Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am James E Mack, the author of Only the Dead and Fear of the Dark. I have a background in the military, initially as a Commando and then in Special Operations, working in over 20 different countries.
I subsequently worked as a Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Advisor on capacity building projects throughout the world. I also helped establish Counter Wildlife Poaching programs in West Africa before turning my hand to writing.
Reading remains a passion that I have retained from childhood and I still experience the same satisfaction today as I did then, when I find a great book.
I enjoy time in the mountains and in the sea and am fortunate to live very close to both, allowing me easy access to enjoyment!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Fear of the Dark. I live in one of the loveliest little villages on the Scottish coast with equally lovely people and I remember thinking one day about it being the perfect setting to let loose a psychopath and his cronies!
The deeper side to the narrative comes from my experiences of witnessing the traumatic effect of conflict on people and the evils of radicalisation on the young. I didn’t portray either of these in the usual manner and my readers have been very complimentary about this.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Only that I write anywhere; Planes, trains, automobiles, home, hotels, and once even in a bomb shelter!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading the thrillers of Gerald Seymour and loved his plots and narratives. Stephen King, for me, had utterly mastered character creation and there wasn’t a single book of his where I didn’t care or relate to his main characters. I am influenced by writers who invest in the story and the characters as I think a truly good book captures both.
What are you working on now?
My third novel The Killing Agent; an international revenge-based thriller that brings the war in the Killing fields of Kandahar to the cities and towns of the UK as our Security and Intelligence agencies are pitted against their deadliest foe yet.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Currently, social media platforms provide me with the exposure but, more pertinently, the target audience where I find my readership.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep at it.
Embrace rejection because you’re going to get a lot of it unless you are one of the fortunate few! Don’t take it personally; in simple terms a book is just a product that a publisher will only invest in if they think there is good revenue to be made.
Write. As much as you can. The more you write, the better you get and the more you learn.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you don’t believe in yourself, you shouldn’t be disappointed when no-one else does either
What are you reading now?
The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn, brilliant homage to the Hitchcock noirs
Voices from the Grave by Ed Moloney, the testament of 2 terrorists, given freely before their deaths. A fascinating insight into the lives of terrorists in Northern Ireland.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing! Publication of The Killing Agent in near future, then the second book in a series that started with Fear of the Dark.
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 Descent by Jeff Long
Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Great Santini by Pat Conroy
Into Thin Air by John Krakauer
Author Websites and Profiles
James E. Mack Website
James E. Mack Author Profile on Smashwords
James E. Mack’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile