Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and brought up in England and fell in love with literature at an early age. I studied for a time at King’s College, London, before deciding to leave in order to focus on writing. I began working on my first novels in my early twenties, concentrating at first on writing for children and young adults. However, as time passed, I found that my real passion lay in classic literary fiction, and that is what I have been dedicated to writing ever since. In 2019, at age 32, I published a novel, “Where The Waves Break Upon The Shore,” the story of two refugees embarking on the perilous journey from Libya to Sicily in a small sailing dinghy. Now, I am following that up with two collections of short stories; “The Mind Is It’s Own Place” and “Drifting Onward Down The Stream”, alongside a novella, “A Patchwork Of Moonlight and Shadow.” Having published these, I am turning my attention to the stack of unedited manuscripts on my desk, which will hopefully be ready to bring out soon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, “The Mind Is It’s Own Place”, was inspired, when in lock-down, by the idea that all around me, in the flats and houses from which no-one was allowed to emerge, there were people each seeing the events unfolding around us from different perspectives and with different interpretations. This idea, in turn, led me to contemplate the many varied interpretations which exist for all situations in which we find ourselves, and from that the thought of writing about those situations from numerous perspectives grew in my mind.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I do not have to balance other work commitments with writing, my writing routine is one of intense activity followed by equally intense inactivity. In the evenings, I will sit in a bar or café and think until an idea presents itself to me and then begin scribbling frantically, forgetting my surroundings until all of my thoughts are on paper, or the bar is closing. During the day time, I will usually avoid doing anything productive, spending my time reading or daydreaming or pottering about the house until I am so annoyed with myself that I finally settle down at my desk. Once there, I will work, usually without stopping for meals or to rest, until I am so exhausted that no more words will come. Then I will either crawl into bed, or else walk in the city until the urge to seat myself in a bar and begin thinking again comes upon me. Then all too quickly the day is done and the next thing I know I am waking up to begin the process once more.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Though I enjoy many, many authors, the greatest influences on my work and, to a certain extent my life and thinking, have undoubtedly been Hemingway, Camus, Tolstoy, Fitzgerald, London and Saint-Exupéry. In my mind the work of each, in its own way, embodies a form of literary perfection.
What are you working on now?
At the moment, I am working on editing and polishing another two literary fiction novels, as well as a comic novel, and am actively writing several others. I always work on multiple projects at the same time, though this is not something that I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy any kind of balance between writing and life.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I shall let you know when I find out.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and keep reading, most importantly. Read the great works of fiction, those by people like Hemingway, Proust, Dostoevsky, Greene, Stein, Miller, etc, again and again, and do not let yourself be tricked into reading poorly written trash which is currently praised by critics or social commentators. It is very much true that what you put into your mind, in terms of quality, will thence flow out through your pen. If you read poorly written books, you will write poorly. Whereas, if you read great works, you will have a much greater chance of producing great works yourself. I would also advise enjoying the writing process and avoiding thinking about how your work will be received. If you work hard and concentrate on perfecting your craft, you will have much greater satisfaction than if you produce rubbish simply in order to cater to your interpretation of what is in vogue. Publication should not be the aim of writing. Writing should be the aim of writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It would be a terrible thing for the end of the world to come and you to be in credit.
What are you reading now?
I am currently rereading Proust’s ‘In Search of Lost Time.’ However, like any rich dish, it needs to be read slowly and savored, so alongside it, for something lighter, I am also enjoying reading Henry Miller’s ‘The Rosy Crucifixion’ trilogy.
What’s next for you as a writer?
To continue writing everyday and concentrating on learning and improving and experimenting with the craft.
What is your favorite book of all time?
A difficult choice, especially as this varies with my mood. However, those at the top of any list of my favorites will always include “Across the River and into The Trees,” by Hemingway, “Swan’s Way,” by Proust, “War and Peace,” by Tolstoy, “Gone With The Wind,” by Mitchell and “Bel Ami” by Maupassant.
Author Websites and Profiles
T.M Cicinski Amazon Profile