Giles Kristian – Favourite Things

Giles Kristian is a novelist, singer and co-founder of the World Serpent Production company. During the 90s, Kristian was the lead singer of the pop group Upside Down which achieved four top twenty hit records, including the popular single “Change Your Mind“. After the band disbanded in 1997, he went on to work as a copywriter before writing his first novel Raven: Blood Eye, inspired by his Norwegian family history. The novel became the bestselling Raven trilogy, and he has written 11 novels since, including the Sunday Times bestseller Lancelot. His latest book Where Blood Runs Cold, published by Transworld, is out now.

These are a few of Giles Kristian’s favourite things…

Norway

When I step off the plane in Norway, I smell that familiar air, and I’m at peace, awash with nostalgia. My mother is Norwegian, and I spent many childhood holidays either in the mountains of Voss or Geilo, or in the fjords, messing about in boats and catching fish for our supper. For twenty years, we kept a family cottage on the west coast, an hour from Bergen, and it broke my heart when my parents sold it in 2015. My love of Norway is soul-deep, and it’s fitting that the book, which launched my career as a novelist, has its origins there. Inspired by the fjords, and by a trip to the Oslo Viking Ship Museum on my brother’s stag weekend, Raven: Blood Eye, is the story of a young man finding purpose and friendship amongst a band of Viking adventurers. It was published in 2007 and was a bestseller. I wrote two more books in the Raven Saga and later wrote another Viking trilogy, The Rise of Sigurd series, set entirely in Norway. But now to the mountains, because my new thriller, Where Blood Runs Cold, is set in the snowbound wilderness of the Norwegian Arctic. 

Axe-throwing

Writing novels takes a level of concentration that I can’t maintain for long periods. In fact, I thrive off distractions. Sometimes, I just need to get outside and throw axes. It is therapeutic, and the sound of the axe embedding itself in the log target is second only to the “fsst” of the top being levered off a cold beer. Some years ago, at The Crazy Bear in Oxfordshire, I tried axe throwing for the first time. It turns out I was a natural. The instructor challenged me to throw two axes at the same time. Thwack. Into the target they went. I like to think it’s an inherent skill that has come down to me from my Viking ancestors, for whom it was an all-important life skill rather than an entertaining pastime. I was recently on TV showing comedian Al Murray and comedian and actor John Thompson how to throw axes. I would like to say it’s up there with the strangest things I’ve done. But the truth is, it’s just one strange thing on a long list. 

Films and filmmaking

One of my greatest pleasures is watching movies. I think, in many ways, film is the ultimate artistic creation. The vision, writing, acting, cinematography, set design, editing, score, and a multitude of other ingredients all combine in beautiful synergy. But when filmmakers bring their A-game to the process, all contributing their knowledge, skills, talents and experience towards a director’s vision, the result can be sublime. For me, a film like Gladiator or The Revenant are pieces of art that can touch the soul and linger in the mind forever. I’m getting more and more involved in the creative side of filmmaking, whether in films based on my own writing, such as The Last Viking, directed by and starring Philip Stevens, or writing screenplays, to creating pitch decks for film and TV ideas.

Weight training and Peloton

Writing is an unhealthy habit. You spend an ungodly amount of time sitting in front of a screen. If thinking really burned lots of calories, I’d be lean as a whip. Sadly, the pounds seem to increase with every book, no matter how much I exercise when I’m not writing. Three days a week, I weight-train with a brilliant PT who bears the brunt of any work frustrations, but I run story ideas past him too, and it’s great hearing his point of view. I think Adam is part health and fitness coach, part psychotherapist! Another three days a week I’m on the Peloton bike or Tread, live-streaming classes from New York or London. Some of the instructors can be a little cheesy, but they are very good at what they do, and the endorphin rush is worth it.

Old Fashioned

I almost talked about my love of walking in nature with my family next, but no, I’m talking whisky instead. Bourbon to be specific, which differs from Scotch whisky in that it is primarily made from corn mash, while Scotch is mainly made from malted barley. Scotch is smoky, and bourbon is a little sweeter. There are few things I enjoy more than drinking a well-made Old Fashioned (a cocktail made with rye or bourbon, bitters, sugar, and a splash of water) at a dimly lit bar. Or else just a straight bourbon with a lump of ice. My favourite is Blanton’s, a single barrel Kentucky bourbon, but I also love Woodford Reserve Double Oaked for its caramel, spice, and vanilla notes. I had my first Old Fashioned back in 2007 when I lived in Manhattan, New York, but the best I’ve ever had was at Ronnie Scott’s in London. 

Enjoyed Giles Kristian’s favourites? Explore last week’s Favourite Things here.