Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
In an attempt to escape from dire, Dickensian poverty, I had, thanks to school and mobile libraries, become an avid reader, long before, like some sort of latter-day David Copperfield, leaving home in order to make my own way in a world that has long since disappeared [see my autobiography ‘AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER’] Inspired by the likes of RL Stevenson, JB Priestley, Henry Williamson, Rudyard Kipling and many other great authors, I continued to write a plethora of naïve stories and poems.
The next thing I knew, I was in the army and being shot at by rebellious tribesmen in the wilds of the Aden Protectorate! Then, after service in Hong Kong [see my latest novel ‘BETWEEN CANCER AND CAPRICORN’] Faint shadows from my past flit across its pages. I volunteered for and was accepted into the elite, swashbuckling force, the Trucial Oman Scouts. To quote Joe Gargery, ‘What larks, Pip, old chap!’
Years later, it was my privilege to form the Trucial Oman Scouts Association and be its chairman for twenty-six years [see ‘ARE YOU THE MAN?’ a unique collection of memoirs and extremely rare photographs illustrating our life in the Seven Sheikhdoms].
World travel, love and marriage, two talented sons and three, equally talented grandchildren-a couple of medals, two ‘creative writing’ prizes and some awards for not poisoning too many people when I worked as a chef, in fact- riches galore!
Eventually, I was able to take early retirement from my position as a university’s Head of Hospitality Services, write my books and have them self- published. I saw no point in approaching publishers; you know, those types who, over the years, have rejected everything from ‘Animal Farm’ to ‘Zen and the Art of Motor-cycle Maintenance’.
My sequel to ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘Jack Dawkins-being the further adventures of the Artful Dodger’, has received five star reviews from readers and critics all over the world. American author, Anthony Avina, has stated that ‘it is a breath-taking and beautiful story that every reader will want to have in their lives.’ Go to it, then!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Between Cancer and Capricorn’ was, in part, inspired by poet James Shirley’s assertion that there is no armour against fate. Looking back over my life, I couldn’t agree with him more!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think so. I sit at my keyboard, the words, sometimes unbidden, flow down my arm to my fingers-and appear on the page. It is a strange process; even stranger when a character I have created begins to do, or say, things I hadn’t expected!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors, from Nicholas Montserrat, Percy F Westerman, Dickens, Joseph Conrad
What are you working on now?
An anthology
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Public book signings
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Re-write, re-write, re-write
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be a plagiarist, Ward. Write your own stuff.
Mr Barnes, my English Master
What are you reading now?
Richard Burton’s diary
What’s next for you as a writer?
Christmas book signings
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?
Stretch a point and allow me to take Anthony Powell’s twelve volume ‘A Dance to the Music of Time’
Author Websites and Profiles
Terry Ward Amazon Profile
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