Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am 35, I live in Staffordshire in the UK, and to date I have published two books: The Dimension Scales and Other Stories’, a collection of speculative/science fiction stories, and my first science fiction novel: ‘The Great Connection: Worlds in Waiting’.
Apart from working full time in the social housing sector, and gearing up for the arrival of my first baby next year(!), I also write, record and perform original music when I’m not writing fiction.
I like to relax by walking with my wife and playing games with friends. I’m a bit of a board game geek, and into my video games, especially the new generation of immersive, story-led, epic tales that are emerging in the market.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book is called ‘The Great Connection: Worlds in Waiting’, and it is inspired by the idea that in the future we may stop trying to travel physically to other planets, and instead start exploring using deep space telescopes and sensors connected to virtual reality simulations. Walking on other worlds in the comfort of our own living room, and using the entire consumer nation to chart the Universe, as a form of home entertainment. From this, I wanted to imagine what would happen when the first user to find life on other worlds discovered something possibly disastrous for the human race, and how this could play out in a drama…
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really! I just get on with it… boring but practical. I sometimes strum on a Ukulele when I’m thinking…
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a big fan of the big classic authors, namely Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick. I was specifically influenced by Ursula K. Guin for this title too, having absorbed ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’. But also I love Roald Dahl’s short stories for adults, and they were a big influence on my first collection.
What are you working on now?
My next book, working title: ‘Transported’, is a comedy science fiction about a bodged teleportation experiment leading to an identity crisis that threatens all existence, in this world, and the next… I’ve written quite a bit of comedy over the years for scripts, but never tried it in a novel. I’m really enjoying it. As a fan of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett, I would love to capture that same combination of great story telling and laugh out loud moments. Also, I didn’t plan it that way, I stared writing the idea, and that’s how it has developed, so I’m going with it.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I honestly can’t say. There are so many out there, and so little time! I’m trying a combination of paid and free channels. Unfortunately, it is very hard to get heard and seen as an indie author with limited resources. My long term plan is for conventional publishing, but in the meantime, I am just happy to have an outlet that I can get feedback from.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just to put the writing first and make sure that is more important to you than sales, fame and fortune, because chances are, that won’t be happening anytime soon, and you need to enjoy the process in the meantime. I’m still at the enjoying the process stage myself…
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Beware of weak intensifiers… and edit, edit, edit…
What are you reading now?
A collection of science fiction shorts compiled by Brian Aldiss. It’s great.
What’s next for you as a writer?
The next book! While I am marketing my newly released title, I’m working on the next. I try to keep that pattern going. I will be sending the manuscript to agents when complete, and if I get no joy, self-publishing again. That’s my formula that I am going to repeat until something happens or I run out of ideas!
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 Lord of the Rings (does that count as one?), The Complete Collection of Philip K Dick short stories, The Bible (just because I always thought I should read it one day as a historical text), and ‘Someone Like You’ by Roald Dahl… I don’t know, I’ve got a terrible memory, there are probably loads I could put in here.
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