Interview With Author J S Aldridge
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have just finished and self-published my first book. I have always been creative, I love to entertain and after thirty years of being averagely successful in financial services I thought I would try and concentrate of what makes me happy.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first book is Order of Draic; we used to live in a beautiful house in a small English village and we had a well in the back garden. My daughter was an infant at the time and I started to write a children’s story about a dragon that lived in the well. Over time the idea bubbled away until it had formed into a more adult, rounded story which I am telling. I am mid-way through the next installment and I think that perhaps there is a third book to finish everything off nicely.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am pretty unextraordinary in most aspects and the same is true of my writing habits. In my “day job” I can spend an unbelievable amount of time sitting on hold, waiting to speak to financial institutions being told “your call is important to us, please hold” so I use this time to make notes and come up with ideas.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have tried to read a broad range of authors and genres, from James Herbert, Donna Tartt, Joseph Heller, John Irving, Irvine Welsh, to Edgar Rice Burroughs or Oscar Wilde. The book that impacted me the most was Diceman by George Cockcroft (Luke Rhinehart) – it made me laugh and cry and I carried a dice in my pocket for more than a decade afterwards.
What are you working on now?
I am still telling the story that I started in Order of Draic and the next installment is called “The Draco Grimoire” and hopefully will be out and available by July.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning this, so, ask me in a few years.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am still a newbie, but I would say be careful who you pay to “help” you; the world is full of people that will take your money and deliver nothing of value in return. Be patient if you are going to publish, the the process of editing and reviewing takes way longer than it appears. Finally, take a breath and set your work free – creativity is personal, not everyone will like your work, but, if enough people see it you will find those that will. Dont take any negative comments personally – listen to them as they could be valid but always remember it is easier to destroy than create.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Dont crew wasps
What are you reading now?
Peanut Butter Memoirs by David Wilson. We had a chat via facebook and it compelled me to read his work.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish this story off and get on with the next idea, which will be more sci-fi. Hopefully sell enough so that this will become my full time gig.
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?
Diceman – Luke Rinehart
Monkey Planet – Pierre Boulle
Wildness Survival for Dummies – Haslett
Author Websites and Profiles
J S Aldridge’s Social Media Links
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