Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a commercial writer by trade who specialises in writing fitness articles and travel features for print and online publications. I have published just one book to date which I have written under the pseudonym of Ferrel E. Calpin. This a phonetic play-on-words which translates as ‘for Ellie Calpin’ as the book is intended to be a legacy for my baby daughter
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is called ‘Expecting the Unexpected: One Man’s Journey Through a most Eventful Pregnancy.’ The inspiration initially came from the fact I simply wanted to keep a journal of my partner’s pregnancy so that I would have a record of this special time in our lives. In time, I realised that there weren’t that many pregnancy books around written from a male point of view so I decided to pursue the possibility of trying to get it published. The fact that we encountered such a rough ride along the way and had to deal with some life-changing issues after our 20-week scan made me all the more determined to commit our story to print.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t have any quirks (that I can think off) but I am a stickler for not forcing myself to ‘churn it out’ if I’m not in the mood. When I’m in full flow I’ll write and write until I can write no more. If I’m not feeling it though then I’ll simply down tools and and go for a long walk…
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Henry David Thoreau’s ‘Walden’ was a massive influence on me, both on my outlook in life and on my confidence, as it showed me you don’t need to be an overly gifted wordsmith (Thoreau wasn’t) to generate engaging content. I would put Thomas Paine in that bracket too. My own ‘voice’ was influenced a great deal by the earnest and chatty writing style used by Mike Carter in his classic 2009 offering ‘Uneasy Rider.’ Ted Simon was another who had a significant impact, largely because his writing, particularly in ‘Jupiter’s Travels’, was so frank and honest.
What are you working on now?
I am taking a break from book writing for a while as ‘Expected the Unexpected’ took the best part of three-and-a-half years to complete, all in.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not much of a promoter really so my efforts at marketing the book have been pretty modest, truth be told. I would say Facebook has yielded the greatest returns for me but that probably doesn’t mean much – I’m not even on Twitter!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s never been easier to reach an audience than it is now so my advice to anyone thinking of writing a book would be to just do it! If I can do it then anyone can…
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Carpe Diem – seize the day!!
What are you reading now?
I am just about to dive into ‘A Divided Spy’, the latest offering from the always excellent Charles Cumming.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have lots of commercial writing assignments which need to be finished by the end of the month..!
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?
I would have to say ‘The Consolations of Philosophy’ by Alain de Botton; Ray Mears’ Outdoor Survival Handbook; a photobook I had made of my daughter’s first year and… a really, really big colouring book!
Author Websites and Profiles
Ferrel E. Calpin Website
Ferrel E. Calpin Amazon Profile