AT CLOSE UP ON JIM NEWPORT

FICTION NOVELIST AND AUTHOR OF:

‘‘The Vampire of Siam’’ and ‘‘The Return of the Vampire of Siam’’

 

Jim Newport is the author of the new latest fiction ‘‘RAMONNE’’, which is the sequel to ‘‘The Vampire of Siam’’, and it is now launched to the market at all Asia Books branches in Thailand. From the first sequel, everything has been set in Southeast Asia, especially mainly Thailand as the name of the book itself is called Siam which was named for Thailand. We had a great chance to meet Jim and have interview with him about his fictions.

 

Could you please tell us a little bit about your background and how you became a writer?

Actually, my background is in movies and television as a Production Designer based in Los Angeles. My responsibilities and concerns are focused on the visuals of the films, which really means to choose where and how to film, what to build and design, what colors and shapes to select, and what country and city to shoot in. I make sure everything is just right. I have been doing this for over 25 years, and I know scripts well, both good and bad ones. Many times I went to work knowing I wasn’t working with a good script and thinking that I could write a better script than this. I was very lucky to work all over the world, including Thailand. I came to Thailand 15 years ago, in 1989. On my second trip to Thailand, I had the opportunity to travel to Phuket. I liked it very much and found a little house there without television or telephone. That was the place and moment I realized I could start to write. I think the first thing is to find the place where to write and then later find the story. That’s how I evolved to become a writer. I have now been living in Thailand for 15 years and alternate my time between both Phuket and Los Angeles.

 

What about your latest novel ‘‘Ramonne - The Return of The Vampire of Siam’’?

‘‘Ramonne’’ is a sequel to The Vampire of Siam which was launched in Christmas 2003. It is the story of a rebirth for both Martin, a young expat living in Thailand, and a vampire Ramonne who has been living here for over 140 years. Ramonne was literally reborn because he was dead, and Martin was also reborn as a very changed man after he went away for one year and became a monk. Martin was transformed by the experience that changed his thoughts about the world he lived in. Ramonne simply wanted to know about his past. And once again their destinies became entwined. It continues the strange relationship of Martin and Ramonne the vampire.

 

Will there be a sequel to the Return of Vampire of Siam?

The third book is already finished and I am now working on editing. I think the third novel is the best of all. Ramonne goes on the discovery of his past. He finds a journal taking him back to 1860 in Cambodia where he confronts a 2,000-year old vampire living there. Martin is also involved in Cambodia managing an orphanage. They always remain connected and the intrigue continues. I’d like to see all of my three books in the store by this Christmas. That’s my goal.

 

Will this novel of yours be made for a movie?

Yes, it will. We just made a movie deal with Nu Image, a movie company in USA, and right now they are looking for actors. The movie will be made here in Bangkok next year.

 

How do you find Thailand for writing and living?

As for living in Thailand, I find living here never boring with always something happening that you don’t expect. It becomes an adventure here which is different from the western ways.

 

Any future plan for another novel inspired from Thailand?

I think I will have another book about Thailand coming but it will be non-fiction. It will be about people in a small village affected by the Tsunami and how things have changed their lives and how they can keep going there.