Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I trained as an English teacher, but the planned storyline drifted off-track. I landed in an office, producing management statistics – a different kind of fiction. I have been writing for many years, with quite a few mainstream genre novels and short stories published while working full time. A divorcee with two grown-up children, I finally discovered my real partner. We made the life-altering decision to live broke but happy in rural South West Ireland. Here, we walk the dog, canoe off the coast, play Irish traditional music, and, respectively, study the landscape, and write action-adventure novels. I’ve written in many genres while exploring writing, including literary offerings (I took a Creative Writing MA). YA, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, romance & erotic (latter two mainstream published). All my stories have an adventure element, something to take readers away from 9-5 reality.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘The Silence of Children.’ Free to anyone prepared to review… https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3eqoqyzsaz. This was an experiment into writing a first-person action-adventure, and is wrapped around a vigilante-type hero who isn’t trying to save the world, but save some individual, endangered children. He can’t save them all, but hopes that his actions will have the butterfly effect, and change the future for some. So far comments on this book have been overtly position, including many requests for follow-up stories.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writing is simply a compulsion. I love investing my time into fiction, and have to tear myself away to visit the real world from time to time. I love editing most of all. I have the bare bones of a concept, and write ‘by the seat of my pants’ then go back an edit and tighten until everything falls into place. No clichés, no coincidences, just solid, logical story progressions.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to name. As an introverted and shy child I read anything that came my way, from my Mom’s collection of classics, to my Dad’s westerns. Most of all I simply love adventures that I can lose myself in. The writing has to be strong enough to envelop me. Psychological thrillers and storyless literary offerings leave me cold.
What are you working on now?
Planning a sequel to The Silence of Children. It might become a trilogy, or more. That depends on my readers. But also I’m planning a series of stories based on the ancient Irish stories discovered in the Yellow Book of Lecan. Cuchulain is well known, of course, as is Deirdre of the Sorrows, but my favourite character is Fergus, known as The Horse for his, um, large manly attributes. He is the king who lost his crown, not for the love of one woman, but many. A great character, both hero and anti-hero.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promotion is a mystic art. I am dragged there fighting and screaming. It’s also a money-pit. I have a website, and do dabble in Facebook and Twitter, but have no great ability with social media. I am hoping my books will sell themselves…
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, and keep writing. Oh, and read books about writing in between. Don’t expect your first book to be publishable. Stuff sticks gradually. Writing gets better with practice. Get my book ‘Waymarks for Authors’ free from Smashwords.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There is no best advice. So many people with so many amazing views. Listen, read, write, and find your own path.
What are you reading now?
Shades of Magic, Victoria Shwab. I love her imagination. I read another book every couple of days. I go to sleep on fiction… new authors, new fiction. The mainstays of the thriller world are getting tired. And I’ve discovered recently that books recommended by John and Judy are often tedious, middle of the road, or boring.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing, keep promoting, keep trying to discover a true readership base.
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?
Huge escapist compilations. I cannot imagine wanting to read the same book more than three times, though as a child I did read Lord of the Rings more than that.
Author Websites and Profiles
Chris Lewando Website
Chris Lewando Amazon Profile
Chris Lewando Author Profile on Smashwords
Chris Lewando’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
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