Andrew Chapman Author Interviews, Uncategorized

Author Interview – Jemahl Evans

Jemahl EvansQuestion 1: Who are you and what have you written?

My next novel is called This Deceitful Light and will be released by Holland House Books on September 20th. It’s the second in the Blandford Candy series. A rip-roaring historical adventure, mystery, spy, comedy series set in the English Civil War. A bit ‘Flashman meets The Three Musketeers.’

Question 2: If you had to paint a portrait of any author who would it be?

Corbyn Duke – it’s basically a wild smudge of yellow hair on a stick.

Wuestion 3: Why did you start writing? The Last Roundhead

I was bored in the summer holidays and once I started I couldn’t stop.

Kwestion 4: Where do you write? Do you have a shed like Roald Dahl, or a special room away from the other people in your house. Maybe you write at work when you should be working like that Terry Pratchett did. You should be careful, if your boss catches you you’re done for. Personally I write in my pajamas.

I write best late at night in bed and edit best with a cup of coffee in the morning. The afternoons are for siesta.

Question 5: Today a dog untied my shoe laces.

Clever buggers these dogs.

Question 6: Do you think question 5 needs to be rephrased?

It certainly needs to be a question.

Question 7: Forget the last two questions.

What questions?

The Deceitful LightQuestion 5 (again): What is the most interesting thing you have learned recently? (I just heard about an animal called the Tree Kangaroo that lives in trees regardless of it being utterly inept for that way of life and so often falls out of trees. And they are f**ing adorable).

I have learned that at no point in time are mushy peas an acceptable side dish for lasagne.

Question 6: Have you experienced what psychologists call “The ultimate experience” ? Which is the frame of mind when you are writing and everything is flowing perfectly and the creative buzz is so great you lose track of time.

Yes, but mostly its like drawing blood from a stone. Hugely emotionally draining.

Last question: Are you happy as a writer?

It’s one of the few jobs you can do without leaving your bed, so…

***

Pre-order The Deceitful Light now on Amazon.

The Last Roundhead is available now on Amazon.

Check out Jemahl’s website here – https://jemahlevans.wixsite.com/jemahlevans

Follow Jemahl on Twitter @Temulkar

Andrew Chapman Author Interviews, Uncategorized

Author Interview – Cee Tee Jackson

Cee Tee JacksonHullawrer chinas,
I’m a man of few words, which I’m finding a bit of a limiting factor as an author, so straight in – here goes:

Question 1: Who are you and what have you written (Most recent book, no synopsis)

I’m Cee Tee Jackson (Colin.) I’m a bit of a short-arse with an even shorter attention span. I have written one book so far, ‘Damp Dogs & Rabbit Wee.’ It’s an, err, amusing type thingy. You know. Next.

Question 2: If you had to paint a portrait of any author who would it be?

I don’t know why, but I’m quite good at painting Terrys. Ask me to paint a Douglas, or an Ernest or even a simple JRR, and I’m rubbish. Totally. So, I’d say it’d have to be Terry Pratchett.

Wuestion 3: Why did you start writing? Damp Dogs and Rabit Wee

I distinctly remember as a six year old at Primary school, deciding that the best way to discover what I might be good at, was to work through the alphabet of occupations. ‘Author’ came up quite early in proceedings, and perhaps I wasn’t quite ready. Now, almost 53 years later, after a couple of redundancies and failed attempts at entrepreneurship , my quest is still unfulfilled. Fortunately, I’ve now reached the letter ‘W’ and I’m giving it a go as as a writer.

Kwestion 4: Where do you write?

I’m quite lucky – I have one of those ‘laptop’ thingys. They’re marvelous contraptions. I can write in my office (I work from home) AND also take it into the living room and write there too. On my lap! Isn’t technology wonderful? Whatever next?!

Question 5: What is the most interesting thing you have learned recently?

That China produces some ace beer.

Question 6: Have you experienced what psychologists call “The ultimate experience” ?

Good God, no! I’ve played tennis sometimes when I can’t miss the ball as it seems to be size of a football. I adopted that frame of mind with my writing, but little words became so big that I had to continuously check the dictionary that my flow became a bit of a sad trickle.

Last question: Are you happy as a writer?

Hey – for a Scot, I’m quite a happy dude anyway. Yeah, my glass is always half empty, but that means (a) I’ve already drunk half of it; (b) somebody probably bought it for me anyway, as I have short arms and deep pockets, and (c) if I pretend to be a famous author, (oops, I forgot) sorry – WRITER, then some sucka might buy me another. So, yes.

***

Cee Tee Jackson’s, Damp Dogs and Rabbit Wee, is available on Amazon now.

I urge you to check out Cee Tee’s blog here – ceeteejackson.com. Unlike me he actually manages to update the site with regular blog posts.

He can also be stalked on twitter. Follow him @CeeTeeJackson

Andrew Chapman Author Interviews, Uncategorized

Author Interview – Rob Gregson

Rob GregsonQuestion 1: Who are you and what have you written?

I’m Rob Gregson, a skilled producer of origami frogs. Sadly, the paper frog market is no longer what it was, so I also have a day job that involves running a small consultancy business. Since I’m my own boss, I allow myself an unreasonable amount of time off to write comic novels / light-hearted adventures. My most recently published was ‘The Written World – a two-part fantasy comprising ‘Unreliable Histories’ and ‘The Endless Land.’ My most recently written book (still being edited) is ‘The Other Book of the Dead.’

Question 2: If you had to paint a portrait of any author who would it be?

I’m terrible at painting. It would have to be someone who’d been cremated. That would be the only way I’d have a chance of getting it to look right.

Wuestion 3: Why did you start writing?Unreliable Histories

My mind wanders. If I’m driving, sitting on the train, mowing the lawn, attending some boring conference or engaged in any number of other activities that require little conscious thought, I tend to start exploring ‘what ifs.’ Little scenarios ensue, and then I’ll start populating them with characters. It doesn’t take so very long before my head’s full of places and conversations. If I don’t write them down, I think I’d probably become dangerous. The word ‘spree’ might well be used. Believe me; it’s safer for everyone if I write.

Kwestion 4: Where do you write? Do you have a shed like Roald Dahl, or a special room away from the other people in your house? Personally I write in my pyjamas.

I write in a little office room at the top of the stairs. I’m still hoping to move to a draughty garret somewhere, because that’s how it’s supposed to be done. By a curious coincidence, I’m currently building a shed that will be shaped exactly like Roald Dahl, but I have no plans to write in it. I don’t own a set of pyjamas.

Question 5: What is the most interesting thing you have learned recently?

North Korea signed up to the Paris climate change agreement. They’re mocking Donald Trump for pulling out. (You’ve got to wonder whether your policies might be a bit iffy if North Korea can claim the moral high ground.)

The Endless Land.jpgQuestion 6: Have you experienced what psychologists call “The ultimate experience”? Which is the frame of mind when you are writing and everything is flowing perfectly and the creative buzz is so great you lose track of time.

Thanks for the clarification. For a moment, I thought we were straying into some very personal territory. And no. Some days are more productive than others but it’s generally quite a slog. There are times when I’ll write and write, but then I’ll come back to it a day or two later and find I’m having to change big chunks of it. So much of ‘writing’ is actually editing; applying a kind of quality control. It’s not all about that first stage of getting the ideas down on the page.

Question 7: Last question: Are you happy as a writer?

No. I’ll be happy once I’m recognised as the most prodigiously talented writer of my age and weight. To do that, of course, I’ll inevitably need to develop a prodigious writing talent, so I’m not holding my breath.

***

Ron Gregson’s Unreliable Histories and The Endless Land are available on Amazon now.

Andrew Chapman Author Interviews, Uncategorized

Author Interview – James Court

James CourtQuestion 1: Who are you and what have you written (Most recent book, no synopsis).

I’m James Court, supposedly retired, but active socially and a full-time grandparent. My most recent book on Amazon is ‘Farewell to Peckham‘: the fourth in what was intended to be a series of three comic novels.

Question 2: If you had to paint a portrait of any author who would it be?

If I could work through a genuine medium I’d ask Thomas Hardy to sit for me. Otherwise it would be Michael Palin, although I doubt singing ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ as we worked would be be conducive to a steady brush hand on the canvas.

Wuestion 3: Why did you start writing?

I’ve always written from an early age, and as a child preferred reading to playing games. After a lifetime of watching adults being anything but adult, retirement meant I again had time to myself to indulge in longer works than the odd article and pantomime.

Kwestion 4: Where do you write?

Generally I sit on a sofa with my trusty laptop on my knees. A couple of hours in the early morning gives me about a dozen pages, topped up by periods when baby-sitting sleeping grandchildren.

Question 5: What is the most interesting thing you have learned recently?

Researching my historical works throws up all sorts of odd facts. In 1100, Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, a pair of conjoined twins, were born in the Kent village of Biddenden. Joined at the hip they grew to adulthood, prospered as business women and both got married. They left behind a legacy to feed the poor of the parish that still flourished in the early 2000s.

Question 6: Have you experienced what psychologists call “The ultimate experience” ?

I often lose track of time when Farewell to Peckhamwriting: especially if I have an idea at night and get up ‘for an hour’ which stretches until the dawn chorus interrupts me. At such times I find my output is phenomenal, but have to spend hours correcting the typos and grammar afterwards

Last question: Are you happy as a writer?

Yes! Very much so. I’m a naturally happy person, and I hope that my writing brings humour to the lives of others. Feedback from writers and readers of the ‘Peckham Novels’ led me to write a fourth when I originally only intended three volumes, so I guess that I’m achieving what I set put to do, and that always generates a satisfied feeling.

***

Farewell to Peckham by James Court is available now on Amazon.