Archer wants epitaph to say: Still got a chapter to write

Prolific author Jeffrey Archer, who has been penning one book after another since 1975, has a lot more on his platter and wants even his epitaph to read: "I've still got another chapter to write."
The 76-year-old Briton has written bestsellers like "Not a Penny More", "Not a Penny Less", "Kane and Abel", "As the Crow Flies" and "First Among Equals", besides the more recent seven-book "Clifton Chronicles".
He has just completed a set of 12 short stories which he hopes will be published in April next year.
He was recently in India to promote "This Was a Man", the last book of the "Clifton Chronicles".

Archer termed his India experience as most exciting.
"The turnouts at my talks and signing sessions (at Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai) were even higher than in the past, and the requests for interviews far greater. It's wonderful to see how India progresses from year to year, and it's easy to see why it's now one of the most important industrial nations on earth," Archer told PTI.

Asked when his fans can expect his autobiography, he said, "I have no intention of writing my autobiography. I feel this has been more than covered in 7 volumes of the Clifton Chronicles."

Archer has a great fan following in India and has been a frequent visitor. He says he enjoys the "cosmopolitan feel of Mumbai, the beauty of New Delhi, the energy of Kolkata, and the friendliness of Hyderabad".
Asked about the question by fans he never wants to answer, he said, "What's the ending to your next book?"
He also said that he has becomes better at his craft all these years.
"Although I think the storytelling doesn't change a great deal over the years, there is no doubt that one becomes better at one's craft. Though in fact there are still a large group of fans who believe 'Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less' (40 years ago) or 'Kane and Abel' (35 years ago) are the best things I've ever done," he said.

Archer also reads a lot and of the present generation storytellers, he admires Elena Ferrante, Claire Mackintosh and Peter Swanson.