Here at Olympia we love hearing from our authors, getting an insight into their lives in writing and asking them what their advice would be to future authors. This week we had the pleasure of interviewing John Loughlin about his book!
This is your third book with us, was it easier to write and publish with your previous experience?
Yes this process has become easier. I begin with a synopsis of my idea, one page only. I now break the book down into 3 parts, A. Beginning, setting the scene. B. Expand/develop the plot. C. Draw the story to a conclusion with twists and turns. As an organised person the framework method works for me. It has also been a learning curve, editorial, proof-reading, production and marketing, again an established process.
Where did the idea of this book come from?
The themes of people trafficking, as with terrorism previously in Testament, are ideas in vogue. I take popular topics and expose the evil they can represent, the perpetrators of which can be from all walks of life. The main character and sub-characters continue to develop, as they do in book four and five.
Did you have a writing schedule? And where did you decide to write it?
I try to aim to write at least five thousand words a week. I achieve this in a room at home set aside as an office. I start each day at about 8.30 am and write for four hours. This process is subject to other demands on my time and not set in ‘tablets of stone’. I never force myself to write, the process has to be a natural one.
Are you planning on writing any more books?
I have completed Epistle, book four in the series and have begun the fifth, Judas. Besides these I have accumulated two volumes of short stories. These have been written between novels or as an alternative when the novel has hit an impasse.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Write for pleasure; write because you love constructing words. Be inspired by what is around you, there is no need to search for ideas, they surround you each day. There will be times of frustration, even despair; never give up. Determination is omnipotent.
How have you found your experience so far with Olympia Publishers?
The service Olympia provides is both professional and friendly and this helps a new author cope with the intricacies of a complex business. An independent such as Olympia can offer opportunities to writers that otherwise would remain unpublished if up to the large publishers.
