Hi All,
Here's wishing you all a totally spiffing and fabulous Friday! I'm buzzing today! What a proud and positive day I had yesterday and I'm still on a high!
I've been suffering chronic nerve pain down my left side since a trapped nerve in my arm last November. GP's have been totally unhelpful and wanted to put me on tablets which made me feel as if I was not on this planet. After trying various other treatments, including acupuncture, I went to see a chiropractor yesterday and she was amazing!! I feel better all ready and with a couple of treatments still to go! Magic!!
Also, the first part of my trilogy appeared on Amazon today, published through Ingram Spark!!! This is a very happy Eva!! And now without further ado...
Eva: Welcome John, and thank you for taking part in my series of author interviews. So, let's get started...tell us all about yourself (as in, a bit of a biography).
John: And thank you so much for the opportunity, Eva! Greetings to you all. My name is John Regan, and I’m 58. I’ve been writing and self-publishing my work since my late forties. I still work full-time and somehow manage to not only continue my writing, but along with my wife (Vicky) and my step-daughter (Sophie), we assist fellow authors to self-publish their work.
We are massively enthusiastic about this, and because we are both working, we can offer an affordable editing service to our authors. We have helped edit over twenty titles.
How many books have you written up to now? Are they published or self-published? What genre are they?
Eight novels and two collections of my poetry. They have all been self-published. I like to stretch my writing, so I have written in several genres, including Gritty thrillers, Horror Fantasy, sci-fi and even a contemporary love story with a twist.
Of all the genres there are, is there any genre/s that you feel you wouldn’t be able to write and why? Is there any genre that you really wish you could write, but feel you wouldn’t be able to do it justice?
I would probably give any genre a go, but I would love to write a YA novel, though I feel this would be difficult for me.
Do you have any favourite ‘out-of-the-ordinary’ words that you like to use in your books? What are those words? Also, what words used by other authors irritate you more than they should?
I love words and have done since I was a teenager. I am always on the look out for new words, and I like to drop the odd unusual one into my books. I love words that don’t sound like what they are describing such as: Bucolic and enervate. However, I like to litter my poetry with unusual words, and this is where I usually stretch myself.
Do you sing at all, be it karaoke, in a choir or have done so professionally? Whether you have or not, have you ever written (or had the urge to write) any song lyrics? Have those lyrics been used at all?
I can’t sing at all and wouldn’t inflict it on anyone. I love lyrics and often use them as an inspiration for my poetry. I have written lyrics once for a singer friend of mine.
What question would you like to pose, (if you were to ever interview your favourite author), which never seems to get asked in author interviews? And who is that favourite author?
I don’t have a favourite author, but I love reading quotes from authors that pop up on social media.
If you were to ever write a children’s book, (and those of you who already do) would you/do you do the illustrating yourself, make use of a family member or friend’s talent or pay an illustrator? Do you solely write or do you have any other creative pursuits?
I would have to employ an illustrator (which is expensive). I have toyed with the idea of writing a children’s book and would probably have it rhyme.
I love walking with my wife, and on weekends, we run 5km and then go for a dip in the sea where we live. It’s cold but highly enjoyable. (Eva: I'll pass on the cold water, John! I don't 'do' cold anything!)
Of all the characters you have created, who is your favourite? And why?
Sam from the Eimus Mysteries books (Comedy Thrillers). He is more intelligent than he lets on, and, despite being a womaniser, he has a secret crush on his housemate Emily. The second book allowed me to really expand his character.
Have you ever killed off a character in your books (I’m sure you have)? If so, was it because…it fitted nicely into the storyline? OR…Did you start to really dislike the character and, with too much work involved to re-write without that character, think it the easiest option to have that person die?
I’ve killed off loads. If the story warrants it, an author needs to be brave enough to kill off characters they love. In my book – The Hanging Tree – I killed off one of the main characters but managed to include her in the follow-up – The Fallen Leaves, and the third in the series (currently writing). Being a writer allows you to do this sort of thing. You call the shots!
Are any of your characters based on family members or friends? Have you kept their characters totally true to life or have you given them bonus traits that you wish they possessed in real life?
