Writer in the money, and doubly happy

Press, 16 March 1978, Page 6

Writer in the money, and doubly happy

The best part of success is that the “money can buy back time,” according to Frederick Nolan, author of the popular, thriller, “The Mittenwald Syndicate.” “I only regret that I did not work it out earlier than I did,” he says. Mr Nolan left a career as a publishing editor with Corgi, Penguin, and finally Collins five years ago, and immediately committed himself to writing four novels. He is now completing' a tour of Australia and New Zealand, “a sort of working holiday,” promoting his latest book, and collecting ideas for new projects.

“The Mittenwald Syndicate” is the story of the disappearance of nine tons of gold, and 26 cases of precious stones from a cache on a Bavarian mountain at the end of World War IT.

Since writing the novel, Mr Nolan believes' he has come closer to solving the mystery of the treasure’s disappearance.

“I have all the letters of the alphabet except one,” he said, “and I think I might have that one very soon." The 8.8. C. is talking of producing a documentary, using Mr Nolan’s research notes. For the mass market, however, M.G.M. has bought an

option on the film rights, and is now filming an earlier Nolan novel, “The Oshawa Project.” “if that film takes off, then they will do ‘The Mittenwald Syndicate’,” said Mr iNolan.

He considers it a satisfying reward for two years research and six months’ solid writing. The research, he says, was necessary for the realism of the action and the characters. Talking to former S.S. men and the people of Mittenwald helped give the novel an authentic tone.

“None of the characters is real, but they are realistic,” said Mr Nolan. “Writing is a lot like acting. You- take on a role, and try to find the key to a character and understand him.” Westerns gave Mr Nolan his first taste of writing, but then it was because he was “forced” into it. Corgi published 10 Westerns by Oliver Strange, and sold three million copies. Because rhe author had died, and the formula was obviously successful, Mr Nolan searched for someone, “just anyone,” to ghost more Strange novels. No-one wanted to do the job, and so Mr Nolan did it himself. A similar train of events

pushed him into writing thrillers. While setting up a paperback list for Warner Brothers in England, he developed ideas for thrillers, and tried to persuade established writers to take them up. Again, no-one would accept them, and Mr Nolan took to writing them himself. Hi£ first thriller was “The Oshawa Project,” now a SIOM film. With 36 projects in line, inspiration is not drying up with success. Mr Nolan said that his success has allowed him to think of what he wants to do, and to do it in his own time.

But money is not everything. While he thinks the idea of making New Zealand a tax haven for novelists is a good one, he is not living in such a haven himself.

“I cannot think of anything more boring than sitting down in Ireland counting money,” Mr Nolan said. “I will not leave England because I would leave my influences, t’ne things that make me write.”

His advice to aspiring writers is to give up any idea of writing in their spare time.

“You have to take at least six months off. to see if it will work,” he said.