Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am 71 years old and was born in Leeds Yorkshire England. Both my parents families came from County Mayo in the West of Ireland. I had a successful career in Retailing and Sales and only retired last year. Leeds 1969 is my first novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Leeds 1969. This was inspired by my experiences learning Retail at a very famous but down – market chain store. Until I started working there, I didn’t realize that you could have so much fun and excitement at work and get paid for it at the same time! I have tried to stay true to the time and place whilst ensuring that the content is acceptable to the modern reader.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I believe that whatever job you are doing whether it is writing or cleaning the toilet, you should put your maximum effort into it. The Jesuits at the school that I went to made us put AMDG (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) at the beginning of every piece of work that we did. This has stayed with me although a lot of their other teachings have not!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dubliners by James Joyce – The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe and Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse. I also admire anything by Ian McEwan, William Trevor, Colum Toibin, James Plunkett and John McGahern. As you can see, there’s a very strong Irish influence there and I make no apologies for this.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a collection of short stories about the Irish in Britain between 1950 and 1975. Several of the stories deal with the inevitable link with the Roman Catholic Church and I am trying to show the influences both positive and negative. Like any good Irish song the stories have lots of tears, enlivened by a little laughter.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am too new to this game to give any advice in this area.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Although I would not presume to give advice about writing to anybody, I believe that there is no substitute for hard work.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
An innovator is a madman until his idea is proved to be successful.
What are you reading now?
Shannon by Frank Delaney
What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish of my Short Story Collection before considering a sequel to Leeds 1969
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?
Ullysses by James Joyce
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stephenson
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
Author Websites and Profiles
Michael Gill Website