Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Most folk believe that technology rules their lives. They’re wrong. Dark conspiracies and ancient magic actually dominate this planet. My one mission in life is to open people’s eyes to that fact.
My name is Ken Magee and I tell people I write contemporary fantasies which blend adventure and humour with technology and magic. My books live under the tagline ‘ancient magic meets the Internet’. I pretend that they’re works of fiction, because I’m afraid of the powerful people behind the conspiracies… I’m hoping a ‘fiction’ writer will slip under their radar.
Up until the point when I discovered about the frightening plot which deliberately caused the recent global financial meltdown, I’d led a fairly normal life. I’d worked for many years in the computer industry in roles ranging from programming through to sales. In the middle of it all, I’d served in the Naval Reserve… which was hard work, but fun. Then in 2010, I decided to make time to finish Dark Tidings, the book I’d started many years earlier (writing not reading). I would have finished it sooner, but life got in the way. It’s finished now (the book, not life).
Dark Tidings is book one of the series. The Black Conspiracy and A Darker Shade of Black complete the ‘ancient magic meets the Internet’ trilogy.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last book was A Darker Shade of Black. It was the final book in my ‘ancient magic meets the Internet’ trilogy (probably).
I guess the trilogy was inspired by my love of reading funny fantasies – I a big fan of the work of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Tie this into a lifelong career in IT and you have the catalyst for the series.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It’s not particularly unusual, I guess, but I love to listen to music while I write. The choice of music will depend on the scene being written. For example, there’s nothing better than a bit of heavy metal to help drive an action piece along at pace.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As I mentioned above, I love the work of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. They have undoubtedly influenced my writing style.
Having said that, I imagine something from every author I’ve ever read has seeped into me to create the ‘voice’ which I now have. I’m a great believer in the maxim that every great writer must be an avid reader – and I am an avid reader!
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a funny, adult thriller. It’s a complete change of genre for me and I’m enjoying the experience. Mind you, I miss the characters from my fantasy trilogy and every so often I take time off to think about what they might be doing. I hope they’re okay.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m hopeless at marketing and promotion, so I love a site which makes it easy for an author. Awesomegang is one of those sites, hence me doing this interview.
I do have a Twitter account, but I waste a lot of time enjoying the wide range of Tweets which fly past, rather than promoting myself and my work. It’s not productive, but it is fun!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep on writing… practice makes perfect.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep on writing… practice makes perfect.
What are you reading now?
I’m trying to reread The Three Musketeers. It’s a fantastic adventure, but I keep being distracted by other books, mainly in the fantasy genre. I will finish the Alexandre Dumas classic soon… I will, I will.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m waiting for HBO to call and ask if they can give my trilogy the Game of Thrones treatment. Most of GoT is filmed in Belfast (near where I live), so I’m sure finding a local author for a new venture would be great for them. My number is…
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 Game of Thrones boxed set… rereading that would keep me going for years and I’ve no doubt that I’d find lots of gems in the writing which I missed first time round.
Author Websites and Profiles
Ken Magee Website
Ken Magee Amazon Profile
Ken Magee’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account