What have you written so far?

So far, I have written two books, The Awakening, and Fontana & Istilor. The Awakening is a science fiction tale, set entirely from the perspective of the mighty Chon’ith Empire, and the dogmatic warriors who inhabit it. These warriors encounter a shock to their might and their beliefs, and yet some of them won’t see the wood for the trees.

Fontana & Istilor is a more personal story, about a young man who finds himself trapped in a mediaeval realm, and transformed by the properties of a magic mirror. He has to confront his late grandfather’s secret life, and he’ll be tested by the journey to return home.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

When I look back on the earliest drafts of The Awakening, I see myself doing all the things that my publisher would later describe as ‘the right mistakes’. I was told to focus on showing the story, rather than telling it, and also to show it via the characters. I had a habit of adding a lot of exposition, and in space combat, I’d have big set pieces that were detached from the characters. All of that has changed, though not without difficulty! I believe the stories flow a lot better now.

How do you feel about indie/alternative vs. traditional publishing?

I absolutely believe there is room for both forms of publishing; it’s tempting to say you sacrifice control if you traditionally publish (a lot of the marketing elements are done for you), but on the other hand, you then have dedicated editors who can spot details I’d miss. I’m eternally grateful to my publisher, Jumpmaster Press, for being willing to take The Awakening, and turn it into something worthy of their name.

That said, I chose to self-publish Fontana & Istilor. Because this story feels more personal to me, I wanted to retain control over it. That might not serve me so well in terms of marketing, but it feels right.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer and how does that affect your writing?

I’m definitely part-time! My ‘day job’ is to design and sell bathrooms, and it tends to occupy a lot of my waking hours. This means I tend to steal time in the evenings for writing and editing, though first things first, I’m a husband and a father, so the writing time tends to work around that as well. During days off in the week, I tend to try and unwind, so I don’t necessarily write on those occasions. Ultimately, I tend to squeeze my writing in late in the day.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Try to enjoy the story you write. Aim to please yourself with your work. If you find yourself not enjoying the story you’re telling, you’ll find it difficult to convince anyone else to enjoy it.

I’d also say not to give up. It can be easy to lose heart, especially if you approach a publisher and they reject you, but you only truly fail if you stop trying.

Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

A good question! In The Awakening, I find myself drawn to Seluban’s journey. He is put through the wringer, betrayed by his leaders, and turned into a scapegoat. His response to that is how I hope I’d respond in a similar situation! In Fontana & Istilor, I see a lot of myself in Michael. He is a fish out of water, thrust into a terrifying situation, and he wants to try and be a fundamentally nice guy, in a situation where being nice could get you killed.

How successful has your quest for reviews been so far?

I’ll confess that I haven’t been actively pushing for reviews. I’ve generally relied on those who have read my books to review them. Maybe that’s naive of me, especially in this crowded marketplace, but all I have tended to do is ask those who have purchased to offer their honest thoughts.

Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work?

As a kid, I read a lot of Roald Dahl, and I loved his stories. James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, and so many more, they captivated me. There was something about the worlds Dahl created that felt so vivid, and colourful, and creative.

As a teenager, I read a lot of Star Trek novels, and my love of sci-fi would lead me to find the works of David Weber, John F Hamilton, and John Scalzi, among others. All of them would carve dramatic universes, fraught with danger, but also holding incredible beauty. They would also provide fascinating, three-dimensional characters, some of whom you’d love and root for, whilst others… well, there were a few I desperately wanted to see fail!

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