Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in the Pennines, a group of mountains and hillsides that form the “backbone of England”. There’s lots of countryside, lots of rain and wind, so it can get atmospheric, usually when you don’t want it to.
I began writing professionally when still at school, and have continued on a freelance basis ever since. But I always wanted to write novels. In the early-90s I found a publisher for a story about a man who gets unsolicited images from the past whenever he touches wooden objects. But the contract fell through and the need to earn a living sort of took over. I didn’t get back to it until nineteen years later, when, with the technical experience I had acquired republishing the books by the English writer Leo Walmsley, I dug out the old manuscript. After a brutal restructuring of the story I published it as Oak Seer (A supernatural mystery). I also have a manuscript for a sci-fi novel from 2001 (that I’d like to get back to), and then there’s Flither Lass (March 2014), a historical novel set during the First World War.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Flither Lass is my latest book. It’s about a girl in 1915 who collects bait to put on the long fishing lines used by the inshore fishermen. “Flither” is another word for limpet, which is the fleshy mollusc that lives inside a shell. The inspiration for it came in 2002 when I saw a slideshow of Victorian images, and one of them was a photograph of one such girl. I knew that “Flither Lass” would make an unusual title for a book or a screen drama, and in 2009 I set about planning it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. But I find it difficult to switch off, so often I I’m writing way past midnight, which makes it difficult to get to sleep when I do go to bed.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
In recent times, Andrew Davidson’s Gargoyle, because I’ve always known there is more to life than simply being alive. But further back I have enjoyed the Dirk Pitt adventures by Clive Cussler, and especially Iceberg. These are action stories, so there’s not much in the way of character arcs, which is okay because that’s not the intended market. I would like to think that I could merge both adventure and character development. That’s something for me to work on.
What are you working on now?
Admin-wise, I’m working on the promotion for Flither Lass. Writing-wise, the next book is based on the UK magazine column that I wrote for over ten years. It’s about the exploits of a hardwareman and how he sees the world, his staff and his customers, from behind a shop counter. It’s not meant to be hilariously funny, but I hope that in places it will raise a smile amongst its readers.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found that building an author platform should be done even before the first book is out. It takes time – we’re talking months – but an online presence is essential to ensure that Google (and the other search engines) know who you are.
Goodreads is a good place to make friends and acquire fans. And when it comes to advertising free and discounted books, Awesomegang gets the word out there, and is friendly to deal with.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
First of all, live with someone who has a proper job, because you need to eat and have a roof over your head.
Secondly, bear in mind that as an indie author you will need to acquire (if you don’t already have these) not only a good sense of story and how to tell one, but also the following skills: technical, design, time-management, proof-reading – okay, so someone else will also need to check your work (another must-have item) because we always need another set of eyes, but the first proof reader should be you. You will also need a knowledge of grammar and punctuation. I’ve heard wannabee writers say that this doesn’t matter because, hey, their story is really great! Don’t believe it. Mainstream publishers are very picky about this, and we, as self-publishers, need to exceed their already high standards, and we can’t do this if we are willing to settle for sloppiness.
Also, a business head is a must-have, and the ability, once your book is finished, to step out of the writer’s mantle and wear the merchandiser’s hat by considering your work as a commodity, an item from which to make money; you will need to begin using (some) adjectives to market your work.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up. Make it happen.
What are you reading now?
Chocolat by Joanne Harris, and I’m re-reading The Lodge by Colleen Mahan.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now I’m on a treadmill writing the books I’ve made notes about in my past lives. It’s time I got down to writing them. Also, some people have asked that I write a sequel to Oak Seer, so that is something else to think about.
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?
A boy scout survival book would come in handy. Other than that I would take Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, The Magician’s Nephew by C S Lewis, and The Night Boat by Robert R. McCammon.
Author Websites and Profiles
Graham Higson Website
Graham Higson Amazon Profile
Graham Higson Author Profile on Smashwords
Graham Higson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.