Author Interview Scott McGowan

Have you ever been curious to know what writers from other countries are like? I certainly am, so this week we are delighted to interview Scott McGowan, a fabulous scribe from Scotland. He has a bit of a thing for Dwarves, and a fantastically precise style (just look at this layout here, entirely his work), and I loved reading every word. I think you will too!

Hope Woods' Author Interview

With

Scott McGowan

Question 1: What are your top 3 favourite foods?

Answer: If the opportunity arises, I will always go for a nice juicy rump steak (Cooked

Blue) with onion rings and mashed potato. Dianne sauce is a must.

Second on my list would have to be Viennese whirls. They are the

world’s best shortbread based biscuit and I can go through a couple boxes of these all by myself.

Thirdly, I think I have to go for Thornton’s mini caramel slices. They are divine and everyone should get in there quick, if they’re at afternoon tea in my house.

Question 2: What are your top 3 Movies or Tv shows?

Answer: My favourite movie, of all time, has to be “Withnail & I”. Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann are exceptional as the two out of work actors and, guest starring the roadie from Wayne’s world, they topped it off nicely.

Secondly, I did rather enjoy “In Bruges”, starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and, Voldemort himself, Harry Watters. It’s a black comedy and not everyone will see the humour in it but I loved every last second of it.

For my third, I have to say “The Princess Bride”. It is a classic and always will be, I hope. The, “My name is Indigo Montoya…” line will always be lovingly stuck in my memory. Bit parts for Billy Crystal, Peter Falk and the kid from “Wonder Years” made perfect castings, alongside Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant and Robin Wright, the cocky blonde.

Television wise, I cannot miss a single episode of Supernatural. I live in Scotland (Uk) and I still make sure that I see the new episodes, within twenty-four hours of it being released in The States. It is the best show on television at the moment and the cast, crew and writers all have my upmost respect.

For my second, I have to go with “Doctor Who”. I have been watching it since I was a child, my first Doctor being Colin baker, and still love it to this day.

Thirdly, I have to stick to another little Moffat themed programme called “Sherlock”. The work that Steven Moffat, Stephen Thompson and Mark Gatiss have put into building the show; the perfect castings of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman; and the introduction and demise of Andrew Scott’s rendition of Moriarty have been incomparable and there is nobody who could have done a better job.

This list only lasts as long as “Firefly” is off the air. It ended all too soon.

Question 3: Who are your top 3 Authors and Why?

Answer: My first and foremost has to be the late great, Sir Terry Pratchett. His books were a great influence to me and my writing and is, no small part, the reason for me entering the literary profession. His books and worlds are full bodied and show humanity at its best and worse, through these worlds. He was a genius and I will always have the sad feeling that I never got to meet him. Secondly, I must go for the king himself, JRR Tolkien. What can you say about the man who gave us “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings”? He, along with his friends, CS Lewis (“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”) and Lewis Carroll (“Alice in Wonderland” & “Through the Looking Glass”), led the way for many a thousand fantasy novelists and they will always be legends in their field.

For my third, I think I have to say Douglas Adams. His, five book, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” trilogy was superbly imagined and, again, he spurred on the imaginations of many, many other writers. The fact that it all started as a small funded BBC Radio show and rose to be one of the best loved stories in the world, is amazing and should give us all hope. He never stopped there, bringing us also, “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency”, “Starship Titanic” and even wrote for “Doctor Who” (Tom Baker’s incarnation, I believe).

Never has a book cover experienced
a beard so epic.

Question 4: Where can we find your previous work?

“Curse of the Anti-Santa” (UK)

“Curse of the Anti-Santa” (US)

“Short Stories and Allegories” (UK)

“Short Stories and Allegories” (US)

“Bjorn & Bread” (Bjorn Trilogy - Book 1) (UK)

“Bjorn & Bread” (Bjorn Trilogy - Book 1) (US)

“Bjorn Free” (Bjorn Trilogy - Book 2) (UK)

“Bjorn Free” (Bjorn Trilogy - Book 2) (US)

Question 5: What have you been working on more recently?

Answer: In November, I completed, “The Guild Rally” for NaNoWriMo and, after editing, will be offering it to St Andrews Press for possible publication. If they feel that it isn’t for them, I will be self-publishing it in the middle of 2016.

At present, however, I am about 25% of the way through completing the third and final book of the Bjorn Trilogy, “Bjorn Again”. I will have the writing part done and dusted before June and, again after editing, I will be self-publishing at the start of November 2016. There will also be a one-off spinoff novella to be released, hopefully in November 2017.

Question 7: How long have you been writing things that you let others read?

