Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I written books for adults and children over the years. I worked with a small UK children’s literary agency for several years. I worked in theatre, radio and TV. My adult books have been optioned for TV but have yet to see the light of day!!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Campion’s Choice.
I had this idea years ago after looking at some pictures that were slightly blurry. I thought, what if a picture could predict the future? Originally I wanted to go with a teen detective but things changed along the way.
This is the first book in the Campion’s Quartet. I have finished Book Two – Campion’s Change – and need to polish it before a Christmas release.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No habits. I like to write in a quiet room with the sound of my family in the distance. The only music I can listen to when writing is Bach’s Goldberg Variations. I prefer to write in the winter. I hate looking up from the computer and looking down on a sunny garden. I want to be out there.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots of great writers from Jane Austen to JK Rowling. I study and taught English to college level so I have been able to spend time with lots of great writers (through their books – although I do have one or two good friends who are very successful writers and they have been a great support over the years).
What are you working on now?
Two books – one for adults set in 1975. That’s all I can tell you. Ted Hughues the poet once refused to let me borrow a poem covered in notes for an exhibition I curated at Warwick Inviersity entitled ‘Writers o. Writing’. When I skied him why not he said, there is an old Czech proverb -”don’t touch the butterfly’. I feel about my adult novel.
The other novel is Book Two in the Campion Quartet – Campion’s Change. I guarantee no one will guess what the ‘change’ is!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my first experience of Indie publishing so I’m still finding my feet. Before I’ve had agents and publishers doing all that work and holding my hand. Twitter is great for meeting other writers and readers and my own website seems to be pretty successful.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Enjoy writing. Success isn’t important. You’ve been lucky enough to discover some thing that gives you pleasure. Make the most of every minute.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The writer Sue Townsend once said to me, ‘If you’re telling a joke it can never be revealed until the very last word in the sentence. The last word makes or breaks a good joke.’
What are you reading now?
La Bete Humaine. – for my Book Club. I did European Lit at college and my main languages were Italian and French. The book wasn’t my choice. We’re an all boys club – three Heads of English and three professional artists. It’s a great mix. We’ve been friends for 25 years. I’ve just bought several MG novels and the new Wiliam Boyd to read on holiday (3 weeks in Umbria!!!).
What’s next for you as a writer?
See the above. All my energy is going in to my MG/YA series and my new adult novel. My head is stuffed full and spinning. I have to be very careful not to get the notes I jot down all over the place mixed up.
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?
This is going to be boring but it would be
1 The Complete Works of Shakespeare.
2 The Canterbury Tales.
3 Emma by Jane Austen
4 The Great Gatsby.
Author Websites and Profiles
G L Wilson Website
G L Wilson’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account