Can
you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Martin Russell spends his
last coins on a bus ride out of the city with barely enough motivation to face
the future. The story follows Martin as he at first rebuilds his life and then
when his world shatters around him. His girlfriend has a secret world of which
he knew nothing and Martin's world goes tumbling out of control, until he turns
to his old friend John Staples
better known as Pin-up, who enlists the disgraced ex cop Bobby Tanner,
who has a chance to once again prove himself..
Do you have a favorite character?
Do you have a favorite character?
I really love both Pin-up
and Bobby Tanner
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?
Bobby Tanner did not even
exist when I was half way through writing the story, his malevolent as a
character and personality in his own right drove and guided the story to its
conclusion.
Did
you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
Yes I did, and it was
only by fluke I stumbled across my publishers, Limitless, via Facebook, no
less!
How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
About three years, I was
happy self publishing, but knew I needed a professional team behind me if I was
to make any significant headway with a career as an author.
What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?
What factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?
Hobson's Choice!
Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?
Both the Out of Hand series,
of which Hand Over Fist is the first will be published by Limitless, but
I will continue to self publish my short story anthologies
If you used a graphic
designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative
process for your cover?
Not too much involvement whatsoever, I actually do
not like my cover, but I bow to the commercial acumen of the professionals.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?
Just 'follow my nose,' all my novels have evolved
form short stories I have written, and the situations or characters nag at me
until I explore their back stories.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Yes- over a period of time I have two editors who I find inspirational in their help and advice
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
Yes- over a period of time I have two editors who I find inspirational in their help and advice
What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?
I greatly enjoyed self publishing, but it is a
solitary experience.- don't be driven by the quest for financial security.
However the odd email with a little bit of praise for your writing is worth so
much more.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
I would say it is almost impossible, I spent my life
marketing and selling, I hate having to do it all over again
What’s next for you?
Three books coming out this year. The follow up to Hand
Over Fist, entitled Out of Hand, a feel good romance, Chasing
What's Already Gone, and another short story anthology
BLURB:
When an old friend disappears, Martin learns nothing is what it seems…
Martin Russell can barely face the future. With dismal life prospects and an estranged family, he is at the end of his rope. When an old friend, Hannah, elbows her way back into his life, Martin’s luck begins to turn around.
Hidden within the shadows of evil, there must be some good…
Ex-policeman Bobby Tanner lost everything one rage-filled night. Now he runs a reading group for alcoholics where he meets a young drug dealer, Zack, who disturbs him in a way that’s hard to define. Bobby soon discovers the teenager is in over his head and has been dealing with a despicable individual known as The Chemist.
The roots of evil run deeper than we imagine…
Martin’s lucky streak begins to unravel when Hannah suddenly goes missing, and he turns to a friend of a friend, Bobby, for help. Thrust into an underworld empire of corruption and half-truths, he learns his friend may not be who he thought she was.
In a shadowed world of deception, stalkers, and despicable drug dealers, Bobby and Martin must uncover the truth, and fast…
Several lives depend on it.
Martin Russell can barely face the future. With dismal life prospects and an estranged family, he is at the end of his rope. When an old friend, Hannah, elbows her way back into his life, Martin’s luck begins to turn around.
Hidden within the shadows of evil, there must be some good…
Ex-policeman Bobby Tanner lost everything one rage-filled night. Now he runs a reading group for alcoholics where he meets a young drug dealer, Zack, who disturbs him in a way that’s hard to define. Bobby soon discovers the teenager is in over his head and has been dealing with a despicable individual known as The Chemist.
The roots of evil run deeper than we imagine…
Martin’s lucky streak begins to unravel when Hannah suddenly goes missing, and he turns to a friend of a friend, Bobby, for help. Thrust into an underworld empire of corruption and half-truths, he learns his friend may not be who he thought she was.
In a shadowed world of deception, stalkers, and despicable drug dealers, Bobby and Martin must uncover the truth, and fast…
Several lives depend on it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
It
was a strange and twisting road that led to the publication of my first novel.
From my humble beginnings, as an office clerk, to ownership of a multi-million
dollar business I always maintained my love for literature.
Born
and raised in Bristol, England. I spent most of my life in business, my
companies turning over in the region of $500 million. The majority of that time
marketing cars, eventually owning the largest Saab specialist in the world,
before a bitter divorce forced me rethink my priorities. Particularly between
2003 and 2005 when I had to accept that I was no longer a millionaire but
literally penniless. I avoided bankruptcy by the skin of my teeth and slowly
rebuilt my life.
This
led me to the life changing decision to leave the bustling city and move to
live halfway up a mountain in the Welsh valleys. At the same time I started a
part time six year English Literature course at Bristol University, and
attended creative writing classes at Cardiff University. I left school at
sixteen and this was my first taste of further education and an immense
challenge.
I
eventually adjusted my thinking to the academic life, and on 30 June 2015 had
confirmation of my 2.1(Hons) degree from Bristol University. At the same time I
also won the prestigious Hopkins Prize for my essay on Virginia Woolf and the
unsaid within her text. Now the university courses are finished it will, with
any luck, gives me plenty of extra time that I can devote to my fiction
writing.
Thanks
to the university experiences, my interest in English literature has flourished
over recent years. Hopefully I have evolved as a writer from my earlier work in
short stories (over ninety of them.) Although interestingly my first three
novels have all been developed from a long forgotten short story.
Life
is, once again, very good, and I live very happily halfway up a mountain, in
the Welsh Valleys, with my wonderful partner Mari, and our rescue dog Wolfie.
Facebook www.facebook.com/michaelross.writer
Twitter
@mikerosswriter
Website
www.michaelrosswriter.com
Goodreads Mike Ross
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