Answer: The first real stories I wrote were in my last couple of years in High School (1996/1997). They were a collection of horror stories that were from the viewpoint of the reader. I liked this style of writing as it gave the reader more of a part in the story and helped to draw them into it; everything was happening to YOU.

Question 8: What was the first book that you really enjoyed reading and why?

Answer: The first book that really spoke to me was Sir Terry Pratchett’s “Reaper Man”. It was dark and humours, both at the same time, and dealt with the theme in a way that I had never read before. The world that he had created was so elaborate and fully thought out, that he was able to bring me into that world and, metaphorically, wander around.

Question 9: What sort of Audience do you write for? YA, Adult, Both..?

Answer: I tend not to write for any particular age group. Come one, come all. I want my work to be enjoyed by as many different people as possible, from many different creeds and cultures, and try not to limit my work to any particular group. I feel that a good book is one that can be read and loved by anyone who picks it up. That being my premise, I write essentially for myself. If I’m not enjoying a scene then I have to change it or cut it altogether. If I’m reading it through again and find myself smiling at something I’ve written then I know it’s a winner.

Question 10: From what I’ve seen, your latest series is a bit Norse-y. What is your favourite part of writing for that type of setting? What is the best thing that you can do in that setting that you can’t in other realities?

Answer: When I first started writing the Bjorn Trilogy, I started the whole thing off with the idea that a high number of Dwarves, who have moved down south to the big city, have gone missing and a military unit would be sent out of the Dwarf King’s mines to discover what happened. I have always believed that, in fantasy, a Dwarf should have either a very Norse name or something Norse-esk. From there, I built the whole world around Norse, Scottish, Irish and Native American mythology. These are four nations that have incredibly in-depth mythologies and a long history of Folklore. I have always loved writing about the odd beings and creatures that you used to find in all the best fantasy stories, “The Grimm Brothers” for example, and so I include Dwarves, Trolls, Leprechauns; Elves, Witches, Wizards, Evil Lords, Heroes and so much more. They may all be strange characters but I try to use them in such a way that they mirror real life. I may, one day, write some urban fantasy. It’s not out with the realm of possibility. I enjoy all genres and, for instance, my NaNoWriMo entry for 2015, “The Guild Rally” was women’s fiction and when I write short stories, I delve into as many genres as possible. The only other person I can think of who has published a multi-genre collection would be Neil Gaiman with “Trigger Warning”. Everyone should read that book!

Question 11: I know that all your books on Amazon are available in paperback. Do you think it is important for readers to have a physical copy?

Answer: I do. eReaders are all good and well but there is nothing like holding a good paperback book. Turning the pages yourself; the smell of the paper; being able to turn the corner of the page; and, most importantly, the book doesn’t break when someone accidently sits on it.
I appreciate that people like eReaders because they can have hundreds of books at their fingertips but I would much rather stand in the middle of a room and have all my books around me, perfectly filed on old mahogany shelves. If you check the stats, I think that the popularity of eReaders is actually dropping, too. There are many readers deciding that, yes, they do prefer holding a nice paperback in their hands, instead of the impersonal eReader.

Question 12: On one of your books, “Bjorn Free”, you feature a large bushy beard, title, author’s name and nothing else. Can you tell us what the significance is?

Answer: I design all the covers myself (some are better than others) and I like simple covers. The only real exception to this rule would be Paul Kidby who drew Sir Terry Pratchett’s. He’s an artitsè without compare. However, because I like a nice modest book cover, with the first book I used a white background and, since the book was staged in the year of the disabled wasp, the image used was a wasp. For the second book, I wanted a black background (Red for the third). As the book is all about Dwarves and the finding of their kin in a city that noticed their arrival straight away, I felt that a big beard would do the trick. The cover as a whole is simple but the beard is very detailed and, if you look at it from the right angle, an evil witch queen can be seen. It seems to work and people do tell me they like it. The cover for “Bjorn Again”, the third in the trilogy, will be designed and drawn by a real artist, all things going the direction they are.

Question 13: Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Answer: Definitely a night owl. I tend to write when everyone else has gone to their beds and can still be at it in the late hours of the morning, depending on the next day’s schedule. I find that it helps that the world is asleep and there are no distractions. I open my laptop, load up Spotify and away I go. I am totally unable to work, if there is anything else going on in the room. I get distracted too easily and so I lock myself away in my own wee writing room and shut the world out.

Question 14: What would you say your week looks like?

Answer: I am, at present, one of these struggling artists you hear about. Due to this, I have to have another job in order to make sure the heating doesn’t get cut off and that I can enjoy other luxuries such as food.

