Welcome — or welcome back — to another Author Spotlight! If you’re new and want to know more about how the series got started, go check out the introduction post.
Today the spotlight is on self proclaimed sarcastic gentleman, Simon Williams, author of the TORN trilogy.
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Let’s start with the most important. What’s your most recent/next book, and where can we go to learn more about it and you?
My most recent book that I published was TORN 3, the final book of my TORN trilogy memoir about my personal dealing with a situation in my life over 5 years that left me depressed and considering suicide. I am just finishing up my next book, 12 vital lessons for every father to teach their son. Then I have a series of books on stories of my travel adventures during the course of my life. Provisionally titled, Stories on how to travel the improper way by Rick Steve’s arch nemesis.
If you want to learn more about me then you will find every juicy morsel of dirty personal laundry inside the TORN books starting with this one.
Do you have a favorite book/story among the one’s you’ve written? Why is it so special to you?
The one I am writing now, 12 vital lessons for every father to teach their son, because if you knew the story of my first three you would see how important it is for me to give my son every opportunity in life by passing on all the things that I have learnt about how the world really works. Good, bad and indifferent. We only get one go around at life, the more you can work out before you have to screw up, the better.
Do you drink coffee/tea? Do you find you drink more coffee/tea when you’re working on a book?
I drink tea when writing because I like to write early in the morning. I love to be calm and relaxed when writing so tea is way more soothing a drink to put me in that frame of mind. Coffee I may have when getting home from work and having to quickly add or make some changes that came to me during the day. But nothing beats a hot cup of tea, the sun coming up over the horizon and everyone in the family still in bed so it is nice and quiet in the house.
What is the hardest scene you’ve ever written?
The opening of my first book where I am standing on my balcony wanting to die. I didn’t start off with the book this way, it took me 2 years before I finally had the balls to explain what I was doing writing a book and it was because I could no longer deal with the pain in my life and I wanted to get it all out. So the original beginning was very humorous and light as a way for me to hide behind the words, but as I got stronger and stronger I realized I had to go back and face my demons and so I rewrote the first chapter.
Can you read other things when you’re working on a book, or do you have to stick with writing?
I can do nothing else when writing. I get obsessive about it. Possibly because the topic of my first three books is so intense and personal. But now I am more relaxed about it and finding I can do other things when I first get home before sitting down to do some writing.
Do you write in a linear or non-linear fashion?
I write in such a non-linear stream of consciousness fashion that I can tie my story up in an undecipherable knot. Then I just break out of it and get back to the heart of the story. But it is so much more fun to write this way.
What is one question you’ve always wanted to be asked in an interview?
Who is your favourite member of the Beatles. Answer. Mick Jagger.
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That’s a wrap. You can take a look at Mr. Williams’ books on his Amazon author page and learn a bit more about him on his website.
Have you read any of Mr. Williams’ books? Are you looking forward to his future books? Do you like to read memoirs? Leave me a comment below with your thoughts.
I hope you all have a great day!