Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Alfred, and I’m a former political correspondent living in Portsmouth, England. Despite being in and around journalism for some years (as a grunt reporter, I was never a talking head on TV) this is my first book, although I have two others currently in development.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book’s title is “England’s Martyr” – a rather dramatic and grandiose name for what is otherwise a sincere attempt to create a piece of historical fiction that’s both accurate and exciting. The book essentially deals with the sequence of events from the Battle of Ringmere in 1010 to Svienn Forkbeard’s invasion of England in 1013. This ultimately sets the scene for the emergence of a much unappreciated English hero, Edmund Ironside; a man who I feel doesn’t get enough recognition, not by far. I thought it was time somebody corrected that, so why not let it be me?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I couldn’t really say. I do routinely practice something called the Wim Hof Method (named after the eccentric Dutchman, Wim Hof) which involves certain breathing exercises coupled with cold showers. This will sound insane to some, but I’ve been known to get suddenly inspired whilst doing the breathing (perhaps an abundance of oxygen to the brain is the culprit?) which can result in a bout of creative writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dan Abnett is possibly the one author who has had the most influence on me. He generally writes a lot of science fiction (usually in the Warhammer 40K universe) but his style is something to admire, and I hope to imitate him in some fashion without making too much of a hash of it. I like the martial setting of his work, also, and the themes pertaining to honour, brotherhood, loyalty and so forth. It’s inspiring.
What are you working on now?
I’m writing the third and last book in the Ironside Trilogy, which will deal with the events of 1016 and Edmund’s final campaign to save England from Cnut. People who know history will know how it turns out, although hopefully my account will involve a few surprises.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I couldn’t really say. I’m not much of a businessman, and a lot of this stuff is very new to me. I’m also quite shy and, at the risk of sounding absurd, I get nervous about showing people my work. This is quite strange, considering some of the situations I’ve gotten into as a journalist, but there you go.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Try to be selective about the advice you take. Publishing is a difficult game to get into, and a lot of people will try to make you question yourself to the point you feel like giving up. If you have a story to tell, then tell it, and don’t worry half as much as some think you should. Do the best you can, do your research, do your writing, let that creativity flow, and ignore people who try to charge you tens of thousands of dollars just to “edit” your book to make it read like somebody else wrote it. Ultimately all you can give is 100%, and those demanding you do more are likely just trying to make you feel small for the sake of their egos.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Treat others as an end in themselves, and never just a means.” Immanuel Kant
(Modern society as inverted this maxim)
What are you reading now?
Oddly enough, I’m actually reading the Lord of the Rings again. I read it when I was about 12, but I left the last page out as I didn’t want it to end. I thought it was about time I read it and finish it this time.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I need to finish the Ironside Trilogy and see what happens then. I’d like to write additional books revolving around the trilogy (the Ealdorman Ulfcytel really deserves his own book) so we’ll just have to see.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Dan Abnett’s “Blood Pact” is possibly my favourite in terms of style, pacing, writing capability etc. Aside from that, I’m oddly partial to the Dune universe by Frank Herbert. I’m also a bit of a John Steinbeck fan. George Orwell is another author I hold in high regard.
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