Interview With Author Finn Eccleston
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m a university student who loves writing in my free time. I’ve written a few short stories and have some novel-length threads in progress, but I’ve only published the one – The Community, in April 2023.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Well I suppose my last answer could have waited for this question – whoops!
The Community is the name of my latest book. It’s book 1 in a trilogy I have planned entitled ‘Project M’. Yes, like the Wii mod of the 2008 fighting game Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Also yes, that’s entirely the plot line (he said sarcastically).
What inspired this book was a series of day and nighttime dreams I had several years ago when I was a young teenager. I saw certain scenes from the book and began to brainstorm how I could piece them all together. One strange dream is just an interesting footnote. A series of strange dreams, somewhat interconnected?
Now that’s a novel.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wrote this interview while listening to a stand-up comedy mix on Spotify. I wrote The Community while listening to a blend of top-40 hits and Ed Sheeran deep cuts.
I’d like to think my musical taste has since evolved.
I prefer writing in the morning, but sometimes I don’t, which leads to some very interesting chapters when I’m writing at night, curled up in some corner of the house somewhere, maybe even outside being eaten alive by mosquitoes (I’m surprised I actually spelled that word right the first time).
Good times.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I used to love reading the new Hardy Boys books when I was younger, as well as Encyclopedia Brown. Those are more classic ‘whodunit’ styles of detective work for younger audiences. My work skews a bit more juvenile and adult at the same time, in that I use cross language and immature humour – as is an accurate portrayal for both my age and the age of my characters – yet I don’t have that wizened old gaze of a withered adult, and so I could use more polish in my storycraft.
What are you working on now?
I’ve been focusing on school and pursuing some other passion projects, but I have begun work on the next Project M book, currently untitled, a few chapters down and many (many) more to go.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found there’s many great free ways to promote books where audiences are already consolidated – Goodreads, sites like these, social, polishing up sites where you sell, etc.
Otherwise, there’s many great paid advertising options as well.
The link to one of my web pages can be found here: https://subscribepage.io/5AMLibrary
Do you have any advice for new authors?
To quote Martin Altis, another writer I know:
“Write.
Write what you want, try to hold yourself to some sort of routine, and don’t worry if your book sucks. It probably will. But then you get to edit! Self-edit, and seek feedback from others. Draft, revise, draft again. Potentially repeat.
And don’t be afraid of publishing, whether it’s self or traditionally. Criticism will always come. That doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It’s hard to get your book noticed – that doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer.
Learn how to market your book and give it the best chance to flourish. Then learn from your eventual mistakes and be better for the next launch.
This is not a get rich quick scheme. This is a lifelong journey.
And just like life, you must enjoy the steps along the way, or else the destination will be bitterly disappointing.”
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I think the above doubles as the best advice I’ve ever heard. But if I may add another tidbit from Mr. Altis:
“Write like no one is watching. Remove that spiteful devil off your shoulder that tells you the idea is terrible, that holds you back and makes you ashamed. He is not to be present during writing.
Then, once you’re finished writing, promptly put that devil back, for you just made a mess and must clean it up.”
What are you reading now?
I’m digging into F. Scott Fitzgerald’s (I love that Ted 2 joke) short story work, and then it’s on to the complete Sherlock Holmes collection!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Project M, book 2 – releasing in sometime 2024? Who knows?!
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?
People usually answer this prompt by pointing out their favourite books. That’s a wasted opportunity (and it’s insanity to think this is somehow a best case scenario). Allow me to rather expertly get myself out of this twisted picture where assumedly who ever I was travelling with died and I am left alone to grieve and try not to die.
Book 1: How to Survive Whilst Stranded on a Desert Island
Book 2: How to Escape Whilst Stranded on a Desert Island
Book 3: How to Make it Rich Once You Escape Being Stranded on a Desert Island
Book 4: The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
Author Websites and Profiles
Finn Eccleston Author Profile on Smashwords
Finn Eccleston’s Social Media Links