Because I have another “real” job, I try to make sure that, when I get home at night, I get as much writing in as possible. The next time I get to write may not be as fruitful.

Question 15: Do you have a website or social media, for anyone who would like to find out more?

Answer: I am mostly on Twitter, updating and sharing tips and tweets. My blog can also be viewed on Wordpress and there you will find snippets from some of my books as well as info on when new releases are due. I post the links to the blog on Twitter each and every time so, if you follow me there and set the notifications to ‘on’, then you will not be left out when the new blog entries are released…

eMail Address: scott.blake.mcgowan@gmail.com

Wordpress Blog:  https://authormcgowanblog.wordpress.com/

Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/authormcgowan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scott-McGowan-Esq-113144208706760/

Question 16: Are there any upcoming events that you are excited about?

Answer: At present, I am still excited about the release of “Bjorn Free”, second in the Bjorn Trilogy, which was released in November. It is a book that I put my whole self into and I am immensely proud of the result. Just remember to read “Bjorn & Bread”, first in the trilogy, as well.

Author Interview Jeremy Ephe

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Jeremy Ephe. This expat is merrily dancing along the line between poet and novelist. He has a growing following on Twitter and a rather interesting slant on writing. I hope you enjoy his interview as much as I did! Let's get started!

Top 3 favorite foods?

#1 has to be mom’s lasagna, especially when she uses the spicy sausage. Yes I am comfortable enough with my sexuality to say “spicy sausage”.

#2 is my wife’s cooking, not because I have to say that either. She isn’t afraid to try new dishes all the time and makes sure I eat healthy foods.

#3. Is tequila a food group yet?

Top 3 favorite movies or TV shows?

Top 3 movies are easy and I could rant about any of them for an obnoxiously long (boring) period of time. “Life is Beautiful” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Into the Wild”.

Top 3 authors and why?

ee cummings is the reason I write, hands down. That man has a way with words that continues to inspire me. The dark side of me really enjoys to sit down with Cormac McCarthy. It has just recently been pointed out to me how much reading Ayn Rand when I was younger influenced my formidable philosophies on life. She might not be my first choice as a mentor today, but I am not going to start fibbing about my roots this early in an interview.

Where can we find previous written work?

Both of my books have been self-published on Amazon (one poetry collection and one novella) and can be found under my name Jeremy Ephe.  I continue to post new poetry on the site Allpoetry.com under the penname WV smooth.

What have you been working on more lately, poetry or fiction? Or something else?

I am always playing with poetry. My next work of fiction is in the works and is maybe two thirds of the way complete. It is going to be my first full length novel, and it is much more straight forward than my first stab at prose. I am learning the hard way that audiences don’t like to be so freaked out by an author right out of the gate. Let them know you are sane for you convince them you are crazy.

How long have you been writing?

The first time I ever got attention for my writing was in the eighth grade. I wrote a short story called “The Shoe” that was really just a metaphoric account of the death of my dog. Family members threaten to try and get it published as a children’s book to this day…twenty some years later. I can wait.

What was the first book you really loved reading and why?

I remember reading “Where the Red Ferns Grows” in middle school and bawling my eyes out. Any book that can evoke such a strong emotional response at an age when it wasn’t cool to cry has to be given accolades.

What sort of audience do you write for (YA, Adult, both)?

I don’t really write for an age range as much as mindset. My poetry challenges your attention span for sure. I think that if readers let go of a lot of the literal interpretation, the overall feel will hit them and stick.

When it comes to prose, I think I look to challenge an audience there too. My book, “Love as 8” should repulse its audience. I wanted to write a book in which there were no likable characters but I still wanted to hear laughter and cheers.

I know the books you have listed on Amazon are available in paperback. Do you think it is important for readers to have a physical copy?

Absolutely. I haven’t told many people (friends) that I write at all. Over the past year, I have bought copies of my books and mailed them to old friends out of the blue. Even if they can’t figure out how to contact me, I think it is a cool surprise to receive a random book in the mailbox. Sending that kind of magic out into the world makes me smile.

What are your thoughts on digital publishing? In your opinion, are physical books always going to exist or are they dying out?

I like to read with a pen in my hand. I make notes and revisit excerpts that I have highlighted. No doubt it is digital world, but a sand filled soggy copy of Charles Bukowski is a perfect companion for Sunday beach days.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Nighttime is never long enough. The world finally shuts up so the creative voice in my head can finally start preaching.

What would you say your week looks like? Do you have a set time to work, or is it more organic? Do you write every day?

