Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A raging introvert. Passionately moderate. In love with fiction in all its forms — but especially scifi, fantasy and horror. And a keen supporter of Chelsea FC in the English Premier League.
Under the name Pete Aldin, I’ve authored the Doomsday’s Child series of post-apocalyptic stories set in Australia, along with a werewolf novel Black Marks (also available on iTunes and Audible). Fifteen years ago, I wrote for several parenting magazines including Kindred and Natural Parenting, but now I’m devoted solely to fiction.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Eventide is the first of a long series of space opera / military scifi I’ve been working on for a long time. The book was inspired by the fight for indigenous land rights (and human rights) around the world, along with the entitlement that continually drives wealthy nations to war and abuse. (Phew! That got dark quick!).
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Two pretty simple ones.
When I’m creating new content, I listen to movie/game soundtracks.
When I’m editing/polishing existing content, the music gets turned off.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
David Morrell (if you’ve never read the novel First Blood, you need to).
Martin Cruz Smith (the first three of his Arkady Renko are my favourite crime novels of all time)
Niven and Pournelle’s Mote in God’s Eye
Raymond Feist’s Magician.
(And, hey, Stephen King. Why not?)
What are you working on now?
Book two in the Envoys series (a series that takes place 850 years after Eventide).
Also, a proposal for a novel set in someone else’s universe/franchise (very excited about that).
Also also, the final book in the Doomsday’s Child series…
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Instagram.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Finish stuff. Polish stuff. Get connected to a wide group of other authors to critique it (and freeze out the disrespectful ones from your network early — life’s too short).
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Michael Stackpole: “You’ll learn more by finishing the first draft of 20 chapters than will by writing 20 drafts of your first chapter”
What are you reading now?
Albert Camus’s The Plague
Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice
What’s next for you as a writer?
Cutting back on the day job and writing more.
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?
Ouch. Only four?
Okay.
Graham Greene’s The Power and the Glory
AA Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner
Niven & Pournelle’s The Mote in God’s Eye
The Bible (why not?)
Author Websites and Profiles
Peter J Aldin Website
Peter J Aldin Amazon Profile
Peter J Aldin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile