Book blurb:
As an
introduction, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm a 49 year old child.
What is
your book about?
Optimism, secrets and deception. Nothing is as it appears to
be.
When
and why did you begin writing?
I always wanted to write a book and was never sure whether I
would or could. I made a couple of abortive formulaic attempts 3-4 years ago.
Three months ago I had an idea and the book wrote itself -
but I needed about 20 rewrites before getting it to what I believe is the final
version.
Having written it, I now know it takes commitment,
dedication and perseverance to write it. Then commitment, dedication and
perseverance to critically edit, revise and proof read. Then commitment,
dedication and perseverance to market it.
What
genre do you prefer to write in?
Surreal, satirical and stupid - the world I wish to live in,
where anything is possible.
What is
your biggest writing achievement to date?
To have finished my first book. My biggest writing
achievment by the end of this year will be to have finished my second book.
What
inspired you to write this book?
Reading a book - Robert Rankin - Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of
the Apocalypse.
Who is
your favourite author, and what is it about their work that strikes a chord
with you?
Kurt Vonnegut for his irreverent humour and ability to bring
humour to the most serious of issues.
What
book are you reading now, and would you recommend it?
I've been absorbed in writing for twelve weeks - prior to
that I read a couple of Robert Rankin Brentford trilogy books - thoroughly
recommended.
What
are your current projects?
I have ideas for two or three more Detective NAPA books -
one more in Gotham City. I'll probably take him to Wonderland and/or Neverland
and I have a plan to take him somewhere else in ten years (I know where but I
can't tell you).
Where
and when do you do most of your writing?
I'm lucky - I only work three days a week, so pretty much
when the mood takes me, with Radio 6 on.
What
would you say was the hardest part of writing your book?
The writing of it was easy - the 20 rewrites were the
hardest.
Who
designed your book cover – and was the cover something you deemed important?
I have designed the initial one - it is important. I am
waiting for a local illustrator to give me his design. The deal is he does it
for free. If he wants to produce an illustrated 'tale for tots' we will split
the profits 51/49. He can have sole rights to produce further illustrrations of
Detective NAPA and if it gets picked up for any marketing deals, the split is
51/49.
Did you
try to go down the route of traditional publishing first – or did you feel that
self-publishing was right for you from the beginning?
I submitted a brief outline to JK Rowling's literary agent.
Aim high. This was the only agent I tried and decided to self publish once I'd
received the rejection, justifiable based on my submission.
On the
whole, how have you found self-publishing?
Easy. liberating.
Where
can we buy the book?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chronological-Christmas-striplings-Detective-ebook/dp/B006L6VVJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326144820&sr=8-1
for children aged 19 to 99.I intend releasing this version in paperback (for £6.99 or £5.99) as soon as the illustrator of the book cover, has provided a final version
Do you have a website or blog where we can keep tabs on you?
Not as such - detectivenapa on facebook and www.detectivenapa.co.uk
- awaiting a crawl from the internet robots
Do you
have any advice for other writers?
www.youwriteon.co.uk is an arts council website. It's great
for feedback from other authors (in return for you giving feedback) and turned
what were a bunch of good ideas I had, into a readable book. Submit. Take the
feedback on board. Amend. Resubmit. And repeat a lot of times.
And,
finally, do you have anything else that you’d like to say to everyone?
Don't believe all you read
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