Interview With Author Don Baldwin
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
‘Wolf’s Quest’, is my first published novel. That being said, I have been writing for over forty years, mostly part-time. And I have a healthy portfolio of published work, feature articles and Short Stories-(some prize winners) aimed at our national magazines and local newspapers such as; ‘Ireland’s Own’, ‘Ireland’s Eye’, ‘Irish Mountain Log’ and ‘Subsea’. I have also supplied feature articles to both our local newspapers-‘The Dundalk Democrat’ and ‘The Argus’.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Wolf’s Quest’. And perhaps the single biggest thing that contributed to the birth of this story, was a family tragedy, a drowning which I survived at the age of three, but sadly, my younger sister did not. Suffice to say, it was a bad time, a lonely time. In many ways, a harsh time, when I used to stair longingly out my bedroom window towards a distant forest, and wished that I lived there, being raised by wolves. This is how the main character of my story, Wolf, was actually created.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not necessarily unusual, but I do find that keeping a blank page and pen at the ready on the side of the desk after your days writing, where it can be easily accessed without the need to sit, allows you to stroll in and out of your study to jot down words, phrases and bullet points that could prove useful the following day. Also, I keep a notebook by my bed and jot down any stray thoughts before I sleep. Likewise, when I awake I write down any pressing ideas quickly, before I start the day-delay, and they’re gone!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
‘Northwest Passage’ by Kenneth Roberts, really made a big impact on me. Set in the U.S.A. during the Seven Years’ War, (French Indian War 1750s), the story featured ‘Rogers’ Rangers’, a light infantry force who conducted special operations against distant targets. The writing was wonderful, the story tense, atmospheric and visceral. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, also heavily influenced me, so much so that I read it spellbound, way into the night! In more recent times ‘The Last Kingdom’ series by Bernard Cornwell, was an absolute treat, from start to finish, both highly entertaining and incredibly educational, all at once! He is truly a master craftsman.
What are you working on now?
I had envisaged ‘Wolf’s Quest’ to be start of a series, so the follow-up book is bubbling away in the background-awaiting the final verdict from those elusive readers, before I head off into that creative wilderness once more! In the foreground, I am working away on a guide book on Irish Mountains-many of the articles involved, would have been published over the years. And while it is primarily a guide book, I am trying to write it in a more lyrical style, not simply an up the mountain and down the glen approach!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
At present, ‘Wolf’s Quest’ is on my publishers website-Blossom Spring Publishing. It is also available on Amazon, in Paperback and E Book.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Serve your apprenticeship well. Build your vocabulary diligently. Have a sound grasp of English Grammar. Read widely, but when you find your genre, study it well. Cut your teeth on articles. Hone your creative writing skills with Short Stories. And when you have done all that, tackle that first novel. Writing courses are a great help, as are books on writing. But at the end of the day, it still comes down to you, your pen and your imagination. Be industrious, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Be professional in all your dealings, right from the start of your career, and just keep going. And regardless of what anyone says, find a way that works best for You! Trust your instincts and back yourself-you have to, as a writers life involves a great deal of solitude.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘Write the novel that you would like to read’. When I followed that advice, and stopped trying to force the story into a particular genre, the story flowed, right from the start. When all is said and done, write the novel that is in your heart, the one that you have always wanted to write. And win, lose or draw, at least you will have the satisfaction of having written the novel that YOU have always wanted to write. Which brings me to another piece of sound advice which relates to the first-‘Don’t chase the market, let the market come to you’.
What are you reading now?
I have just finished ‘The Children of Gods and Fighting Men’, by Shauna Lawless, and I am about to start her next book in the series ‘The Words of Kings and Prophets’, based on Viking-era Ireland, it is a lovely blend on Historical Fiction and nuanced Fantasy. Shauna is a wonderful writer, and she has recently released the third book in the series ‘The Land of the Living and the Dead’, which also sits patiently on my bookshelf.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Having just published ‘Wolf’s Quest’ on the 28th November 2024, I am quickly becoming all too aware of another side of writing and publishing that I hadn’t much call to deal with-the world of promotion! Besides keeping up my writing and reading, of course, I now fully realize that I will also need to put considerable input into promoting my novel, if it is to be a modest success. Which is fine, exciting even, as one has no idea where this could all lead!
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?
‘Northwest Passage’, by Kenneth Roberts. ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ by JRR Tolkien. ‘The Last Kingdom’ by Bernard Cornwell, and finally-The Bible.
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