Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a (late) 30-something lawyer currently living in Dubai. I grew up in the Peak District in the UK and was a prolific writer in my youth, spending hours after school writing and illustrating short stories as well as compiling non-fiction lists of sports results. Outside of my day job, I developed something of an obsession with running in my 30s and have just written my first published book, about the running adventure.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called How Not to Run 100 Marathons (and Other Stories) and it was inspired (as the title implies) by my somewhat unorthodox route to running 100 marathons around the world. In short, I managed to get myself into a number of scrapes along the way to the century, often as a result of celebrating completing the marathons with a night out before the run, which generally had fairly predictable consequences. I also saw a lot of the world along the way – running events in 21 countries – and met a number of weird and wonderful people…
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My mind seems to become more active and creative when I go to bed so I will often create a few notes of ideas between midnight and when I finally get up in the morning, to make sure that the ideas are preserved. I also send myself emails of any interesting quotes or facts I pick up from time to time – again, to avoid things slipping from memory.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have read a number of inspirational books about human achievements and running, including “Eat & Run” by Scott Jurek, “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall, books by Lance Armstrong (before the Oprah interview). I would not put myself even vaguely in the category of the people who are the subject of those books, nor my writing style as having any similarity but the books inspired me in my running adventures, which ultimately spawned the book.
What are you working on now?
For the time being, I’m focusing on the day job although I am definitely keen to find a creative outlet and hope to start work on another book in the near future.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think that a variety of approaches is key. The majority of initial sales were prompted by publicizing the book via Facebook, which resulted in a number of my contacts purchasing the book and then (without prompting) becoming my marketing team by re-posting and sharing via social media. I also think it is worthwhile to give away free books as getting people to read it is what the whole exercise is about.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think it helps just to start writing, whether or not you have a clear direction at the outset. Once ideas start landing on a page, the mind starts to work with them and potentially take them in directions which may never have been envisaged and may not have happened if too much pre-planning went into the process. Even if ideas are ultimately abandoned for the immediate project, they may find an alternative purpose in the future.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust no one…(ha ha – I’m not really that cynical)
What are you reading now?
The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille
What’s next for you as a writer?
I would like to write a fiction book next but I’m not sure I have the patience.
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?
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – really long and I enjoy the layover between fiction and historical events; Les Miserables by Victor Hugo – for broadly the same reasons; How to Survive on a Deserted Island (Prepare to Survive) by Tim O’Shei – hopefully self-explanatory.
Author Websites and Profiles
Nicholas Turner Amazon Profile
Nicholas Turner’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile