Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Howdy – so, I am in my late thirties and for the first time I’ve published a book – The Awakening. I’ve written fan fiction stuff before to do with Star Trek, and a few other little pieces, but this first published book feels different to me.
Beyond that, I live and work in Essex, in the UK – my wife and daughter keep me grounded, and I am fortunate enough to enjoy my sales role, designing bathrooms. I love most forms of sci-fi, especially Star Trek, but also Star Wars (yes, you can like both), Doctor Who and Babylon 5, among others. Sci-fi also forms the majority of what I read, including the works of David Weber and Peter F Hamilton, among others.
I can’t not mention my lifelong enjoyment of all things Nintendo – I’m a child of the 90s, formed by that decade and all things Mario, Zelda and Star Fox. Formula 1 is my main sporting interest, though for my sins, I support Liverpool football club.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Awakening is about seeing a human/alien war from the perspective of the aliens. To them, *we* are the bad guys, and I wanted to explore that concept. Alongside this is the theme of cultural indoctrination and breaking free of it, Hence, ‘The Awakening’.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I do anything especially unusual – I simply write to please myself first and foremost, and see how things progress from there.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Roald Dahl was a big early staple of mine – James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG… all are timeless classics to me. As I have grown older, the works of David Weber, John Scalzi and Peter F Hamilton have shaped how I write.
What are you working on now?
There’s a sequel to The Awakening which is kind of written already, but undergoing major changes. I also have a dystopian future story and a story set in the here and now about revenge in the works.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, I’ve been blasting the Amazon link via Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr, as well as via my personal site, and I’ve put the link out there on some web forums I use.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think the most important thing is to make yourself happy with what you write. If you aren’t enjoying your own material, you cannot expect anyone else to. I’d also say that if you are stuck on one story, start or continue a different story, to keep the creative juices flowing and stave off writer’s block.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I was told to be mindful of exposition. It’s an easy trap to fall into, whereas letting the characters tell the story means the story unfolds with the characters, as they experience events. It makes things feel more real.
What are you reading now?
I’ve recently finished a bunch of stories I found on the Kindle store. Transmission and Negation Force are among the most recent ones.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Honest answer is that I don’t know. The Awakening sequel(s?) is underway, and the other projects will take me in a different direction. I might take a stab at an Ancient Rome story.
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?
Ooooh – I’m not sure I can answer this! The Old Man’s War trilogy is a zippy, snappy series that is always entertaining. The Void trilogy is epic in scope and has some brilliant characters. It might have to be the former, if only because if I were to escape the island the books wouldn’t sink my raft.
Author Websites and Profiles
Ben Berwick Website
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