Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I started writing when I was a boy. We had a lesson at school every week where we were given the opportunity to write a “serial story”. This was my favourite lesson. My first “book” was about a battle to save London from rampaging dinosaurs. Exciting stuff when you’re ten years old! I’ve been writing ever since, albeit these days about more adult themes surrounding life, death, love and homosexuality.
I’ve published three novels with MLR Press: “The Signal Box”, a tale of two men and their forbidden love in England on the eve of the First World War; “Pain and Promise”, a book that takes readers on a trip to the Adriatic coast of Italy where they discover two love stories separated by almost fifty years; and this year, “These Unusual Fellows” – a romantic tale with a paranormal twist set on and around an American air base in England in 1942.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called “These Unusual Fellows”. It has been estimated that around half a million American service men enlisted with the US Army Air Forces, were stationed in the UK between 1942 and 1945. Modern surveys of sexuality suggest that about 10% of men (or one in ten) are gay. So, the probability is that around 50,000 of these men were homosexual.
However, history often air brushes all this from the records. We hear about the war brides, the war babies and the women who got left behind when these men returned home. But what about the men?
The story is set on and around an American air base in England near the fictional village of Hemmel’s End in Essex. Not too far from where I grew up. So, I didn’t need to do a lot of research about the place.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. The most important thing for me is peace and quiet. I know some writers can sit in coffee shops and compose prose. But I can’t.
I do tend to carry on writing in my head, even when I’m not sitting at the computer. This can be frustrating for my husband!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a boy C S Lewis, author of the Narnia books and, of course, Tolkien (Lord of the Rings). I still recall the moment in that book when Gandalf “died”. I was on a bus (in Italy). It took me completely by surprise and I gasped out loud. The people sitting around me looked quite alarmed.
As a young man I enjoyed Neville Shute (The Far Country, On the Beach, No Highway in the Sky). I was interested in history, aviation, foreign travel and these were themes reflected in his work. The men in his books were practical types. I can see a lot of that in my work.
One of the books by a gay author that affected me very deeply was “Maurice” by E M Forster. I could see a lot of my own inner turmoil at the time reflected in that story. Due to publishing restrictions and the climate of opinion surrounding gay sex in Britain while he was alive, it only got published after his death. But I am glad it did. A classic gay novel.
What are you working on now?
It’s a secret. But the working title begins with the letter A …
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning about this, so this is a difficult question to answer. I am experimenting with social media, but also trying out different sites that promote books in my genre. When I hit the jackpot, I’ll let you know!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read. Then read even more.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I heard an interview with Lin Manuel – Miranda. He doesn’t believe in writer’s block. There is, he said, always a reason. If you can find it and fix it, you’ll be back in the saddle.
Shortly after this I watched a documentary about the making of the musical “South Pacific”, in which they revealed Oscar Hammerstein got a bout of “writer’s block” while scripting the movie. Thinking about it, he decided this was because he didn’t know enough about the naval background in the period to write credible characters. After getting up to speed, along with Richard Rodgers, he went on to pen one the most successful shows of all time.
So, if things grind to a halt, don’t despair. Pause for a moment and reflect on the reason. And don’t be afraid to change tack if something isn’t working. Creativity isn’t linear.
What are you reading now?
I have just finished reading “The Absolutist” by John Boyne. A complicated tale of unrequited love between two men on the battlefields of France during the First World War.
I am currently reading “Call Me by Your Name” by Andre Aciman, a detailed and intense story of a young man’s first love set in Italy, recently adapted as a film of the same name.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Trying to build up a bit of a following and sell more books!
What is your favorite book of all time?
I have read a lot of good books, but the one in recent years that has filled me with most joy was “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café” by Fannie Flagg. Many people probably recall the film in the 1980’s (which was excellent), but the book is even better.
Set in the American south in the first half of the twentieth century, the characters are a sheer delight. The narrative is heart – warming and inspiring, despite the challenging themes surrounding women’s rights, disability and racial prejudice.
Also, for fans and students of non – linear story – telling (like me), this book is a masterclass. The narrative goes back and forth in the character’s lives with exquisite skill; peeling the story like an onion reflected in a shattered mirror.
It’s about life; where all the best stories have their roots. If you haven’t read it, get it. I couldn’t put it down.
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