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What inspired you to start writing?
Reading and getting absorbed in books as a child
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Framed & Hunted is a true story of being gang stalked and life-sabotaged by an occult organisation for fourteen years as I travelled around the world, first as a tourist and later, after completing my degree, as a freelance journalist. It was written to relay important details to people who'd become involved in my situation as life started to spiral completely out of control. Its a brutal story.
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How do you create your characters?
All the characters in my book are very real.
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What does your typical writing day look like?
When I write I like to spend a day thinking about what, where, when, how and why. I then spidergram the main points/themes as briefly as possible and then just let it flow, chapter by chapter.
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What has been the most rewarding part of being an indie author?
Developing my skills over time has been a very rewarding journey. Seeing reviewers reactions to my work has also been a good confidence boost whilst witnessing the real life impact of my writing has been both frightening and humbling. Framed & Hunted also won several awards on Goodreads.com - that felt like success.
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What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your writing journey?
Staying alive. After university I honed my skills writing for an international magazine about the politics, economics, law and history of cannabis in various countries around the world. This took me to many dangerous places and people. Framed & Hunted is something of a behind-the-scenes account of what I was dealing with, particularly during this time, though the root of my troubles pre-dated it by a number of years. After Framed & Hunted was published it sparked an underground war. Many of the characters involved were killed and my life has been under threat ever since.
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Do you have any favorite writing tools or apps?
I stick to Open Office. I know how to use it and never needed anything else.
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What advice would you give to new or aspiring indie authors?
Master writing by practicing different formats, from essays, articles and blog posts to poetry, short stories and, eventually, long stories. Plan your work and find your angle into whatever you are doing. I am also a firm believer that if you want to write interesting work it is important to live an interesting life. Travel, challenge yourself and read the best authors you can find.
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How do you handle book promotion as an indie author?
Writing and editing is the easy bit - its what we're good at and enjoy doing, promotion is a proper ball ache though and it costs more than you imagine.
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What’s next for you? Are you working on a new book?
Great question. I have a few ideas for new books but I'm still living through the fallout from Framed & Hunted.
