Interview With Author Andrew Johns
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is the first book I have written – my autobiography – it has been in the pipeline since 2009. I have bipolar affective disorder and when I become unwell my subconsious spews forth a whole lot of long lost memories – sometimes having a significant mental and emotional impact – and very useful for getting details for this book.
I thought given I had so many memories throughout my life I would challenge myself and see if I could make a book out of them.
I think I have a unique life story – religious, molested as a child, gay, bipolar affective with 5 detentions in psych wards, good insight into my diagnosis, been through conversion therapy and I have also had intimate relationships with women, and now I am in a place of self-acceptance and contentment after so many years of mental and emotional struggles due to the conflict between my spiritual and sexual identities.
All these elements of my life I believe I have crafted into an interesting, insightful and informative read.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Shamed to Madness – A Journey to Hell and Back – is in reference to the shaming and persecution I endured from the church, parents and peers simply for being who I was, Gay!
The shaming and persecution and my feelings of being condemned by God led me to periods of ‘madness’ – episodes of my bipolar and detentions in psych wards – experiencing at times mentally intrusive impressions of God’s voice saying he was going to send me to hell – the Journey to Hell and Back part of the title.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The occasional subtle joke or attempt at humour
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Anthony venn Brown – A Life of Unlearning: A preacher’s struggles with his homosexuality, by Anthony Venn-Brown. I could really identify with his story – both gay and in conflict with our spiritual and sexual identities – really normalaised my life experiences and lifted my spirits
What are you working on now?
Trying to get back to gym after so many months of sitting on my bottom working on my book
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve just gone onto Amazon … I tried Facebook groups and would post to up to 2 million users, get 30000 hits on my Facebook page a month but no buyers
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do a budget and plan for promoting the book
Do an outline
Get it independently edited
leave it alone for a while and then come back to it and pick up changes you missed on your previous edit
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t sweat the small stuff ??
What are you reading now?
Not reading – working on promoting my book and trying to get some money back on my investment which hasn’t happened yet.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As above – read more books ….
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 book above by Anthony venn Brown
My book to keep on checking if it needs any changes
Straight Jacket – by Matthew Todd
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