I am totally going to steal a line from Hunter Thompson from when he was asked a similar question. “I consider myself a binge writer”. When the juices are flowing, I hit the keyboard. When the words don’t flow, I don’t force it and usually relegate myself to editing previously written chapters.

Do you write full time, or still hold down a day job?

I am an American living as an expat in a small beach town in Mexico. Life is slow, simple, and beautiful, but I need to hustle to make a buck. Writing doesn’t put many tacos in my belly.

If you had to only write one type of material, one genre for the rest of your career what would you choose?

I would love to be able to introduce myself as a poet.

Do you have a website or social media for people who would like to find out more? What’s the best way for fans to stay informed?

I have signed up on quite a few writer’s networking sites, all under the name Jeremy Ephe. I lean towards Twitter mostly to try and grab attention.

Are there any upcoming projects that you are particularly excited about?

“Cry Me Rutabaga” is upcoming novel. I am putting everything I got into that show pony.

The Cinderella Laptop

Have you tried to purchase a computer recently?

I have and it was a nightmare.

As in all things, I am incredibly picky about what I want in a laptop. Yes, I know my desktop is for processing power and has a bigger screen, etc. But lately I've been toying around with a kids book idea and a few other things that require long hours. I don't like sitting at the computer for that length of time and it's actually quite a poor angle for drawing.

With that in mind, I went searching for a replacement laptop. Mine recently had an accident with a cat that left the fan broken and the hard drive disconnected. Luckily the cat was completely fine, which is really what matters. But I was out a laptop and I thought now would be the perfect time to start looking! Black Friday, Cyber Monday, plenty of other oddly expanding sale days, how hard can it be, right?

It's a miasma of despair and hopelessness. I don't want Windows 8 or Windows 10. We all know they are awful and I hate them. I want my old reliable Windows 7, because I'm a bit of a gamer sometimes and I like my OS to not fight with my gaming choices, or worse deem them "unsafe". For anyone who is about to list a laptop on eBay or a similar site, leave the OS alone! If the customer wants to upgrade they can do that when they get it, you are losing customers who are specifically looking for a machine that hasn't crossed over to the dark side!

I want at least 6 or 8 GB of RAM, but would prefer 12 or 16, because I'm using several graphics programs that require being able to do lots of things at once. Plus, the aforementioned gaming.

I know the AMD A-Series processors are slightly better than the Intel i7, if you have dedicated graphics, which I would also like! I'm fine with accepting a hybrid graphic build, if that's the only option, as I'm not doing any 3D gaming or hooking up an Oculus Rift. I promise to supply extra cooling power to compensate for the potential heat-sink issues.

I do not need a huge hard-drive! I don't plan to really save anywhere but the thumb drive I'm working on, so no, I don't need a terabyte, not even for extra storage, I have a secure external storage drive for that, and it's already got more TB than I could ever need! Honestly, I could live with 250 GB or less and no, it doesn't have to be a solid state drive, I promise not to handle it roughly or let it leave the house and ride on mass transit.

Everyone talks about how size is the most important thing. I don't care! It can have a 17 inch screen. It could have a tiny 13 inch screen because I just need the general concepts. It could have a 7 inch screen and it would still be better than trying to do everything on my cell phone, which is where I'm at now. Don't even get me started on that. I don't care if it's big or small or heavy or light, none of that really matters. It will be set on a mobile computer stand that I'll be dragging around from room to room when I feel like
moving around a bit or need to be somewhere to supervise something like heating repair or whatever.

I would like it to have a CPU speed of 2.3 ghz or better because again, program switching and various browser tabs and such, I need it to be zippy! I would obviously prefer something over 3 ghz, but I don't think it's entirely necessary.

Given my criteria, my wholly unreasonable list of wants, you would think it might make sense for me to just

 build it myself. I tried that. They were so unbelievably expensive that it was immediately out of range. I'm not spending two grand on a laptop. I didn't even spend that on my desktop! I don't think I've even spent that on a car! Cannibalizing the parts doesn't work either, as very little is cross-compatible. Plus, we've discussed my inability to "make" things. No one wants to repeat the great Toaster Fire of '02! So, I pretty much have to buy a used laptop, which is fine. If I could just find one. I'm starting to feel a bit like Prince Charming.

I guess what this really boils down to is a plea for help. If anyone knows someone, anyone, who has a computer that fits this description, please let me know. I will travel the breadth of my kingdom, speak with all in the land, or even pay reasonable shipping and handling charges.

Maybe there's someone out there who sees this blog who knows how to upgrade laptops and could help me form a plan of attack, or even just build one. I'm really pretty desperate. I'd take something close. The evil sisters would probably be close enough at this point.


💘 Hope