Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written five books, four business themed suspense novels and co-authored world poker champion, Joe Hachem’s biography. My novels are:
Collins Street Whores (Collins Street is Australia’s Wall Street)
The CEO
Dirty Fracking Business
Revenge Of The CEO
and
Pass the Sugar is Joe Hachem’s life story.
I currently have an exposé, Gasland Refugees, being edited by my publishers prior to publication
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Gasland Refugees is an exposé about the suffering of those unfortunate enough to find themselves living in unconventional gas fields around the world.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say unusual. In my novels I take a set of business facts or happenings, change the names and locations, and embellish them to hopefully create an enjoyable story. I am opposed to the exploitation of unconventional gas and that bias is reflected in Dirty Fracking Business.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Grisham has influenced me more than any other author. He is a wonderful story teller and The Firm is one of the all-time great novels. Stephen King has an unbelievable imagination and is a fine writer. The plots in The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption were amazing. Andrew Rule is an Australian author who has a wonderful way with words. His latest book, The Boy From Nowhere, the true story of a poor boy who left school at 14 and who is now a multi-billionaire television and property mogul is a must read. Finally, I enjoy James Patterson, but I don’t have him in the same league as the other three.
What are you working on now?
I’m assisting with the edit of Gasland Refugees and also trying to write my first short story of about 20,000 words. The short story is proving far more difficult than I anticipated
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a website www.peterralphbooks.com but lack the computer skills to use to its fullest. I’m competent on Facebook but I’ve never really mastered Twitter. When I do a promotion I usually spend a few hundred dollars on promotions.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Unless your Stephen King stick to something you know. John Grisham and the late Ian Fleming are good examples of sticking to their knitting.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do not publish without a third party edit. I have written manuscripts and then edited and reread them to my eyes burned. At that stage I’ve been convinced that the work is grammatically flawless. The third party edits have always detected many errors. No matter how diligent you are, you can’t edit your own work.
What are you reading now?
The Narrow Road To The Deep North for which Australian author, Richard Flanagan, won the Man Booker Prize.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on a short story about a financial scam set in San Francisco. After that I have the plot for another suspense/thriller novel about corruption and big business.
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?
The Firm
The Green Mile
The Boy From Nowhere
Den of Thieves
Author Websites and Profiles
Peter Ralph Website
Peter Ralph Amazon Profile
Peter Ralph’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account