Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live on the outskirts of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England and I came to writing relatively late in life having also found art and music a voice-pieces of creativity in the past.
THE SPIRIT OF PETERBOROUGH is my flagship series of stories along with I’LL BE THERE FOR THE REPLAY. Both are mystery ghost stories that centre themselves around strands of true past events which will leave the reader thinking.
The important thing to know is that as an author. I tend to write from the heart about the things in life that grab me the most. Whatever i do I feel compelled to get my message out there.
I reckon every story has a message, it’s just that sometimes it’s quite hidden. I like to write about strange occurrences in our every day lives and weave them into fictional tales that generally have a ghostly, and slightly scary supernatural twist to them.
I have a large family, lots of lovely children and life is good. If I am not writing or promoting my books I am out watching junior football matches or at the athletics track. My other passion in life is music. I both play the keyboard and write pieces for piano and the like.
I am currently working on two new mystery series. PROPHECY OF PEACE is already out there – the opener for The ‘Mysteries of the Oracle’ series, and I have written the first draught for another series that begins in 1964 in London . . .
If you get to reading my books don’t expect horror, shocking deaths and blood-curdling thrills. Do expect to be taken to another place, perhaps to a corner of your mind that yearns to find out that little bit more about what it might be like if things could or did really happen this way! Who is to say that they won’t?
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I just spent several weeks revamping my Spirit of Peterborough series. I first published the books as a collection in 2014. Now they are released as separate novellas. Although I’ve written other stuff in between, these are the stories that were born from the inspiration of real experiences . . . yes, myself and family members had some ‘ghostly experiences’ and I thought ‘what if?’ The result was these stories that are of a contemporary setting in Peterborough UK, but contain elements of the true ghostly past that both haunts and changes the protagonists.
WHERE A GOOD MAN FALLS is the fourth of these soon to be released at the time I write this (late 2016). A tale that is sure to leave you emotionally drawn to the characters and their lives.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
You know, I read a lot about other writers’ habits, people seem to want to tell you about it, but my philosophy is simple: When I get an idea I write it down in note form. That might be on the computer, on my android phone speech to text, or with pen and paper . . . I don’t know because i don’t know when I’m getting that inspiration delivered! Then, when I’m ready to write, I drop everything I can and boy do I write. I will do large sections at a time and then leave it and come back later. I NEVER force my writing and I don’t much worry if I go a few weeks writing nothing, if it is meant to be it will all come good.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m going to be honest here – very few precisely. I am influenced more by concepts, ideas and quirky, off the beaten track things that I have read. My biggest single influence is C.S.Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia. There is so much to think about in those stories, although dated they never actually age. More from the modern era I am in awe of the styles of James Patterson and Stephen King – different from each other and very different from my own style but their use of all the literary tools at their fingertips is exquisite.
What are you working on now?
Within the next few weeks I will resume the continuation of my series that starts in 1960’s London. A mystery/detective type adventure setting with paranormal/ghostly influences to the stories. Characters run through the books (I have the next two outlined). And, watch out, because somewhere maybe 18 months down the line there is going to be a big revelation – probably in book 3! (Clue: what really happened is already out there!) I’ll say no more.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You can’t ask me that . . .!
I sometimes wonder if I really am the worst marketer in the world! I’m constantly looking for great ways to promote. Many of the free or low cost ebook submitter sites have given results, but it always comes back to my own site – I kind of like it. I’ve probably had more direct engagement from there than from any ad sites including social media!
www.tomgoymour.com (and I get my own name for the domain name – I think there is only one other Tom Goymour out there and I beat him to it!)
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes, do it from the heart or don’t try to become one.
If you have an idea, you are inspired to follow it through with PASSION . . . then go for it. Don’t listen too much to the rules about how you should write, what time of day is best . . . targets (oh how I hate targets!). If you have to motivate yourself to write by forcing yourself to hit so many words a day the something ain’t right You should be DRIVEN to do it when the inspiration strikes. If you are, then go for it!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Easy to answer that;
I once ran a not very successful business back in the early nineties. (It wasn’t successful at the time but the knowledge I gained from it has meant that I am now running a very successful part time concern doing exactly the same thing as back then – funny old game – life!)
Anyway, when I was in a very low place a younger friend gave me some advice that has always stayed with me and I find I apply it on a regular basis.
I was stuck and couldn’t see a way to move forwards, everything seemed gloom and doom. He said, “Tom, if you really can’t move forwards, then step sidewards. Like a car stuck in a jam – sometimes you have to take the side road. You don’t know where it will take you but it WILL lead you away from the problem and new avenues will open. It might take longer, much longer, but you WILL get to your destination.”
He was right.
What are you reading now?
A book called ‘The Mirror’ by Richard Skinner. Interesting double novella about two completely different characters with different perspectives on life. Historically based.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I just want to complete my next book in the next few months. I have the ideas, nature will take it’s course.
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 Last Battle’ and ‘The Lion The Witch and The wardrobe’ CS Lewis.
After that there are so many . . . it’s hard – I might even go back to my childhood for one and take a’Just William’ or one of the books by Richmel Crompton> I could compliment with something contemporary – perhaps anything by James Patterson.
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