Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi,
I am a progressive actor and writer who is keenly progressing in life, with a handful of great friends, mostly wild and proud of themselves for good reason.
I have lived in London all my life with the odd few months spent in America and India. The latter being directly after I came back from the states and was sought after by a Director, whose father used to be King of Utter Pradesh in India, with most of the movie being shot within the palace grounds. It was amazing and I felt highly privileged.
My career to date has taken me to three countries, including Lithuania and spans across three continents.
‘Winging It in Hollywood’ was my first book and I have since written another called ‘Written’. Which I will release within the month.
Thank you
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
As previously mentioned, it is called ‘Written’ and I will include the synopsis below to hopefully entice you to read in once it has been released on amazon.
‘Will is a frustrated, lonely writer with an alcohol addiction and no friends, existing in North London on a diet of insight, social disgust, self hatred and imagination during the 1990’s.
The book he is writing, during his forced dystopian lifestyle is the only vent for his frustration, pain, creation, doubt and invention…sometimes all either being the devil on his back or the angel in his soul.
The curiosity as to his own fate controls his everyday actions and thoughts after the painful loss of his idol, causing him to career into what appears to be an unending downward spiral of his own demise or worse…someone else’s.
Was Will searching for forgiveness or damnation?…and would he find it…? But can he distinguish between the reality of his life and the fiction of his mind…’
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I know of.
I simply think or imagine it, combine this with a period of gesticulation, buy alcohol in any form and commit to my solitary desk and thoroughly enjoy the next few hours alone…although it rarely feels like it, when many characters and memories often define my roaming imagination.
It is the best form of self satisfaction I have ever experienced.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
All books influence a writer, as they influence my every day actions and interaction with others, both intelectualy and emotionally.
To mention a few;
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep – Philip K Dick
The Human Stain – Philip Roth
Point Counter-Point – Aldous Huxley
The Dubliners – James Joyce
What are you working on now?
I have very recently written a comedy pilot episode for television and am attempting to have it read by those that hold production power within the UK.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Amazon has proven to offer the initial platform, should literary agents not be keen to sign and promote ones work.
Apart from that, I have foolishly been distracted from self promotion via the net until now.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
James Joyce — ‘Write it, damn you, write it! What else are you good for?’
A fine quote also seen on the upper lid of Bruce Robinsons’s typewriter! – writer/ Director of Withnail and I.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘Why have you got two of these and one of these?’
(My great grandmothers words as she points to her ears and then mouth)
What are you reading now?
I am stumbling my way through ‘Ulysses’ by Joyce.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Life
What is your favorite book of all time?
If I had to choose it would be ‘Steppenwolf’ by Hermann Hesse.
Author Websites and Profiles
Benjamin Coakley Amazon Profile