Hi Sean, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.
Hello! Well, I’m a 46-year-old gay man living in Cardiff, Wales, with my partner of 27 years, Derek. Oh, and our two cats, Rita and Harry, and a load of tropical fish! I have worked in retail most of my life, and for the past 11 years, I have been running my own Interior Design business in Cardiff with my fabulous business partner, Jayne. I am a huge sci-fi and horror fan, Doctor Who being my first love in television, Alien my first love in film. Sigh. How I would love to write for both of them, but that is never going to happen, so move on lol.
Working for yourself, and trying to pay yourself, is not easy. Bit like being an author then lol. In an ideal world, I would love to see our shop run by someone else so that I could spend my days writing, but again that is just not going to happen. I love the design industry, I love working with fabrics and blinds, and helping our customers to create a beautiful home, but at the same time, I do not want to spend the rest of my life tied to our store. The recession hit 3 years after we opened and it has been a struggle, but we survived, and Jayne and I are proud of our achievement.
Writing has always been my passion. I never thought, never in a million years, that I would be published, and here I am with two books out, and I am now busy writing my third! When I started this series of books two years ago, I wrote to every agent in the Artists and Writers yearbook, and then some, well over 200 emails and letters, and I have a huge pile of ‘no’s’. I was on the verge of giving up. I knew my book was a bit fruity, I knew my book was contentious, but it was something I really wanted to write, and I loved every minute of writing it. Just when I thought there was no point in pursuing Dead Camp, I started to write something else, but then I thought I would try contacting some publishing houses direct. I contacted 6 publishers, and within two weeks had 3 offers of a contract! To say that I screamed a lot would be an understatement. I signed with the wonderful Extasy Books, and boy are they fabulous. My editors, cover designer, all of them, just wonderful, talented, incredibly supportive people, and I feel mighty privileged to be with them. I owe them everything, for making my dream come true, and I hope that we will be together for very, many years!
Dead Camp is a series of books, all with different stories that tell one big saga. As a gay man, I wanted to write it from a gay perspective, so all my characters are gay, well, except the odd one or two…spoilers sweetie. The series of books start during World War 2, and as they progress, you will find yourself in Victorian London, the Crucifixion, and then back to the downfall of Hitler. It’s a complex story, and every character is linked, even if they don’t know it. Book 1 & 2 are out, and I am currently working on book 3, which has been the toughest write so far. This book is proving particularly challenging because of the subject matter, but I think I have just broken the back of it, so now, with a bit of a push, I can finish the first draft.
When all is said and done, Dead Camp may contain Vampires, Ghosts, Demons and Angels, but ultimately, it is a story of a father’s forgiveness, and tolerance of that which is different, in a roundabout sort of way. I know the very last page of the very last book, it is there, in my many, many notes, and all I can say is, have a very large box of tissues at the ready!
What’s the best line you ever wrote?
I have just written one line at the end of a chapter in Dead Camp 3 that I have been so looking forward to writing. But I can’t tell you about that, spoilers sweetie. But, in Dead Camp 2, there is a scene where a character recites a line from Shakespeare, you know the one, he holds a skull out, ‘Alas poor Yorick,’ and all that. A Nazi soldier interrupts him, and my character crushes the Nazi’s head. Then he say’s ‘Don’t say that I don’t give good head.’ That made me laugh, for ages. It is funny when you read it in context with all the stuff that comes before it, but I really did have fun with that line.
Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what kind?
No, no music. But I do like to put on my favorite DVD’s while writing. I am a huge Doctor Who fan, the old series as well as the new, and I have them all on DVD and blu ray. Tom Baker was my Doctor, and I play those stories again and again when I am writing. Genesis of the Daleks is my favorite there, and God only knows that disc gets a bashing.
I am also a huge fan of old television series, especially the BBC’s Quatermass serials from the 50’s, which I also have on DVD. Quatermass and the Pit can load itself into my DVD player, it has been watched so much.
Odd quirks I know, but for some reason I find them inspiring, and they always help me to get my mojo on.
Hello! Well, I’m a 46-year-old gay man living in Cardiff, Wales, with my partner of 27 years, Derek. Oh, and our two cats, Rita and Harry, and a load of tropical fish! I have worked in retail most of my life, and for the past 11 years, I have been running my own Interior Design business in Cardiff with my fabulous business partner, Jayne. I am a huge sci-fi and horror fan, Doctor Who being my first love in television, Alien my first love in film. Sigh. How I would love to write for both of them, but that is never going to happen, so move on lol.
Working for yourself, and trying to pay yourself, is not easy. Bit like being an author then lol. In an ideal world, I would love to see our shop run by someone else so that I could spend my days writing, but again that is just not going to happen. I love the design industry, I love working with fabrics and blinds, and helping our customers to create a beautiful home, but at the same time, I do not want to spend the rest of my life tied to our store. The recession hit 3 years after we opened and it has been a struggle, but we survived, and Jayne and I are proud of our achievement.
Writing has always been my passion. I never thought, never in a million years, that I would be published, and here I am with two books out, and I am now busy writing my third! When I started this series of books two years ago, I wrote to every agent in the Artists and Writers yearbook, and then some, well over 200 emails and letters, and I have a huge pile of ‘no’s’. I was on the verge of giving up. I knew my book was a bit fruity, I knew my book was contentious, but it was something I really wanted to write, and I loved every minute of writing it. Just when I thought there was no point in pursuing Dead Camp, I started to write something else, but then I thought I would try contacting some publishing houses direct. I contacted 6 publishers, and within two weeks had 3 offers of a contract! To say that I screamed a lot would be an understatement. I signed with the wonderful Extasy Books, and boy are they fabulous. My editors, cover designer, all of them, just wonderful, talented, incredibly supportive people, and I feel mighty privileged to be with them. I owe them everything, for making my dream come true, and I hope that we will be together for very, many years!
Dead Camp is a series of books, all with different stories that tell one big saga. As a gay man, I wanted to write it from a gay perspective, so all my characters are gay, well, except the odd one or two…spoilers sweetie. The series of books start during World War 2, and as they progress, you will find yourself in Victorian London, the Crucifixion, and then back to the downfall of Hitler. It’s a complex story, and every character is linked, even if they don’t know it. Book 1 & 2 are out, and I am currently working on book 3, which has been the toughest write so far. This book is proving particularly challenging because of the subject matter, but I think I have just broken the back of it, so now, with a bit of a push, I can finish the first draft.
When all is said and done, Dead Camp may contain Vampires, Ghosts, Demons and Angels, but ultimately, it is a story of a father’s forgiveness, and tolerance of that which is different, in a roundabout sort of way. I know the very last page of the very last book, it is there, in my many, many notes, and all I can say is, have a very large box of tissues at the ready!
What’s the best line you ever wrote?
I have just written one line at the end of a chapter in Dead Camp 3 that I have been so looking forward to writing. But I can’t tell you about that, spoilers sweetie. But, in Dead Camp 2, there is a scene where a character recites a line from Shakespeare, you know the one, he holds a skull out, ‘Alas poor Yorick,’ and all that. A Nazi soldier interrupts him, and my character crushes the Nazi’s head. Then he say’s ‘Don’t say that I don’t give good head.’ That made me laugh, for ages. It is funny when you read it in context with all the stuff that comes before it, but I really did have fun with that line.
Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what kind?
No, no music. But I do like to put on my favorite DVD’s while writing. I am a huge Doctor Who fan, the old series as well as the new, and I have them all on DVD and blu ray. Tom Baker was my Doctor, and I play those stories again and again when I am writing. Genesis of the Daleks is my favorite there, and God only knows that disc gets a bashing.
I am also a huge fan of old television series, especially the BBC’s Quatermass serials from the 50’s, which I also have on DVD. Quatermass and the Pit can load itself into my DVD player, it has been watched so much.
Odd quirks I know, but for some reason I find them inspiring, and they always help me to get my mojo on.
If your book were made into a movie, what actors would you like to see star?
Really? Are we going to open that can of worms? Well, okay, you asked for it. It’s not as if I haven’t imagined it, day in, day out, every waking moment, every sleeping moment anyway. Here goes.
Eli - Zac Efron – perfect in every way, my god that body!
Really? Are we going to open that can of worms? Well, okay, you asked for it. It’s not as if I haven’t imagined it, day in, day out, every waking moment, every sleeping moment anyway. Here goes.
Eli - Zac Efron – perfect in every way, my god that body!
Malachi - Michael Fassbender – so bloody sexy, he could so be Mal
Melek - Ian Somerhalder – those eyes! You just know he is Melek
Melek - Ian Somerhalder – those eyes! You just know he is Melek
Daniyyel - Chris Pratt - So sexy, but also a bit cheeky
Ethan - Colton Haynes – very sexy, but so anguished
Gideon - Hugh Jackman – it has always been Hugh, and his huge arms, and his body, and his smile, swoon. I want to have his children.
Ethan - Colton Haynes – very sexy, but so anguished
Gideon - Hugh Jackman – it has always been Hugh, and his huge arms, and his body, and his smile, swoon. I want to have his children.
What genres do you write in?
At the moment, I am well and truly in love with Gay fiction, M/M, and that is grounded within the world of horror/romance. However, my future projects within that genre will encompass science fiction and superhero tropes, so I can’t wait to explore those possibilities.
Where and when do you prefer to write?
I write whenever I can. I come home from work about 6p.m, make our food, and then usually sit with my lap top at 7.30p.m. I write on our second sofa in our lounge. My husband sits on sofa number one, facing the TV, while I sit on sofa number two, usually with a cat snuggled into me, with one eye on my writing, and an occasional stray eye pointing towards the latest episode of Grim, Supernatural, Agent Carter, Marvel, and the list goes on lol. I don’t want to lock myself away in a room by myself, I have tried that and found it very lonely, and isolating. I work better with the television on in the background, and at least Derek can chat to me at the same time.
At the moment, I am well and truly in love with Gay fiction, M/M, and that is grounded within the world of horror/romance. However, my future projects within that genre will encompass science fiction and superhero tropes, so I can’t wait to explore those possibilities.
Where and when do you prefer to write?
I write whenever I can. I come home from work about 6p.m, make our food, and then usually sit with my lap top at 7.30p.m. I write on our second sofa in our lounge. My husband sits on sofa number one, facing the TV, while I sit on sofa number two, usually with a cat snuggled into me, with one eye on my writing, and an occasional stray eye pointing towards the latest episode of Grim, Supernatural, Agent Carter, Marvel, and the list goes on lol. I don’t want to lock myself away in a room by myself, I have tried that and found it very lonely, and isolating. I work better with the television on in the background, and at least Derek can chat to me at the same time.
Thank you Sean for joining me today. It's been interesting getting to know you. Maybe one day we will cross paths and have a bacon bap together at the Celtic Café.
thank you so much for hosting me today xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Sean, I enjoyed that immensely, vey interesting to delve into the mind of a writer and their own particular quirks on how they get their writing inspiration. Best of luck with your 3rd book. Looking forward to reading it as I have enjoyed both 1 & 2.
ReplyDeletethank you so much Magie, I cannot thank you enough for your wonderful support and friendship xxx
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