Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a middle aged Devonian with a love of motorcycles and reading.
Describe the plot of “Bubble of Time” in a few sentences.
The plot of "Bubble of Time," such as it is, is a classic whodunit murder mystery. However, the plot is nothing more than a vehicle for the reader to begin exploring my Lyonnesse.
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
So far the book has had favorable reviews from fans of Sir Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. I hope it will appeal to anyone who enjoys slightly offbeat humor with a touch of fantasy.
What inspired you to write a book about a utopic existence shattered by murder?
As I mentioned earlier, the plot is almost secondary. I chose a murder mystery because it is something that everyone is familiar with, and in a country where crime is virtually unheard of, it is all the more shocking.
Describe Lyonnesse for us.
My Lyonnesse is where I would very much like to live! It was hidden in a bubble of time (hence the title) by the Druids prior to the Roman invasion. It is connected to all points in space and time. In Lyonnesse life is simpler and where magic and mystery still exist, and on the whole people are kinder to one another. Money isn’t the be all and end all and life is respected and held sacred.
Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about the stranger that stumbles into Lyonnesse and investigates the murder?
Dave is an unassuming man in his thirties, who still lives in a bedsit, hates his job and loves exploring on his motorcycle.
Do you think your eclectic background, as a musician and mechanic, among other things, has influenced your writing style?
I think the more of life you see or have seen gives you a broader base of life’s tapestry to draw on and is bound to influence what goes into your writing. But as far as “my style” goes, I just try to write what I would like to read, an enjoyable story that you can get lost in.
Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
I’m a big fan of both Sir Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams, the giants of comic fantasy, but the biggest influence comes from Spike Milligan. Growing up I loved the Goon Show, and as an adult I love his war memoirs, particularly the audio version (sadly no longer available) with him reading it. If you take them at face value they are incredibly funny. However, once you realize that they are actually his war diaries, and a picture of what went on in an attempt to keep sane, they are the more poignant.
Who was your favorite character to write?
Aunt Aggie without as shadow of a doubt. Although she is not one of the main characters, she is based on a school teacher I had. She was a spinster in harsh tweeds with a harsh tongue who terrified us.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite book changes depending on what mood I’m in. My favorite Discworld novel is Lords and Ladies, for Douglas Adams it is Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is the best series of books, but Tad Williams War of the Flowers is my favorite stand alone book.
How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I think anything that gets more people to read is good. Ebook readers, and even mobile phones, give people easy access to books and that can only be a good thing. Although there are a lot of people producing ebooks, it allows some really good indie authors to get their work seen.
What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
Ten years? Blimey, I haven’t thought that far ahead. I’d like to be able to earn a living from my writing, but I’m not interested in fame and fortune.
Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
Editing. I haven’t met an author yet that likes editing. It is one thing to sit down and write but another to sit there and pull it to pieces afterwards.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
The second book in the Lyonnesse Tales series, Quest in Time: A Beginning, is being proofed at the moment and I hope to release it later this year. It started as simply a follow up but has turned into a trilogy in its own right, and I am currently writing The Middle Bit, the third book. There are also a few more stories in the series waiting to get out, but I have a couple of mainstream fantasy novels that I want to write as well.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
"Bubble of Time" earned me membership of the Gumbee Fantasy Writers' Guild. It is a group of indie authors who work to produce books to a high standard, and consider humor to be an important part of human existence.
An excerpt from "Bubble of Time":
Shouting had broken out amongst the fortune tellers on the other side of the room. Snatches of conversation were audible above the general din.
“You take that back this minute! You hussy!”
“I never said no such thing! What I said was...”
“We know what you said...”
“Look! You four eyed pheasant plucker! I said...”
A minor scuffle broke out. Clubs and cudgels appeared from beneath ceremonial robes and accidentally made contact with several skulls. After a general state of concussion had been achieved, things quietened down again.More Information
Buy Bubble of Time on Amazon UK
Buy Bubble of Time on Amazon US
Visit the Lyonnesse Tales website
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