them to experience the world of wonder and imagination.