Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a journalist from Scotland and Moristoun is my debut novel. I’ve spent most of my life working as a copy editor so I decided to emerge from the shadows and write something myself for a change
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Moristoun is an island that Scottish people are sent to in the afterlife when they have taken their own lives. I was inspired by a friend who died by suicide not long after I had started writing the book. It seemed so unfair that her adventure would end in her mid-30s so I wanted to explore might be happening to her, and others who cut short their lives, in the next realm.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. But the only way I could discipline myself to write the book was to wake up at 7am every morning and write for at least one hour every day. I found that very productive and wish I could now get back to the same regime. But I now have a four-year-old daughter so free time is very much a more precious commodity.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Reading The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass was a real eye-opener. It showed me a whole new way of writing and was such a triumph of imagination. I was also influenced by an anthology of modern Scottish writing that I bought in a shop. It showed me that there was a market for stories set in Scotland and I thought: ‘If these guys can do then why not me?’
What are you working on now?
I’ve started three different books since finishing Moristoun only to end up hitting brick walls with all three due to my sloth. One is about an Elvis impersonator getting revenge on an internet troll, the other is about a road trip in Thailand (where I lived for 18 months) and the most recent one is about someone turning up in a small Scottish town and proclaiming himself the Second Coming.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t used that many. I’m a member of the Books Go Social site on Facebook and that has been good for meeting fellow authors and promoting each other’s work.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Try to write something original. There’s no point just aping your favourite writers. Most of all, just write to entertain yourself. If your own work makes you happy and you enjoy reading it, then that’s half the battle.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just enjoy this golden time you will soon cling desperately to the memory of – Homer Simpson
What are you reading now?
I’m reading the fictional biography of Alan Partridge, written by Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci and Co. Very, very funny
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m hoping to shake off my sloth and get back to disciplined writing, helping me to make more progress with the books I have started but abandoned
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 Tin Drum by Gunter Grass
The Case of Comrade Tulayev by Victor Serge
The Van by Roddy Doyle
Football Against The Enemy by Simon Kuper
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