Interview With Author Nicky Cooper
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a new author who, despite facing the challenges of dyslexia and ADHD, has found the determination and inspiration to finally complete a story.
My children are my greatest inspiration and the driving force behind my work. I am a single father of two incredible children who mean the world to me. Their curiosity, imagination, and enthusiasm have encouraged me to craft stories that not only entertain but also instil important values.
By day, I work for an autism and ADHD support service, a role I am deeply passionate about.
Ever since I was a young child, I’ve been captivated by books and stories, particularly those set in the realm of fantasy. Despite the challenges dyslexia posed, my love for reading and storytelling only grew stronger. I persisted, finding joy in the magic that stories could bring to life. Now, as an author, I have the incredible privilege of creating my own worlds, ones filled with enchantment, adventure, and a touch of wonder.
My greatest wish is for my stories to be out in the world, offering readers a glimpse of magic and wonder, just as books did for me when I was young.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
What inspired ‘Guardians of the Veil’ was my love for fantasy adventure stories that blend mystery, danger, and friendship. I wanted to create a world where ordinary teenagers are thrust into an extraordinary battle, discovering hidden strengths along the way.
The idea came from me thinking about what it would be like if other realms existed just beyond our own. I wanted to explore the concept of a magical boundary, an invisible veil separating reality from something far more powerful and dangerous. What happens when that boundary weakens? Who is responsible for protecting it?
I was also intrigued by the idea of reluctant heroes, characters who don’t see themselves as special but are forced to rise to the challenge. Alex and Ravi, the main protagonists, reflect this idea. They are two ordinary boys who suddenly find themselves caught in a battle much bigger than themselves. Their friendship and courage drive the story, showing that strength comes not just from magic or weapons, but from trust, resilience, and the choices they make.
I wanted ‘Guardians of the Veil’ to be an immersive, fast-paced adventure that combines high-stakes action with deep character development. It is a story about hidden magic, lost history, and the courage to face the unknown.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
An unusual bad habit of mine is that I never write chapters in order. My mind moves too fast, and when I get an idea for a chapter, I have to write it down immediately. I save it in a document and slot it in when it’s needed later. While this approach keeps the creativity flowing, it does make piecing everything together a challenge. Sometimes, stitching the story into a seamless narrative feels like assembling a puzzle with no reference image, but somehow, it always seems to work in the end.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter, and later, A Song of Ice and Fire.
Tolkien was my favourite, he was master of storytelling, and I can only wish to have just a fraction of his talent. His worldbuilding, depth of lore, and ability to craft such an immersive and timeless world have always inspired me. I have lost countless hours wandering through Middle-earth, completely absorbed in its history, characters, and adventures. His work not only shaped my love for fantasy but also influenced the way I approach storytelling, aiming to create worlds that feel as alive and expansive as the ones that captivated me growing up.
What are you working on now?
I have just finished a young adult fantasy novel that was inspired by Harry Potter but is unique in its own right. Yesterday, I received the exciting news that my publisher wants to publish it too.
that is called The Legacy of the Lost Witch, a novel about a fourteen-year-old girl, Clara, who stumbles into a hidden magical world she never knew existed. When she receives a mysterious invitation to a secret festival, she learns that magic is real, and that she belongs to an ancient, powerful bloodline. But her family’s history is not as noble as they claim, and as she uncovers long-buried secrets, she realises she is at the centre of a conflict far greater than she imagined. With dark forces watching her every move, Clara must navigate a world of deception, power, and magic while discovering the truth about her past.
After anxiously waiting for two weeks to hear back, I threw myself into my next project, set in a fictional world where a race of skin-shifters, the Baroskan, can transform into powerful predators such as wolves, lions, tigers, and other beasts. According to legend, their people were once led by the greatest of them all—a formidable polar bear who led the charge in defeating three witches who came from across the sea. Thousands of years have passed, and now there are whispers of the witches’ return. At the heart of the story is a young Baroskan skin-shifter, ridiculed by his clan for being unshifted. With war on the horizon, he must decide whether to run from the fight or rise to become the warrior he knows he can be.
It has been an incredible journey writing these stories, and I cannot wait to share them with the world.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
As I am new to being an author, I am also new to the world of promotion. I have reached out to a blogger to organise a book tour and am actively seeking help with social media to build my presence and reach a wider audience. Navigating marketing and promotion is a learning process, but I am excited to explore different ways to connect with readers and share my stories.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors is to never waste a good idea. Even if you don’t do anything with it for years, hold onto it. Some of my stories began as scattered notes or unfinished drafts from years ago, and I am slowly working through them to finally bring them into the world. Inspiration doesn’t have an expiration date, and sometimes the right time for a story is later rather than now. Keep your ideas, revisit them when you’re ready, and trust that they will find their place.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
You need to be disciplined and write everyday for 4-6 hours if you want to be successful. Stephen King
What are you reading now?
I haven’t read much in about a year, not because I don’t love books, but because life has been nonstop. I work full-time, I’m a single dad, and every bit of free time I have is dedicated to writing and pushing myself to be the best I can be. Balancing it all is a challenge, but writing is my passion, and I’m determined to give it everything I have.
That being said, I did take the time to reread The Lord of the Rings as inspiration for my writing journey. Tolkien’s mastery of worldbuilding and storytelling has always been a huge influence on me, and revisiting Middle-earth reminded me why I love fantasy and why I want to create worlds that feel just as rich and immersive.
What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next for me is simple, I am determined to become a successful author, and I will continue to give it my all. The last time I counted, I had 29 books in progress, ranging from just a spark of an idea to thousands of words already written. Some of these stories have been waiting for their moment for years, and I fully intend to bring them to life.
At the same time, new ideas are always forming, and I never let them go to waste. Whether they take shape now or years down the line, I know that every story has its time. My journey as a writer is just beginning, and I plan to keep pushing forward, one book at a time.
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?
If I were stranded on a desert island and could only have a few books with me, they would have to be The Lord of the Rings trilogy and A Song of Ice and Fire. The Lord of the Rings has been a huge inspiration to me, and I could lose myself in Tolkien’s world over and over again. A Song of Ice and Fire is another masterpiece of storytelling, full of intricate plots and unforgettable characters that would keep my mind occupied for a long time. If I’m going to be stuck somewhere, I might as well have epic worlds to escape into.
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