Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A horror writer born and raised in the United Kingdom, I moved to Holland (the Netherlands) 7 and a half years ago.
Married with four children, a husky puppy called Zombie, and a busy day job, writing is my passion and something I am constantly working on.
I get up early, go to bed late and use all of my free time to write, edit or promote myself and my writing.
I have currently got 4 titles published, with another short story collection (The Musings of a Hideous Mind: Volume III) due to come out this coming Friday (January 10th).
I have 3 other novels planned for release this year and if time allows two more that I would like to get edited and published.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is one that I have only just started, in fact, I have not actually written a single word on it yet, but it has been part of my life for the last five or six years.
My debut novel was Highway to Hell, the first in a trilogy of novels, and the current novel is to be the third installment thereof.
This is a book I have been simultaneously looking forward to writing and also putting off for as long as I can. The scope of the story as it stands is immense. There are so many different directions that I could take it, and I want to make sure that I follow the correct ones, and not rush into something.
The first two books have been very well received, and I want to wrap up the series not just in style, but in a manner that is befitting of the characters and the journey they had taken.
There will be a bit of theology in there, some psychology, quite a few of the -ologies, and of course lots of horror.
The book is, as of yet, untitled. Most of my work is, until I reach the half way point in the first draft. Usually the name just comes to me, out of the blue, and so I do not make too much of an effort to nail it first off.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any unusual habits per se. With four young children, my writing habits have been formed around the philosophy of ‘grab whatever free time you can.’
I will grab just a couple of minutes here and there, jot down a few sentences or a line of dialogue. Whenever opportunity arises, I seize it.
That being said I do have certain times of day that I am better suited to certain types of writing. Early morning is when I write my best Horror, yet midday and early afternoon is when I do my best editing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I couldn’t really be a horror writer without mentioning Stephen King, but it almost comes as a given that the man has inspired me (and the rest of my generation) no end. He has not only written so many great novels, but he has done so covering a great many settings, story lines and scopes. From short powerful fiction to epic tomes that deserve their place on any bookshelf. He is the master of his craft and certainly influenced my early writing style.
The Shining, IT and The Stand are some of my favorite King novels, while for short fiction his story Survivor Type will always haunt me.
Another author that really helped to shape my understanding of horror, and the great ways in which it can be tweaked and distorted is Clive Barker. In specific his Books of Blood short story collections. I have read them multiple times and each time find some new thing to love about his words.
Not only are they some of the best horror stories I have ever read, but they are easy to read, the words flowing like poetry, pulling you into a complex world where there are no limits, no taboos. You never know what he is going to do.
I am now starting to read Poe and Lovecraft, there can be little doubt that their skill and ability to terrorize helped shape the genre, but, especially with Lovecraft, his wordiness now, may struggle to hold the attention of a modern age reader.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on three different projects, including the aforementioned third installment of the Highway to Hell trilogy.
I have a new release coming this Friday (10th January) and this will be the third short story collection in a series ‘The Musings of a Hideous Mind: Volumes I, II, and III’ and these will also be combined into one paperback volume.
I am also going through the final edits on my zombie novel Diaries of the Damned, which is scheduled for release on February 22nd.
I have several more novels planned out for the year, and numerous sort stories that I would like to get written and hopefully submitted to some anthologies too.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
When it comes to self promotion I suck big time. I made a promise to myself that this year would be the year I start taking promotion seriously, investing in myself and my writing. It is only early days, but I have booked some blog tours, some release day events and also some advertising spots.
There can be no deny that the power of Facebook for the indie author is equivalent to the draw of the one ring, but at the same time, I always find myself looking at social media as a giant market stall. Everybody is just shouting as hard as they can about their books that after a while, you can no longer see the wood through the trees.
I have heard of a really cool sounding site called Awesomegang.com and they seem to really have a good package put together. I am hopeful that my promo with them goes well.
I tend to stay away from Twitter, see the Market place comment above. I used to use it a lot, but just got fed up with the lack of any real conversation on it. I am sure I will go back to it, I mean, we need to use all of the tools at our disposal after all, but it would be begrudgingly.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is nothing special, it is nothing profound, it is simple. If you want to write, and I mean make a career out of writing, then you have to make it a full time thing. You need to sit down and write every chance you get. With that comes editing, researching, proof reading. Get yourself in a good group of people. Swap work, edit for one another help out, and above all, get yourself a good… no, a great editor. No matter how well you think you can write, never publish something without having had an editor look at it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have ever heard came from my grandfather as an offhand comment. We saw a man out running in the rain one stormy afternoon and he said to me.
That right there is the difference between a champion, and the next guy. The champion doesn’t care if it is raining, too hot, or too cold. The champion gets up, gets ready, and goes out to do what needs to be done.
These words stuck with me, and I often find myself repeating them. Especially when it is 4.20 am, I’ve had three hours of broken sleep because they kids were up in the night, and my alarm is going telling me it is time to get up and write.
Never snooze, never roll over for five more minutes. Just get up, and get is done!
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading Dr Sleep from Stephen King. It is the first King novel I have read for a while, having spent a lot of last year reading indie titles. So far it is a great book, and really shows that the man is still a master of the genre. Even if, and I say this not as a criticism, as it is not his style, it does not push many boundaries. It is not shocking, overly harsh of edgy. It is just a damned good read.
What’s next for you as a writer?
World Domination… I mean the best sellers list. Hell, I’d be happy with a few more sales and the chance to keep doing what I am doing.
As I mentioned above, I have two releases coming out in the first two months of the year and want to have at least three more before the year end.
Promotion is the key thing for me at the moment too, keep building the name, the ‘brand’ as people call it. Invest in myself, invest in my writing and (hopefully) see a continued progress.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Stand – Stephen King
The Books of Blood – Clive Barker
I am Legend – Richard Matheson
Highway to Hell – Me (Alex Laybourne) – because that way I can at least try to sell my book to the cannibals that I later find on the island, or to bribe my way onto a pirate ship as it stops off to pick up its hidden supply of Rum.
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