Author interview with Mike Turner
Author of The Many Worlds Bazaar
Welcome to Mike Turner…
What inspired you to embark on a writing career, and how did your journey as an author begin?
I absolutely love stories, reading and writing them. There’s nothing better. I could get lost in a book, and when my mind is on crafting one of my own, the feeling is much the same: I am at one with the characters on their journey and having a lot of fun with it.
Can you describe your writing process? Do you follow a structured outline, or is your approach more organic?
I’m definitely a plotter. Once an idea strikes, I tend to bounce it around in my head for a little while until it takes shape. Then I draft plot-lines for all the main characters using a flipchart and Post-its. After that, it’s all about getting it out. Writing essentially becomes a series of connected short stories, and the process is all the more enjoyable for it. Then: edit, edit, edit.
Which authors or books have significantly influenced your writing style and thematic choices?
I tend to read across multiple genres, but my go-to favourites are the usual household names such as: Stephen King, Lee Child, David Baldacci, J K Rowling, Garth Nix, Philip Pulman, Kazui Ishiguro, Tess Gerritsen, Will Carver, Sophie Kinsella, Cixin Liu, Linwood Barclay, and Ken Follett. My favourite reads have to be: Wolf Hall, Pillars Of The Earth, The Three Body Problem, I Am Pilgrim, Great Expectations, and Remains Of The Day
How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life, and what strategies do you employ to maintain this equilibrium?
I try to keep busy all the time. I never get bored. There’s always something to do … not always what I should be doing, of course. I play games too, read a lot, I enjoy walking, biking, and even like to have a go at designing my own book covers, though I did commission an artist for the early draft of artwork I used for The Many Worlds Bazaar.
What challenges have you encountered in your writing career, and how have you overcome them?
I have so many ideas for stories and want to write all of them at once, and struggling to decide which one to start on can often lead to me not starting any.
Could you share insights into your current or upcoming projects that you’re particularly excited about?
I’m at the proof copy stage of publishing three new novels (Trouble Shooter, Thrill Seeker & Unfinished Business) and also a novella (A New Beginning). When these are done I plan to complete a novel I am currently two thirds of the way through. Then it’s on to the next instalment of the Many Worlds Saga – for which I have a six book series in mind.
How do you handle periods of writer’s block or creative stagnation?
I don’t really have writer’s block, though I do have days where I’m just plain lazy. I don’t consider this the same thing, though both will affect output, for sure. Basically: sit down and write and don’t stress over the quality of output. Often, I find, that when I read it back it’s not nearly as bad as I imagined. That is not to say that it doesn’t still need work. I also belong to a writer’s group. Once a month there is a prompted-writing session; you are given a prompt, the clock starts immediately, and 45-60 minutes later you’re done. There’s no time to think, you just write. I can’t think of a better way to inspire you to create. Just do it.
What advice would you offer to aspiring authors navigating the path to publication?
If writing is something you enjoy then you should write regardless. I write for myself first and foremost. But of course I want others to read my stories and enjoy them. I find motivation in meeting with other people who also like to write. Writers, I’ve found, are only too willing to share in their experiences and offer help and advice.
How important are book reviews to you?
Very important, though reviews are not always easy to come by. I need to get better at promoting my work. I really like my stories and I am sure others will too, if they know they exist. Online reviews can definitely help inform a would-be reader that your work is worth their time, and for readers who are kind enough to leave reviews, I am very grateful. It’s even better when they spread the word and encourage friends and family to pick up a copy too.
Author bio:
Mike spent a quarter of a century ‘slave to the grind’ before venturing out into the world of fantasy and fiction. Like any self-respecting bookworm he devoured stories with a most voracious appetite, intrigued by the hooks that compel pages to be turned.
The Many Worlds Bazaar is the first instalment of The Many Worlds saga, a rip-roaring fantasy adventure laced with humour that is genuinely laugh-out-loud, and will leave you eager for more.
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