Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a mid-thirties father of two, living in the south of England. I’m a big fan of all things sci-fi and comedy. If there’s an option to get the two together I’m hooked. Otherwise, stick a spaceship or two on the cover and you can be fairly sure I’ll give your book a read!
I’ve attempted to write about 12 books so far, but each idea has perished after 10 to 20 thousand words, so in total I’ve finished and published one book so far.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Jupiter’s Halo: Unbroken
The book started as a short story, intended to be one of many set in the back drop of the future I have created in the stories. My original aim was to create an anthology of such stories, but I found once I really got into the writing that I had a full blown novel on my hands and so I changed the premise to be a series of novels set in the same back drop instead.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t know whether other authors would call this unusual, but I do have a tendency to act out sections of dialogue to myself. It helps me judge how the characters should be speaking and the best way to describe their movements/facial expressions etc. I don’t know how unusual that is, but I do know I look pretty blooming daft doing it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Terry Pratchett, James Swallow, Graham McNeil, James Clavell
What are you working on now?
The next book in the Jupiter’s Halo series. In fact, I’m currently writing out the story lines for the next two books; Planet Fall and Blood Red, as they will overlap each other quite significantly.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As I have only been promoting this one book for a few days I have little experience to draw on. Facebook has been useful, but I suspect there are far better and more efficient ways to reach more people who are likely to enjoy the book.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Don’t give up on an idea – put it away somewhere if you go off it and go back to it later. You never know what you might come up with or how a fresh look might take you in a new direction.
2. Don’t get hung up on targeting yourself with a finish date/volume of words etc. If you let your imagination take over you’ll find your best stuff and shackling it with constraints will only cause you stress that dulls your talent.
3. Write when you can. If you’ve had a book idea in your head forever, but can never seem to find the time to get into it, just write whenever you get 10 minutes. You might only do a couple of hundred words at a time, but you’ll soon find all those little snippets of time add up.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
In general; It won’t get better if you keep picking at it.
From a writing perspective I guess it’s ‘write when you can’ a piece of advice I happily pass on to anyone who asks me how I manage to find the time.
What are you reading now?
I’ve just finished the Game of Thrones books (yes I am aware how behind I am). I’m taking a little break to dedicate some time to my own writing, but I’m pretty excited about reading the last Terry Pratchett discworld book, The Shepherd’s Crown.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully huge success, fame and fortune. If I can’t have all three I’ll drop the fame bit.
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?
Lord of the Flies
Chris Ryan’s Ultimate Survival Guide
James Clavell’s Noble House
Author Websites and Profiles
Andrew Heath Website
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