Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I used to be a professional writer – but I’ve done many jobs, pizza-delivering, painting and decorating, fruit picking, waiting on tables – as well as the other stuff like a bit of freelance journalism, researching and writing for short films, working in advertising as a copywriter, fashion writer and editor/proof-reader.
In recent times, I suppose I’ll have to take on the tag: ‘author’ tho’ that’s still pretty new to me. I’ve now got three books e-published which is something and am working on a couple of others: I always promised myself I would do this in later life when my interest in clubbing and partying diminished. And it’s great to find myself amongst a community of other writers and readers.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Jabberworky & The Other Odd Story. It’s a compilation of short stories, some of which were written about 8 years ago. Just A Bit Extra was a story that came up when I was delivering pizzas! I wrote it very quickly in about three hours after a visit to the dentist when my wisdom-teeth were accidentally removed by a substitute dentist (it wasn’t meant to happen) and I couldn’t go out, being numbed up to the eye-balls! It was easy, the words just rolled out.
The Couple In Front was a story I’d always wanted to write, since visiting Normandy one summer. I thought it would be easy after writing Just A Bit Extra. It was as easy as pulling teeth, ironically enough. There is no formula for writing, not in my experience.
Jabberworky is I think, a bit of a rant, inspired by watching TV News a few years ago and seeing the augers of world recession up there on the screen, no good news. And I was kind of annoyed by Gordon Brown at that time, I believe, telling us not to bother thinking about MP’s expenses and the like and that we should be focusing on stuff like roof insulation. So, I wondered, what if you have roof insulation already? Are you allowed to think about other things – like British MPs flagrantly exploiting the system? And when, I wondered, was the last time we were told what we could and could not think? That led me to the medieval, a time I realised I knew nothing much about – so I did some research…
Another thing that inspired me was learning that the fabulous author and old newspaper-man George MacDonald Fraser, author of The Pyrates and the fantastic Flashman series of books, had died. I’d met him once on the journey, somewhere in my teens and thought – no more will we be able to read anything new from that particular source – and I loved his long sentences and his general disregard for Microsoft’s helpful green line that tells you your sentences are far too long etc. There was also stuff in the news about the Hadron Particle Collider and gain-sayers talking about the end of the world and investigations into something called Dark Matter – and it all started sounding a little medieval to me. Kind of funny that we’ve got this far – and yet haven’t. Have maybe only scratched the surface. Though of course, we assume we know so much. As the medieval alchemists probably thought.
So somehow, amongst all that, Jabberworky was born.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write at odd times without any particular routine – thought I’m working on that. As Stephen King said – you have to be there for the writing genie to show up. And I think he probably only works 9-5.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to mention – the two mentioned above certainly: George MacDonald Fraser and Stephen King but there are so many others as well,
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a follow-up to my novel Down To Zero (the first in The Eaters of Light series). I’m toying with the title: The Big Maybe for that – and have so far written the Prologue and a couple of chapters. The third in the series, is probably going to be called The Eaters of Light.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Creating your own web-site is a must – it establishes your presence and that’s absolutely necessary. Twitter is good, connecting you as a writer to other authors, author forums and readers. Writers Cafe is good for seeing how your work might go down, if there’s any enthusiasm at all from readers. And then of course there’s this one: Awesome Gang. Sites like these are invaluable.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I’ve put my 12 tips for formatting your work as an e-publication on my web-site at www.medeaswray.com – garnered after dredging through huge amounts of guides and tutorials. Follow them and I believe they’ll help. And live in hope. Write because you want to – because you have something to say. Even if there’s only a few people out there who enjoy it at the end of the day.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stephen King’s On Writing is excellent. I’ve read it over and over. What he says about writing with the door closed and then editing with the door open is really good advice.
A few other people have said: ‘Don’t give up your day-job.’ – and I think that’s good advice. (Think Stephen King would agree as well.)
What are you reading now?
I’m reading J.G. Ballard’s Empire of The Sun about his time as a child in a Japanese prison of war camp in Shanghai during WWII. Harrowing and strange.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m just ploughing on with writing the sequels to Down To Zero – as above – and thinking about covers for them. I might come up with a few more short-stories and I’m not averse to editing/proof-reading for other people.
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?
Probably self-help manuals about what to do when stranded on a desert island – I think that would probably make sense. Other than that I think I’d take a few of George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman series to keep my spirits up and supply a much-needed laugh or two.
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