Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi everyone; I’ve been in the building trade for 30 odd years and writing about it since 2009. Now trying to help people through handycrowd.com and learning just as much myself. I’ve published one small book about old ceilings, and have just finished another, much larger one (a life’s work you might say) about living a more practical life.
I’m lucky enough work from home near the beach in Norway, and look after five crazy chickens and one not-so-crazy wife; Oh, and two kids, 12 and 14 (jury’s still out on their crazy…).
Strictly non-fiction so far, but I have some great real life stories from my aid work days in East Africa, which I’m dying to weave into some colourful fiction. One day, if I have the chops…
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
How to be Handy [hairy bottom not required] and the inspiration comes from seeig so much stuff written about DIY and home improvements which just seem to assume that folks can actually do the work. I thought this was dumb, I mean, I had to learn it and it takes years to get good at some of this stuff! So I set out to get inside the mind of a handy person and get the whole process down on paper to help other people who want to do all of their own stuff.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love late at night work, if I didn’t have kids I’m sure I’d sleep until midday and then work into the small hours every day…
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Case for Working with Your Hands: Or Why Office Work is Bad for Us and Fixing Things Feels Good by Matthew B. Crawford
Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives by Dan Millman
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
What are you working on now?
Book marketing! And of course a new book about home maintenance…
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook seems better than google adwords etc.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Have your own platform…
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you want to meet extraordinary people you need to do extraordinary things…
What are you reading now?
How to be Everything by Emilie Wapnick
Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson
What’s next for you as a writer?
Expand my reach…
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?
Probably four books on hunting, food preservation, navigation and how to build a log cabin lol!
Author Websites and Profiles
Ian Anderson Website
Ian Anderson Amazon Profile
Ian Anderson’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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