He has managed to stay on top of his game for over 45 years, writing bestselling novels over bestselling ones, without even a tiny slip. “I have managed to do that with hard work and I always pick the right subjects. I stay fit and keep my brain active,” says 78-year-old author Wilbur Smith. On a lighter note, he adds, “I don’t smoke, don’t drink too much and no hashish,” he winks. Famous for his 33 novels, mostly on the subjects of 16th and 17th century tales of the founding of the southern territories of Africa and international events relevant to these settlements, the author has come a long way from the time he wrote his first novel, When the Lion Feeds in 1964. He wrote the first book in a tiny cubicle in the office of his first job and the latest in his sprawling London mansion. “Life is a journey, particularly when it comes to doing something for a long time -- something you do to the best of your abilities,” says Wilbur. “I’m not the same person.” His interest and knowledge of things have expanded, he is more experienced from his world travels, which in turn have changed the way he writes, he admits. And speaking of sprawling mansions, it has always been hard to ignore Wilbur’s extravagance - fancy vacations, islands and houses. Wilbur’s response is pretty straightforward. “I know of nobody who doesn’t like a luxurious life, except for some swami,” he says. “I like the rewards that come with writing bestselling novels.” He likes the money he makes so much that he even lets Hollywood take his books to remake them into movies. “I hate them,” he whispers, with near contempt for the movie versions. “My books are not written to be made into movies.” “I write books that interest me.” With such constant dedication and involvement, it is only natural that he doesn’t feel responsible to make his fans happy each time. Even with fans who wanted to be buried in their coffins surrounded by his books? (True story, Wilbur even received a copy of the photograph from the fan’s wife). “I accept my fans with gratitude and amusement, that’s the reward for my work. But they don’t owe me and I don’t owe them anything.” The more you speak with Wilbur, the more you accept some of the outrageous heroes he has written about. “I have met a lot of fascinating people, superior people who do unusual things,” he says. “But I write about heroes, not superheroes. I’ve met lots of heroes.”And for someone who is a hero himself, we expect none of this. “I’ve made mistakes, some of which at that time seemed like terrible, terminal mistakes. But they, in the end, turned out to be a part of the process of living and shaped my life,” he confesses. His books, he says are written from his own experiences, his views of the world, but “slightly more grandiose than reality.” He says, “My books are really a lifetime of research. All that I write about is unique to me.” Of course, when it comes to writing about history, which he likes to do more often than not, some changes are required. “History is an untidy old bag. I need to tidy it up to fit into my books.”Ask him about his next possible bestseller and he doesn’t give away much. “I never speak about what I am going to do, I’ll speak about what I’ve done. Nothing is certain about the future, that’s for certain.”
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