Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been around for a long time now, so trying to tell you about me would probably take too long, although it would probably be interesting, as I have had an interesting life. I’ve been a teacher in the Australian Outback, taught male inmates in a medium security prison, travelled the world, been a professional astrologer, owned and operated a New Age Book Store, raised two boys (one who had disabilities and died at 20), survived breast cancer, been a Head Teacher in Further Education, moved 12,000 miles from home to the country of my father’s birth and found my roots (and stayed), worked as a life coach and currently a project worker for a mental health organisation… oh and I write romance novels (14 to date). Some people see me as an over-achiever, I see myself as an adventurer. I think that my favourite adventuring is done in my writing where I create worlds that other people tell me they enjoy getting lost in.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Caught in a Dream’ is interestingly enough my most recent book to be published but is probably one of my earliest pieces of writing. It bears some resemblance to The Matrix in that it deals with a world that seems to be real but isn’t. It has a metaphysical component, but is mostly just an exciting adventure/romance. It was inspired by my own thoughts on ‘reality’ and wondering if what I really see is ‘real’ at all.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than sitting for 12 hours straight with my laptop on my lap (literally) typing as fast as I can to get the story that’s unfolding in my head onto paper? No, not really. 😛
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a Time Travel Buff so Diana Galbaldon has been influential, and of course we shared the common stimulus of Dr Who as kids. I also loved Traci Harding’s early books (she’s an Aussie writer for those who have never heard of her). She combines metaphysical concepts with a rip roaring tale. There are dozens more but I won’t bore you.
What are you working on now?
I’m writing the second in my Werewolf Keep Trilogy. Its a classical werewolf tale where people turn into werewolves 3 mights a month and must be imprisoned in a Castle Keep on the Yorkshire Moors. Its very Gothic and set in the mid Victorian era. For me, it is more than just a story of the paranormal. It is an exploration of what Jung calls our Shadow, which I seem to have worked with in my career in many situations.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a wonderful promoter called DesertGirl on Fiverr.com. She gets my books out to the right places when they’re offered free. I’ve also joined Author Marketing Club and the Kindle Club to try to get me more savy with the whole promoting/marketing scene. Oh and I’ve done two Book Tours with Orangeberry but I’m still waiting to see any results from those. But it is still early days.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make sure what you have to offer is a quality product, but at the same time don’t dismiss yourself because you aren’t published by mainstream. Find your audience and enjoy their feedback, but don’t pay too much attention to the negative stuff. One reviewer on Amazon said they were sooo disappointed by ‘The Way Home’ because they bought it thinking it was by another author and expected it to be a Christian book and finished off telling me I needed to find Jesus. I got a big kick when one of my fans slammed the review. Having people you don’t know go in to bat for you like that is a buzz. But they won’t do that unless you’re writing books they really enjoy.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Fantasy writer Ursula K. Le Guin wrote: “Children know perfectly well that unicorns aren’t real, but they also know that books about unicorns, if they are good books, are true books.” I have always remembered that and so, while I write about ‘unreal’ subjects, there is always truth in my stories… or I try to make sure they’re ‘good books’, so there is truth to be found in them.
What are you reading now?
I non-fiction book called ‘Living Magically’ by Gill Edwards, just to remind me of stuff I tend to forget. and a lovely little time travel romance called ‘Across the Winds of Time’ by Bess Mc Bride, which has the feel-good factor down pat.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish my latest book and then get started on another New Atlantis time travel book that has come up out of the blue. I’m trying to see if its possible to create a romantic hero out of a Gestapo agent.
My early research is broadening my knowledge about these historical ‘monsters’. Many were just policemen when the Nazis took over, and weren’t even Nazi Party members themselves. They simply served that government as they did the previous one. So I’m interested in finding the point when a person’s conscience kicks in and they start to rebel against their ‘job description’. I have spoken to a fan whose husband is a cop and she says that it is an issue for many police when government regulations change and they are asked to do things they may not agree with.
I’m not sure whether I can pull it off, to be honest, but its interesting exploring a different aspect of Nazi Germany. I’ve been there twice before in the New Atlantis series, once writing about the Death Trains in Poland and then the last in the series dealt with a German University student who was an anti-Nazi activist. I based that character on a real person.
That makes my books sound a bit heavy, but they aren’t. I try to keep my books light while not trivialising serious matters.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I sat for a long time trying to decide the answer to that question. I have sooo many favourites (which includes my guilty pleasure: JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and Harry Potter, of course,) I can’t even hope to answer it properly. If I had to say what the most influential book was in my life I’d say Jane Roberts’ non-fiction work, ‘Seth Speaks’, because it came at a perfect time in my life and reminded me of what I’d always known. Powerful stuff (but not much fun).
Author Websites and Profiles
Nhys Glover Website
Nhys Glover Amazon Profile
Nhys Glover’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account