Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an advertising copywriter living and working in London. I am married with two children who are now growing up and far smarter than their old man. ‘Sleeping with the Blackbirds’ is my first published work of fiction and was originally penned for my kids. In 2014, my short story ‘Scared to Death’ – based on the sad tale of Thomas Highgate who was shot for desertion during the First World War, was published along with 23 other short stories in the anthology ‘The Clock Struck War’ published by MardiBooks. I am currently writing a dark thriller set in London in 2005, and hope to finish it this year.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my book is ‘The Chair Man’ and it is inspired by my wife who is a wheelchair user.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I tend to write at a desk upstairs with a view of the garden. Nothing out of the ordinary I’m afraid.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Lots I imagine. Clive King’s ‘Stig of the Dump’ was probably the first book I ever read. And as a child I was captivated by the charming prose and the story itself. I love whimsical English authors like Jerome K Jerome and P G Woodhouse. Then of course there are so many authors I admire like George Orwell, Kazuo Ishiguro, John Irving, and the old masters like Dickens and George Elliot.
What are you working on now?
My thriller, ‘The Chair Man.’
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not terribly good for someone who has worked for so many years in marketing at marketing my own work. But I recently used The Fussy Librarian to promote Blackbirds as a free ebook and they impressed me by shifting over 600 copies in two days.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t let rejection letters from agents or publishers get you down. We all get them. And accept constructive criticism when it’s given. It can sometimes be invaluable. Most important of all, enjoy your writing. Because if you don’t, nobody else will.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college. Kurt Vonnegut
What are you reading now?
Just finished reading ‘Rocket Boys’ by Homer Hickam. A wonderful book about a group of children brought up in a mining town in West Virginia during the 50s, and their aspirations to become rocket engineers. This is entirely autobiographical, and a hugely enjoyable read. Sprinkled with extraordinary characters and humanity that is genuinely moving, this is a terrific book.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I need to finish my current book. I have completed thev first 62,000 and am probably two thirds of the way. I hope to finish it later this year. Then I’ll have to start the editing and proof reading phase.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I don’t have one favourite. It’s an impossible question to answer. But I certainly loved ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, ‘The Cider House Rules’ by John Irving, ‘Atonement’ by Ian McEwan, ‘The Book Thief’ by Marcus Zusak, ‘Rocket Boys’ by Homer Hikam, ‘An Equal Music’ by Vikram Seth, and ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.
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