Hi Glynn, tell us a bit about yourself and why you write
I’ve always been interested in stories, no matter how they’re told. It doesn’t matter to me if a story is in the form of a book, film, play, fact or fiction, I’ve always loved them. I’m also a natural day dreamer, so, it’s relatively easy for me to make up my own. What persuaded me to put a story down on paper? My wife bought me a book about Harold Godwinson, the last English King. I thought it a fascinating story and read more and more about 1066 and events leading up to the Battle of Hastings. I remember asking myself, why hasn’t someone made this into a movie or TV series? I didn’t have the answer to that question, and still don’t, so I thought I’d write the novel myself. About ten years later my novel appeared in print and I’m now working on the sequel.
There are a lot of people writing books these days, what makes your writing different to all the rest?
What makes my writing different to the rest, I think, is the historical accuracy and detail, the weaving of fact and fiction and finally and at least as importantly, is the vividness of my style. I have the gift of transporting the reader to the battlefield, the court, the sickbed or wherever the scene is set.
It’s true, you are very good at that.
What genres do you write in and why?
I write historical fiction. I’ve always had a love of history and there are some amazing people to be found in the past, especially when the things they did still impact upon our lives today. You can be left with a myriad of questions of the ‘what if,’ and ‘if only’ type, which you just don’t get when a story is totally fictitious.
Where do your ideas come from and what inspires you to write?
A fair amount of my ideas come from research, which gives me the plot, most of the characters, events and the background. The rest just comes out of thin air, usually when I’m doing something unrelated to writing. A scene or character will simply present itself in my mind’s eye. I’ve even got scenes in my book that came straight out of dreams, which is why I keep a notepad by my bed.
It’s the love of a story that inspire me to write. Not only do I love to hear a story, I love to tell one – spread the joy, so to speak.
It’s the same for me, except that, not basing my stories on history, I have to see the plot as well.
What kind of person would like your book best?
Someone who likes to read about history, and get lost in a story of political intrigue, schemers, double dealers, heroes, villains and ordinary people caught up in events. In other words, the sort of person who like a ripping yarn.
What’s the hardest part of being an author?
As an indie author the hardest part is getting people to buy my book. I’m quite envious of people who get a hundred-thousand-dollar advance for a series of three novels and then when I look at the reviews on Amazon, I see they are faring a lot worse than me. I’m also a bit put out when I see their books displayed on the bookshelves of major high street book stores. At festivals, I don’t have a problem persuading people to buy them. In my head, I’ve written a block buster. In Amazon’s charts, I’m just bumping along the bottom.
This is what I’m hearing from all the indie authors and it’s such a shame because there are so many great indie books out there these days.
What do you like most about being an author?
The pop star lifestyle. The sex, the drugs, the rock and roll. Oh, I’m sorry, that’s just my fantasy creeping in.
Ha ha.
The reality of poverty and obscurity is not to be sneered at but experiences I can include in a novel. But seriously, I like reading reviews written by people who know what they’re talking about and really “got it” when they read my novel. Meeting people at book signings is another real pleasure, they usually ask interesting questions and things to say. And finally, there’s nothing quite like holding a book in your hand that you’ve written yourself.
If you could have one wish granted what would it be?
To see my book made into a film or TV series.
Me too!
What is the most unusual object you possess?
A Rolling Stones vinyl album signed by the band
That really is pretty awesome.
Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know?
Yes. Sometimes, as I’m writing a scene, usually when a character is making a first appearance, then as they start to talk they’ll take on the persona of someone I know or used to know. Once that happens, it becomes much easier for me to write about them. I think these characters also come over as a more substantial for the reader.
