Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Somerset in the UK with my wife, two teenage kids and two cats.
I cut my writing teeth writing for a satirical news website called Newsbiscuit and also wrote for some comedy sketch shows on TV and radio, before moving on to writing books.
The first two I wrote were non-fiction books about sport, called Premier League Legends and Incredible Moments in Sport, but I really wanted to write some fiction, so in 2020 I published my first novel. It’s called Eco Worrier, and it’s a funny middle grade novel with lots of twists and turns.
I’ve also written a short story called Don’t Mess With Marty Marsh, featuring the hero of Eco Worrier, which is available for free on my website – ianslatter.com .
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I released my second middle grade novel – Danny Mann Super Fan – in May 2021. It’s all about an eleven-year-old boy who stumbles across a bizarre pre-match ritual that seems to make his favourite football (soccer) team really lucky, and they start winning.
Sports fans are generally a pretty superstitious lot who will try anything that they think gives their team any sort of advantage, no matter how ridiculous, but I started to wonder – “what if someone found some sort of superstition that actually worked?” That’s where the idea for the story came from.
It’s one thing finding a lucky ritual, it’s another managing to keep it going though, as Danny soon finds out.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to use Excel spreadsheets to plot my stories. I find it really easy to change and move scenes about. I only start writing once I’ve got the plot laid out in a way that I think works (although it often changes once I’ve begun to write it).
What authors, or books have influenced you?
If I could write like anyone, I’d love to be able to write like Sir Terry Pratchett. I love his sense of humour and his ability to use a fantasy world (Discworld) to hold a mirror up to our world. He was also gifted enough to write brilliantly for children and adults. It was terrible that he was taken from us so soon.
What are you working on now?
Next up for me (I’ve finished the Excel planning stage and have started writing now!) is a follow-up to Danny Mann Super Fan.
Although it’s a series, each book is going to feature a different protagonist, with the common thread being that they’re all based around the same football team. Book number two is going to have a time-travel element to it too – I’m saying no more than that right now!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I wouldn’t just pick one, I think you need to cover lots of bases – social media, blogs/reviews, Amazon ads, paid promotion sites, getting your categories and keywords right… You need to blitz the lot!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My best advice would be to get your first draft finished. Don’t stop if there’s a passage or a chapter you’re not happy with – just get that first draft completed, even if it means leaving gaps here and there. The sense of achievement when you finish your draft will give you momentum, and you can then go back to rewrite whatever you think needs changing without the feeling that you’re never going to get it finished.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I was told by an editor to make sure your readers really care what happens to your protagonist. Show them early on what your hero is trying to achieve, then put lots of obstacles in their way to make it interesting. If your reader sympathises with your hero, they’ll be rooting for him/her and will want to keep reading to find out what happens. If you think about most of your favourite books (and movies) you’ll probably find that’s the case with them.
What are you reading now?
The Stranger Times, by CK McDonnell. I’d loved his Dublin Trilogy (five books!), written as Caimh McDonnell and so wanted to try this title under his pen-name. I’ve not been disappointed. If you like a great tale, well told, with plenty of humour, give his books a go.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned earlier, Danny Mann Super Fan is the first in a series, and I want to write at least two more books to follow it up (maybe it’ll be a five book trilogy – see above). After that, I’ve got some ideas I’d really like to turn into a mystery series for younger readers. I’d also like to go back and write a sequel to Eco Worrier.
That should keep me busy for a while!
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?
Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett – As I said above, I’m a huge Discworld fan. All the books are brilliant, but if I had to pick just one it would probably be this one.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – I’m a big fan of Agatha Christie too, and this is definitely one her best.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster – One of my favourite books from my childhood, I love re-reading it.
The One Man by Andrew Gross – I read this last year and it really blew me away. A fantastic story and a very important subject.
Author Websites and Profiles
Ian Slatter Website
Ian Slatter Amazon Profile
Ian Slatter’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account