67 years old, 5’11”, 18 novels published since 1980
Your latest book AWAKENING is an adult fantasy
novel. Perhaps you’d you give us some insight
into it in a few sentences?
Awakening, adult fantasy fiction. This is the second in a
quartet of books about the Hyddenworld, a parallel universe of little people
The overall story arc is how some hydden and human heroes combine to save the
universe from destruction caused by human abuse of the Earth. (SA – This was published by PanMacmillan on 5th
August 2011)
I had the idea a decade ago while driving along a motorway and
imagining that little people (hydden) lived on the verges. I sold it to
PanMacmillan.
Do you have a favourite
character from the book? If so, who and why this particular one?
Yes, Bedwyn Stort, a scholarly hydden. He’s a true hero, meaning
he doesn’t know he is.
Where can people buy
your books?
In book-stores or as an e-book.
What qualities does a
writer need to be successful?
Persistence, a reading habit, abilty to work alone.
2000 words a day, then revise previous words. I rarely achieve
it, but that target means that the books get written.
What’s the single
biggest mistake made by beginner writers?
Two connected ones: crazy belief that what they’re doing is
REALLY important and an inability to ruthlessly self edit. The quickest cure is
to read what you’ve written aloud into a tape recorder, and listen to it. Trust
me, you’ll soon hear the errors of your ways and appreciate you are not
Shakespeare or Chekhov.
Important. Especially now books are so badly copy-edited by
publishers.
How much do you revise
your MS before sending it off?
Hugely.
As a
writer of fantasy fiction to what extent do you think genre is useful in the
publishing world?
The only thing useful in the publishing world is what gives
readers pleasure and sells well enough to be worth repeating.
Marketing is vital. Study it. Even more so now that self
marketing is possible via the internet. We are less in the hands of the
publishers than we were so it’s gotten easier.
What sort of
displacement activities keep you from writing?
Everything you can think of and more. When, during the writing
day, I get a sudden conviction that I MUST do something other than writing, I
know it’s displacement. Too often I do it anyway.
A lot from a very, very few. The rest simply do not understand.
Is presentation of the
MS as important as agents and publishers suggest?
Yes.
How long does it take
you to write a novel?
About 14 months. Quickest was 31 days; longest 4 years.
Who or what inspires
your writing?
If there’s a single
aspect of writing you find frustrating, what is it?
Wish I could work faster.
Is there a particular
feature of writing that you really enjoy?
Field research and writing the last chapters of a book.
Do you believe creative
writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
Both. People with no talent get published and make money; people
with loads often never do.
The third novel in the Hyddenworld Quartet.
Do you have a website or
blog where readers can visit?
Given unlimited
resources, where would you do your writing?
In an airy, summery room with instant access to a hamam,
swimming pool, boule ground, my partner, a great kitchen, wonderful
ingredients, a top restaurant, and a deserted beach.
Where do you actually
write?
In my living room.
