Hi Mack, when and why did you start writing?
Hi Lauren,
I started writing stories when I was a child, but in truth I was much more interested in sketching and as I reached adulthood writing won in the end. I think it was my over active imagination and a burgeoning love of all kinds of literature that helped me focus on writing. Like most writers I cut my teeth on some pretty poor short stories and didn't really attempt a bigger piece of work until about 8 years ago. That was when the very first draft for The Book Of Souls was written. I wrote it originally as a story for my daughters and both the book and the writing of larger pieces progressed from there.
What genres do your books come under, and would you consider other genres?
I write novels and stories that often involve an element of fantasy, but always seek to thrill the writer. To date I've published a young and adult fantasy novel (The Book of Souls), a fantasy thriller (The Shifting) and a thriller (Lost Boys) plus three short stories of varying genres, but two have a fantasy element as does a fourth coming soon. I'm working on a five part detective series (set in 1940's Liverpool) at the moment, hope to complete a sequel to The Shifting and edit a book about the early lives of my grandparents by the end of 2013. I don't think any author likes to be confined to a solitary genre and as an independent author I try to write about subjects that genuinely interest me, although I think writing stories involving the same characters in series of books helps to win an audience in the long term.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
The best advice I can think of giving to would be writers is as follows;
1. Always finish what you've started, without discipline you'll never finish a piece of work. Even if you think the work is the worst thing you've ever written.
2. Once completed, edit it until you're sick of the sight of it. In my opinion the first draft is only ever a hardly formed lump of clay.
3. Get your work proof read and find a couple of people you really trust to give you an honest opinion and take any criticism on board, after all these people are your friends, strangers are likely to be less constructive.
4. Consider the indie route, after all if you're looking to impress an agent or publisher, why not build up a fan base and reputation. There are lots of helpful and supportive writers in the indie community and it has never been easier to self-publish.
5. If you're a complete novice get some help with e-book formatting and book cover design.
6. Last of all, be true to yourself and your writing and do it because you enjoy it. Write the stuff you'd like to read and never assume you've nothing new to learn.
Other than writing, what else keeps you occupied?
I love reading. I think every writer should read. I like to run about 10 miles per week to keep mind and body together. I have a wife and 2 daughters, plus a varied group of friends I like to socialise with. I like most sports, in particular Football and tennis. I support Everton FC and British Tennis. In my younger days I was a school boy sprint champion and played football, rugby and cricket.
Thanks Mack for letting me interview you! :-) X
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