Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, My name is Rob Shackleford and I live on the Gold Coast in Australia with Deborah-Jane, my partner. We each have a son and a daughter and, because they are living away from home and have not yet decided to have kids, we are in that sweet spot in time when we can, and do, travel when we can.
I have written a few books but I have only one, Traveller Inceptio, that is published so far.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Traveller Inceptio is a blend of Science Fiction and Historical Fiction which examines what could really happen if we placed 21st Century researchers into 11th Century Saxon England. If you were placed there, would you survive? How do you think you would fare with the food, the clothes, the language or the superstitions? What about the lack of law and order and the threat of violence?
My inspiration came after I was ripped off by a dishonest business partner and I sat on the beach and was forced to look at my options. While there I looked at the buildings around me and imagined what the location would look like 100 years in the past, then 200 years when white explorers first arrived, then 1000 years ago. A story began to form, which became Traveller Inceptio. Inceptio means “Beginning” in Latin, the religious language spoken in the time. I had to add that part of the title because, have you seen how many books there are with the title, ‘Traveller’? Dozens!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I generally write in the morning. If I have a flash of inspiration, that means I can get up as early as 4am. After a few hours we go for a walk and a coffee. By midday I gym and then sometimes play the Play Station while I think about my research or seek inspiration while I am killing zombies or whatever.
I do research a lot! With Traveller Inceptio I lacked the confidence to write so I thoroughly researched for about a year before I dared write anything. I live in terror of having wrong information, of a historian saying – “Oh, this is rubbish because xyz!” My local library banned me at one stage as I had a really good book on Saxon history out for 6 months.
The most unusual thing is how sometimes I can write and it doesn’t feel like I am writing, where the story develops in ways I had not anticipated, where I go, “Wow! I didn’t know that was going to happen!”
What authors, or books have influenced you?
There are so many!
I admire the beautiful descriptive writing of ‘The Life of Pi’s Yann Martel, ‘Shantaram’s Gregory David Roberts, or Colleen McCullough’s superb series of novels on Rome.
I love brilliant imagination and the ability to story-tell as shown in the warped imagination of Steven King, Tolkien and even the simplicity of ‘The Martian’s Andy Weir.
I am also astounded by the pure brilliance of the research undertaken by historian Simon Sebag Montfiore and his range of excellent novels, and of course Bernard Cornwell.
Last but not least I adore the Science Fiction greats – Arthur C Clarke, Frank Herbert, Robert Heinlein, Greg Bear and so many others who make our imaginations soar beyond the stars.
And these are but a few. I will post this and then say – “How could I have forgotten …?”
What are you working on now?
Traveller Inceptio lends itself to a sequel, which is Traveller Probo – to Prove – and that is now in the hands of an editor.
Book 3 in the Traveller Series – Traveller Manifesto – is being polished up for an Editor, so is also essentially complete.
I am also currently putting the finishing touches on a couple of books that are outside of the Traveller universe.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I really have yet to discover that.
Unfortunately, the world of publishing has changed. Publishers are going out of business and those who remain tend to hang back from financial commitment to authors until they are an assured sale. that means either an existing best-selling author, or a celebrity. So authors must climb that slippery slope to success largely unassisted.
I engage heavily with social media, with varying results, and have also taken on the task of communicating with almost 1000 viable literary bloggers to review my work – which can be testing but is going well.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
1. Persist. I heard a cheesy saying from an author I can’t recall, which goes: “The successful Author is the one who persisted.” Take some hope in that most authors have had to scarper naked through the valley of death.
2. Being an author is about being commercially viable. Modern publishers want to make money off you, web sites want to make money off you, the various nebulous publishing services do too. Be judicious about where you spend your money and understand this is a business like the music industry. In the end you will have to watch out!
3. Be true to yourself. You work is your work, but also accept that sometimes a suggestion might be good for you. The first time I had Traveller Inceptio edited it was by a grumpy old bastard of an Englishman who tore off my arm and beat me over the head with it. Thanks to his bemoaning of my abilities I was compelled to relook at what was written, removed some chapters, cut the length of my manuscript, and essentially was forced to concede that I had a lot to learn. He also hated one of my characters as it reminded him of a kid who bullied him when he was at school, which was brilliant! It meant my character development touched a chord in him, even though it might have been negative.
4. Each literary masterpiece started with the first written word. Start your work and don’t be too hard on yourself. Let the work emerge when it will, but write something! It is easier to edit than to make the first utterance. Good luck and have fun!!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t believe everything you think!
What are you reading now?
I am about to embark on a journey in India, so I am reading “The Story of India” by Michael Wood while delving into the darkly realistic world view of Chris Hedges in his brilliant “America – The Farewell Tour.”
What’s next for you as a writer?
In order to achieve my goal of commercial viability, my current approach is to promote Traveller Inceptio and try to untie the Gordion Knot which is the path to effective literary promotion. (Sorry about the Classical reference there.)
While I am editing ‘Traveller Manifesto’, it confirms that the story is pretty good, so I am encouraged. I am in the process of signing off on two other books I have been writing that are outside of the Traveller universe while pondering on any further adventures for the Travellers.
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?
“How to Stay Alive” by Bear Grills.
“Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe
“The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama
Author Websites and Profiles
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