Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
If a wookie and a weeble were ever spliced together in a strange (and obviously unethical) genetic experiment then I would be the most likely result. I live in Wales but I do not own a sheep. I do however house an overly enthusiastic chicken, two rabbits, a rat, two small things that resemble pompoms (but that my children reliably inform me are russian dwarf hamsters) and three extremely scary giant african land snails.
So far I have only written one book (Second Skin). However I am just starting a series of books (The Hellspider Series) and the first of those will be available next year.
Anyone who reads my fictionboy blog will know that I’m a geek who loves superheroes, sci-fi, monsters, mutants, cartoons, comic books and Dr Who. If I had superpowers they could include Mega Super Procrastination, Chocolate hobnob absorption, and the ability to wobble but not fall down.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is SECOND SKIN. It is a dark fantasy anthology written and illustrated by me. Well I say dark, the novellas and short stories are dark but I’ve included some lighter (and funnier) flash fiction to lighten the tone and cleanse the palette a bit as it were.
I have no idea what actually inspires me. I am an incorrigible day dreamer . Even if I’m just walking down the street to buy some milk part of me is invariably fantasizing about leaping from building to building, my imaginary cape billowing in the wind as I fight my way through hordes of demon zombie cyborgs. I also love to people watch and I like to make up outlandish back stories for the various people I meet.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always like to kit myself out in my canary yellow and heliotrope fully fitted lycra bodysuit (with matching cape and mask).
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Iain Banks and Terry Pratchett are my favourite authors. Their books are just so imaginative and full to the brim with ideas, themes and perspectives. It would be a hard job to read them and not feel inspired.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on HELLSPIDER which is the first of a series of pulp super hero novels. The main character is a witty and sarcastic mid league villain who ends up way out of his depth. Here’s the blurb:
“The Hellspider is not happy. There is something rotten in the City of Darklake and for once it isn’t him. When a simple heist goes wrong he finds himself the most popular guy in town and for all the wrong reasons. Now everyone wants a bit of him (or wants him in bits) and he gets caught in the crossfire between a seemingly immortal, brooding vigilante and the scariest man in the world. It will take more than a fine line in sarcasm and a rather dashing sneer for Hellspider to stay one step ahead of certain death.”
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
In all honesty I simply don’t know yet. My main avenue of promotion at the moment is my website and my blog. I try to fill my blog with fun and interesting stuff that I hope will attract geeks like me. If they enjoy the blog then hopefully they will trust me enough to want to buy my books too.
I have tried social media but to be honest I found it too addictive and too distracting. My main aim at the moment is to be prolific and just get my stories completed, to get my ideas and characters out of my head and into the world.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read “Write, Publish, Repeat” by Johnny B Truant and Sean Platt.
Follow Dean Wesley Smiths Blog.
Check out “The Creative Penn” website.
And don’t give up!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s can be hard trying to being a writer. Most of us already have day jobs, families and loads of commitments. Many of us end up burning the midnight oil and I’m sure I’m not the only one to wake up occasionally at 2.oo am face down on the keyboard (dribbling) having been woken up by my own snoring. But I suppose the question is how much do you really want to do it? If you have a dream then you should pursue it. We all wander through life as if we have all the time in world, as if we are somehow immortal and that there will always be a tomorrow. Make the most of what you have now and follow those dreams.
And the other best pieces of advice I’ve ever received are – “never underestimate a hungry chicken”, “never eat more than you can lift” and “never trust Lex Luthor (he’s sneaky)”.
What are you reading now?
Dr Who – Engines of War.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A fortnight off from writing so that my family can have definitive proof that I am still alive. Then straight back in the saddle for Hellspider (yeehah!).
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?
OOH this is a good one. I would pick “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman, “Imajica” by Clive Barker, “Consider Phlebas” by Iain Banks and absolutely everything by Terry Pratchett.
Author Websites and Profiles
John Ibbotson Website
John Ibbotson Amazon Profile
John Ibbotson Author Profile on Smashwords