Andrew Wareham

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I graduated from university in 1968 with a degree in Politics, Economics and Economic History, taught Economics and Economic History for ten years, including a spell in Papua New Guinea, got bored and returned to PNG as a trainer and operational police officer. I remained there with my family, still keeping up my interest in Economic History – including Australasia – then worked contracts in the Middle East until my wife’s ill-health and eventual death meant setting up a family base in the UK. History, and collecting Victorian glass, my sole hobbies, apart from looking after three St Bernards.

Published in late 2013, The Privateersman was my first published novel. Since then I have written several more books in this series with more planned for publication. The Duty and Destiny Series of books were written earlier, but because of the big interest in the, ‘A Poor Man at the Gate Series,’ my publisher urged me to revise the series for publication.

To date I have written ten books. Here’s the current list:

A POOR MAN AT THE GATE SERIES
Book One: The Privateersman (free) Average 4.7 star rating from 23 reviews.
Book Two: Nouveau Riche (discounted)
Book Three: Born To Privilege
Book Four: The Pain Of Privilege
Book Five: Privilege Preserved
Book Six: Illusions Of Change
Book Seven will be published later this year (2014).

THE DUTY AND DESTINY SERIES
Book One: The Friendly Sea
Book Two: The Bitter Sea
Book Three: The Fuzzy-Wuzzy Man
Book Four: Britannia’s Son

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My next book is still in the process of being written and I don’t yet have a title for it. But as long as people continue to read my books, I will continue to write about history – a subject close to my heart.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I’m aware of!

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Frederick Marryat, C.S. Forester and many more.

What are you working on now?
Book Seven of the first series.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a brilliant publishing company who do most of the promoting. This allows me to remain focused on my writing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Unless you are one of those rare people who can spot every error and/or inconsistency, get yourself a good editor. The best editors are the ones who tell you what you should hear, not what you want to hear…

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t write down to the lowest common denominator unless you want bland results. If you try to please everyone, you’ll end up pleasing no one!

What are you reading now?
Piles of historical research books.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Another book and a new keyboard!

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?
Four blank books so I could continue to write!