Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve published two books on Amazon now. Of course I suppose like other writers before that I wrote several half books that, for a variety of reasons never saw the light of day
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Concentric Darkness
When I finished Breath Thief I thought I’d tied up al the lose ends, that’s it now for something new, but very quickly new questions idea and possibilities started rattling around my head.
I suppose it started with one line – ‘I don’t want to be Holly any more…’ and it went from there. When I began I had no idea what was going to happen next, It all grew organically.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I find that I can write anywhere. I prefer to work on a laptop but always carry a notepad with me
I suppose the most unusual habit I have is it takes me a long time to move from finishing a book to punishing it
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As an adolescent I loved Tolkien
Nowadays I mostly read histories interspersed with binge reading to authors like Jo Nesbo. I get the updates from Awesome Gang and do read books they promote that pique my interest
What are you working on now?
Cross Quarter Day. It’s the final book in the Annie Taylor cycle. Hopefully it will answer some of the unresolved issues from the first two books
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like Awesome Gang. I find my promotions with them are generally more effective than other sites and they’re always my go to site
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing
Subscribe to sites like Scribophile where you can meet other writers, get your worked critiques and learn more abut the craft
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When you think you’ve finished put you book in a drawer for six months, then go back to it, it’s frightening how many mistakes you’ll find
What are you reading now?
James Shapiro 1606 – a year in the life of William Shakespeare
The level of research is fantastic and learning more about the events of the time he was wringing in really changes one’s understanding of King Lear and Macbeth.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finish Cross Quarter Day – then I think it will be time to give Annie, Tilly and the rest a well deserved rest while I look for a new adventure
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?
Wow, what a difficult question
I think Jo Nesbo’s Robin Redbreast – just for the complexity of the plot, though I would also be tempted by The Boy
Njáls Saga – all human emption laid bare
The Lord of the Rings – for old times sake