None of the characters are based on people I know. I may take a particular trait or foible, but I never copy people from real life. They’ve already been written by life.
Relationships/family life aside, what are your TWO main regrets in life?
Regret is a fruitless exercise. It’s the belief that you would do things differently given your time again. You wouldn’t. The decisions you made back then, you made because you thought they were for the best. The person you are today is because of those decisions, not despite them.
What was your passion as a child? Did that passion stay with you during your adult life OR did you, as you grew up begin to detest what you once enjoyed?
Music, walking, reading and trying to keep a reasonable distance between myself and sadness. You have to surf the ephemeral wave of happiness when you can.
What was your best subject throughout your school years? And your worst?
Woodwork and technical drawing were my best. Chemistry was my worst.
Tell me about your favourite teacher throughout your school years? Was it a crush you had? Were they just an excellent teacher of your favourite subject?? Or some other reason…kind, fun, generous…?
Mr Harrison (woodwork), who possessed boundless patience and Mrs Temple (English). Enthusiastic and inspiring.
Did either of your parents ever express a wish to write? Are they supportive and proud of your work? Or do they just choose to not get involved, but they are pleased for you?
Neither expressed a wish to write. Sadly my mother had died before I got anything into print, and my dad suffered from dementia in later life, so he never got to read anything I’d written. A lot of my poetry covers this and my love for them.
Tell us about your ultimate ambition, be it personal, travel, writing, work, hobby related or other?
To live a long and healthy life with my wife, Vicky.
Do you have any phobias and if so, what are they? Have you ever conquered any phobia and if so, how did you do it?
I’m not a fan of heights. Planes are fine, but being away from terra firma is increasingly uncomfortable. (Eva: I totally get that, John!)
Most people I know are not happy with something physical about themselves (face/body etc.,) but if you could change anything about your personality, what would you wish to change?
I’ve covered this subject in my poetry too. Just play the cards you’ve been dealt. It will only end in tears if you don’t. It is worth pointing out to someone younger that the journey gets a lot easier as you age. A lot of excess baggage is jettisoned along the way, and my fifties have been the most enjoyable so far.
What is your ‘go to’ snack, whatever the time of day? And drink of your choice?
I love salted peanuts but tend to ration myself. I was a terrible chocoholic, so I gave up sweet things when I was forty-five. I now love savoury things more and don’t miss sweets one bit. My favourite drinks are tea, lots of strong coffee and RUM! I wrote a poem about rum titled: Ode to Rum.
Cats or dogs? What do you have? Do you introduce any pets into your books?
We don’t have any pets but often look after my step-daughter's cockapoo (Reggie), who we adore, but I love all animals.
AND FINALLY, Hit me up with all your Amazon book-links? And the links to your website and social media profiles?
Links to my fiction books on Amazon.
Persistence of Vision: Seeing is not believing: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9781537073699: Books
The Space Between Our Tears: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9781728659039: Books
The Hanging Tree: Even the darkest secrets deserve an audience: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John:
9781986051446: Books
The Fallen Leaves: If you bury the past, bury it deep: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9781082152245: Books
The Whitby Wailers: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9798568776130: Books
Nearhope: The rise of the demons: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9798835683826: Books
The Erimus Mysteries: The Romanov Relic: 1: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9781546422440: Books
The Erimus Mysteries: The Lindisfarne Liturgy: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9781686769368: Books
Links to my poetry books on Amazon.
Poetry In The Key Of Life: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9781082181559: Books
Keeper of the Memories: Poetry Collection: Amazon.co.uk: Regan, John: 9798851775055: Books
And for all you Yorkshire folk out there,
head down to Northallerton and meet John in person at his Town Hall book signing event!! Saturday 16th September - a date for your diary!!
Facebook: john Regan – Author
Instagram: Johnreganauthor
Thank you so much for a brilliant interview, John! It's been a pleasure!
In the spotlight next week, we have:
Tuesday: Author and Illustrator, Dawn Treacher
Friday: Contemporary romance writer, Liz Martinson
That's all from me on fabulous Friday!
Namaste,
XXX
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