Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve just written the one so far (Grey Skies), but the second is completed in draft form ready to be edited to oblivion!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Grey Skies’ is my debut release. It’s a young adult, fantasy novel which draws inspiration from all different sources. It has the magical aspect one might associate with ‘Harry Potter’, but the dystopian/alternate reality of ‘The Hunger Games’.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
So, when it comes to planning, my method is to just write everything on some loose A4 paper as a stream of consciousness. Everything goes down on however many pages it takes and then I sit on it for a day (at least). When I look back, I tear it apart, rearrange it and completely vandalize the document.
I kind of do the same thing when it comes to writing too, except I write each chapter as its own document first and then merge whatever has oozed from my fingertips into one complete draft.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was younger, I had an obsession with a book series by Garth Nix called, ‘The Keys to the Kingdom’ and quite honestly, I have yet to grow out of it and constantly return to them. There is something about the unlimited potential of the universe in those books which fascinates me.
I would have to say another influence has been Gregory Maquire and his twisted take on classic tales (including ‘The Wizard of Oz’). His writing style can be quite direct at times and then change gear to be poetic in tone; a florid tonal shift which also changes the flow, something I wanted to capture in ‘Grey Skies’ too.
What are you working on now?
The follow-up, book two in ‘The Height of Magic’ series, is well underway and I have a completed first draft which is ready to be dissected and edited.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Twitter is a great source of self-promotion. So much support is out there on the #writingcommunity tag that I would implore any new writers to explore it and contribute.
Free sites like awesomegang.com and bookclubpro.com are brilliant too, in that they allow authors to create content which they can then refer to as a promotional tool!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you want to.
If anyone questions, or demeans your work; it is their problem. You have a right to be heard an express yourself. You have a right to have fun too!
If you are one in a million there are seven thousand seven hundred people out there; just like you who will love your book!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Unless they are paying your bills, pay them no mind.” – Rupaul Charles.
And it is true! I am a great believer in individuality and yet society seems to love compliance.
You do you and that’s more than enough.
What are you reading now?
As a nerd, I am currently working my way through ‘The Target Storybook’ by Terrence Dicks. It is a collection of ‘Doctor Who’ stories spanning each of the Doctors. It really encapsulates what is great about the show; the endless possibilities!
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am really going to push forward as hard as possible with the second of ‘The Height of Magic’ series, with an aim to release in early 2020. After that, there is definitely another potential story in Pitt’s world, but I have started planning another book for younger children (still very much in development) that might come to fruition too.
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?
A survival manual! You can never be too prepared.
In all seriousness, ‘Goodbye to Berlin’ would have to be one of them. It is such a snapshot in time that has served me as a reminder to be humble and grateful. Another would be ‘Giovanni’s Room’, which would probably leave me dehydrated (in a tropical environment at least) because of the bittersweet narrative that story thrives on.
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John Vallis Website
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