Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I began writing in 1974 and the following year sold three plays for TV. A divorce and work oversees meant Ilost touch with my agent but continued to write for mu own pleasure and relaxation. I retired to Mallorca in 2010 and was asked to host a creative writers group. The enthusiasm of my members made me look again at some of my own work. Since then I have published 8 novels, a collection of short storiesw and a short book of writing tips.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest novel is book 3 in the series Lost to the sea. The original idea came when Imoved to a small fishing village on the NE coast of England. I found out that in the early 1700’s 125 fisher folk were drowned trying to launch their boats during a winter gale. Also opposite my house was a water fountain and the dedication stone was to the memory of a young boy lost at sea when his ship sank in a typhoon off India. While investigating that I found that a message in a bnottle had been found one year later washed up on a beach in Devon. When my own brother John was lost at sea in August 1980 I decided to write a book in his memory. The series of books Lost to the sea are dedicated to him and his wife and family.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in a crowded cafe where everyone is doingh their own thing but ignoring me completely. For some reason it works, at home I get phone calls, door bells and people asking if I want a cup of tea.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am an avid reader and have a large collection of poetry books as I love the way they paint pictures and emotions with words. I love Robert Service, AE Houseman and among my novelists are Leon Uris, Alistair Mclean and Ernest Hemmingway.
What are you working on now?
As I was a commercial diver for over 40 years, I now suffer from arthritis, I moved to Spain as the warm climate is much more to my liking and helps with my aching joints.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I self promote my books on over 120 free websites, it is time consuming but my books are selling so it seems tobe working.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I run Free creative writing classes and wrote my own book of writing tips mainly for my students.
My main advice is if you are serious about writing, GET A COMFORTABLE CHAIR, your going to be sitting in for a long time.
LEARN TO TYPE. It will speed up the process.
When you have finished for the day, forget about it. When you come back to it, read and correct any typos or errors you find before you start to write again; in this way you have done your editing and you are now back where you left off last time.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up.
What are you reading now?
Ovid; Metamorphosis.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have already begun to write book 4 in my series lost to the sea and am collecting data for my autobiography.
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?
The 25th hour. A story of survival in a Nazi prison camp. Probably one of best books ever written.
Housemans Shropshire Lad.
The complete works of John Dunn.
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