Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
After serving eighteen years in the British Royal Navy, Carl was medically discharged with a broken back and started his first novel. He had almost completed it when he had to put it aside to earn a living wage. He taught himself Visual Basic and became a computer programmer. Although it paid enough to live on he felt unfulfilled and became unhappy with the rat race. He and his wife decided to move to the Dominican Republic for a slower pace of life.
He started to write GERALD, his second novel. The first draft was completed within six months and went through revision after revision until he had it shining like a new penny. James Wymore saw the novel and championed it through a few more revisions and it will finally be published by Immortal Works as his debut novel.
Since finishing GERALD, Carl has completed the first novel he started and is half way through his third. They are all very different and say a lot about his interests in life. Fantastical worlds, animals and medieval England. When Carl is not writing he rescues animals in need and has even taken that so far as to gain a qualification, Veterinary Assistant.
In Carl’s ideal world he would be writing novels and helping magical creatures such as Dragons, Unicorns and Phoenixes.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Gerald and the amulet of Zonrach. I’ve always love fantasy and also humor. I wanted to write a book or a series of books that I would want to read again and again. My favorite authors happen to be Terry Pratchett and Andrew Buckley, both write hilarious books and they were part of the inspiration for Gerald. The main concept, a wizard’s promotion his in height and the taller you are the more powerful, but I wanted it to not be by natural growth. If you made mistakes you could be demoted inches, which is a problem for the main character as he’s a bit of a clutz. Here is a bit more about Gerald which is due out on May 16th.
In the realm of Wyverndawn, a wizard’s height is the mark of his power, so shrinking an entire inch is disastrous for Gerald.
Looking to gain a few inches, Gerald attempts to create a village landmark using his superior wizarding skills. But the spell he bought — from a guy who knows a guy — is a tad more powerful than he anticipates. The resulting earthquake, hurricane and escape of a very dangerous wizard from prison really weren’t part of the plan.
To add insult to injury, a red-faced Gerald finds himself banished from his village along with the one inch demotion; two more and he’ll join his father as a Royal Equine Poop Disposal Coordinator.
Gerald’s hopes of returning home hinge on repairing the devastation he caused and thwarting the evil wizard’s plans of grasping Wyverndawn for his own. Failure could mean Gerald’s next spell might well be his last.
GERALD AND THE AMULET OF ZONRACH is a humorous fantasy. It is complete at 67,500 words. Similar in tone to Terry Pratchett, readers would enjoy this novel of the trials of an inexperienced wizard who manages to turn everything he touches into chaos.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to have ten dogs laid over and around my feet when writing. As I can’t move when they do this I’m stuck there for a while, so they actually ensure that I get some work done.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My main influences are pretty much who you would expect. Tolkien (obviously), Brandon Sanderson, Terry Pratchett and Andrew Buckley.
What are you working on now?
I am working on the next in the Gerald series, Gerald and the three Princesses. Here is the blurb for that book.
Gerald was rather shocked to find his nose pressed against a two-hundred foot tall tree; the fact that he was supposed to arrive at the Wizards’ Court in Silverfell just goes to show that sticking an amulet into a simple slot isn’t as easy as you would have thought.
He is greeted by a very tall and powerful wizard named Derek who is currently on a quest. A local witch has started kidnapping the king’s daughters. Stealing the witch’s rampion seems to have got her into a lather and her threat of taking any daughter once they reach twelve years of age is not an idle one.
Gerald couldn’t resist agreeing to help, but, as usual, his mouth engaged before his brain and he has now trapped himself and his friends in DeFareyTayl. Much to his chagrin he also finds out that this realm is topsy turvy when it comes to the promotional aspects of the wizarding profession and every time he does well he will shrink an inch.
The only way that Gerald, and his friends, can return to Wyverndawn is to aid Derek in his quest to rescue the princesses, but the price of success might be that Gerald and Colin return home as Royal Equine Poop Disposal Coordinators and the majestic Zach could end up as a newt.
GERALD AND THE THREE PRINCESSES is an upper middle grade fantasy and continues the adventures of the Gerald, our less than capable wizard who is in deep water again. This story follows on from GERALD AND THE AMULET OF ZONRACH published on May 16th 2017 by Immortal Works and is complete at 70,000 words.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use the standard social media outlets that most other people do; Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads etc. I have joined a few groups that are fantasy and middle grade based as well to get my name visible. I’ve also had a couple of school visits which went great and it was amazing to meet potential readers. Hopefully I’m generating some future fans there. I find the marketing aspects of being an author quite difficult and feel as if I’m walking through a morass rather than having a structured plan.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My only real advice is to finish the first draft of what you are working on. Do not go back and edit just keep writing until you get to the end of the story, then go back and start editing and revising. They say that the first draft is for the writer and the edits/revisions are for the the editor. Enjoy the journey through that first draft as that is your time as a writer to enjoy yourself. By the time you’ve revised it ten times and your publisher has pushed you through four or more rounds of edits you will be sick of the sight of your book.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The same as above really. Finish it!
What are you reading now?
Hair In All The Wrong Places by Andrew Buckley and I’m also reading through the discworld series by Terry Pratchett. I’m also reading the Kahn series by Conn Iggulden as I love historical fiction. One of the books I’m working at the moment is about an Anglo Saxon boy and is set in 8th century England.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep writing and bring out more books. My real goal is to obtain representation from a literary agent. This will enable me to concentrate more on the writing side of being an author and I can leave the selling side to him/her. It will also give me a chance to reach the larger publishers who only accept submissions via an agent.
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 Rings, The Hobbit, The Color Of Magic, Stiltskin,
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