Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a pretty normal guy who drinks too much, watches too much football and dabbles in writing from time to time. I have a very active imagination I think, which is not always a good thing as it sometimes keeps me awake at night. On the plus side, though, an active imagination is a good thing for a writer I’m told?
My debut novel comes out on 1st December 2015. I also have several short stories that I hope to evolve into novels one day.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current Book, Clash Of Worlds, is the first of a planned trilogy. It the whole idea started off with a random thought I had of merging a Fantasy, realm based world with the a realistic, Action based setting. I thought it would be interesting to combine aspects of both genres, kind of like Lord Of the Rings meets James Bond.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Besides the beginning and the end, and some general chapter outlines, I usually just sit down and start to write. Sometimes I sit down with only the start of the chapter in my mind and figure the rest out as I go along. I like to put myself into the character(s) minds, which helps me to write instinctively. I cannot write at home at all; I’m too easily distracted. I like to sit in a coffee shop or a library while I work.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a huge fan of The Lord Of The Rings, A Song Of Ice And Fire book series and The Broken Empire. I also like reading a lot of non-fiction, most notably, Stephen Kings On Writing, which is now my favourite book.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the sequel to Clash Of Worlds and also have plans on a Suspense themed novel about a man who has the perfect life, that is until he goes to see a fortune teller who predicts terrible things in the man’s future. He then becomes obsessed about what is going to happen and it consumes him.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
At the time of writing this, my debut novel is released in 1 day, so I’m still a novice when it comes to promotion. However, I have used Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Linkedin so far and have found all of these websites useful.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just sit down at your computer/notepad and start writing. Once you start, you’ll find it difficult to stop.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read Stephen Kings non-fiction book On Writing. It is a book full of advice from a man who knows exactly what he is talking about.
What are you reading now?
Re-reading A Dance With Dragons.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keeping hard at it while my creative juices are flowing. After all, we never know when the dreaded writer’s block is around the corner.
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 Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings series. I can imagine being stuck on a desert island would be pretty boring. Therefore, escaping to Middle Earth from time to time surely wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Author Websites and Profiles
Philip McClennan Website
Philip McClennan’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account