Self Published Sunday: Interview with David L. Atkinson
This week we welcome .
In this fifth Steele novel, Patrick tackles the person who has been surreptitiously dogging his footsteps over a number of his adventures. This is not without risk, and when the focus of his love, Naomi Kobayashi, disappears, Patrick’s ability to function is seriously affected. We begin to find out more about the man himself as the adventure takes him to Eire, France, the USA, before he returns to resolve the issue in the UK. Will Patrick finally rid himself of a deadly enemy? Can our hero rescue his love, or is it already too late?
Inceptus is another tension-filled, action-packed Patrick Steele adventure with the support provided by the team he has developed over the years
What or who inspired you to become a writer?
I started writing seriously about four years ago although I have written poetry for many years. I began writing because I’d reduced my work to part time and knew that I wanted to produce a novel.
What is your writing process?
The only things I tend to do is a brief outline that includes beginning situation and central characters and title pages, acknowledgements etc.
What prompted you to self publish?
I had submitted about 8 times with the usual rejection letters then saw an article in Publisher’s Weekly recommending Completely Novel and I’ve never looked back.
Tell us a bit about your self-publishing journey – just how did you do it?
I have half answered this question above but there was further justification in the blogs I’ve read from fellow indie authors. Added to that it seemed to me that anyone who is a celebrity can get published because their name is going to sell books irrespective of quality. The growth of self-publishing and the scope that is available for marketing has kept me in the indie game.
Can you tell us about the challenges and the achievements you have experienced in your writing and self-publishing journey?
The challenges have honestly been very few, mostly around formatting which varies between companies. Similarly, I have not had many achievements of any great significance apart from selling books in the USA, Canada and Europe.
We hear a lot about collaboration in self-publishing – do you work with other people (editors, marketers, publicists etc) when publishing your works?
I have worked with three different people on editing – that is all the collaboration in which I’ve been involved.
How do you get feedback on your work? How valuable is it to read the comments and reviews of others?
I am not one for looking at reviews because I believe that writing is an art and the reviews are almost entirely subjective. I will write irrespective of what people think. Those reviewers who criticise grammar or punctuation are like someone criticising the brand of paint an artist uses. Those who criticise style and content are entitled to their opinion but obviously it won’t coincide with mine.
Have you considered traditional publishing?
Yes. I still would like to be published out of a sense of vanity, I suppose, but I’m not that desperate.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Would you recommend self-publishing?
To answer in reverse order I definitely believe that self-publishing is the way to go. Advice for aspiring writers – well writing a book is rather like eating an elephant – you can only do it one mouthful at a time. Seriously though, if you’re writing a novel write the first 3 chapters before you review your work. I have spoken and read about many people who have written their first chapter, reviewed their first chapter and started again and they’ve done this several times! If you write the first three then review the beginning you will be happier with the style and content and are more likely to continue rejuvenated at your prowess.
Just for Fun:
If your book was made in to a film which actor(s), past or present, do you envision in the lead role(s)?
Jason Statham
If your book had a soundtrack which artists would feature on it?
Mark Knoffler
Tea or Coffee?
Coffee
Write at home or outside?
Home
Pen or PC?
PC
Email or letter/postcard?
email
And the all-controversial: print book or ebook?
Yes – both. My experience is that people who like reading have both.
Born in Sunderland, David L. Atkinson went to college in Bradford where he trained to be a teacher, a profession he followed for 34 years. After leaving the teaching profession he worked in a bank before taking up retirement. He remained in Yorkshire where he now dedicates his time to writing. David always had the ambition to write and eventually began writing in 2009. He has now completed five novels and is working on a sixth. He blogs daily at http://david-latkinson.blogspot.com, where you can find short stories, poetry and recipes, as well as commentary on the writing process.
Inceptus is available to buy from CompletelyNovel (here).
