The Author Interview this week is Malcolm Hollingdrake , author of The Harrogate Crime Series and more.
At school, were you good at English?
Not really, but I was always full of ideas and enjoyed the process of storytelling. I found spelling challenging and as I was one of the first to be taught the ‘progressive’ way in the hope grammar would be learned through osmosis, I always felt disadvantaged. However, I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the creative subject for more than thirty years.
What have you written to date?
I have written seventeen books and published sixteen books to date along with a number of successful short stories. I adore writing shorts as I find the parameters controlling in a positive way, allowing greater focus on the vocabulary and pace. I have one standalone novel, ‘Bridging the Gulf’, thirteen books in the Harrogate Series originally published by Bloodhound Books but now self-published and the Merseyside Series comprising three books published by Hobeck Books.
What are you working on at present?
Nothing! I have just sent the manuscript of ‘Edge of the Land’, book three in the Merseyside Series, to Hobeck Books. I have finished two books this year and I feel as though a break is needed.
Where do your ideas come from?
My ideas come from the strangest of places – a chance meeting, a news item, a building or a room! Sometimes it only needs one word for a seed to be sown. I find I will then spend a lot of time developing the idea in my head. Strangely, during the writing process it never ceases to amaze me how serendipity comes into play, coincidences, places, people seem to just fall into place developing the story and moving it in directions I had not considered.
The idea for the latest book, ‘Edge of the Land’, came to me a while back and it has been on the back burner whilst I wrote ‘Trapped Secrets’, book thirteen in the Harrogate Series. Seeing a working canal boat travel through the locks near Liverpool was the lightbulb moment.
For your own reading, do you prefer eBooks or paperbacks?
I’ve never been a reader of fiction and certainly not the crime genre. I prefer non-fiction. However, I do enjoy audiobooks as this allows me to work on something practical whilst listening. The last book I enjoyed was ‘Everyday Kindness’, the charity anthology edited by L J Ross.
Do you proofread/edit your own books or do you get someone else to do it?
When I finish the manuscript I hand it to my wife, Debbie, who will read it in one sitting to check it works as a story and a story within the series. She will then write the blurb/Synopsis as it is something I find impossible. She will then proof it. The book then goes to a professional proof reader who has worked with me now for some time. After that it goes to a friend who has the eyes of a hawk. It will then go to the publisher or be self-published.
When I was first published, I had a bad experience of poor editing and proofing. I believed it normal that authors did not receive a copy for edit! I soon learned. Having a good editor is vital for successful publishing. When you are new to the game it is easy to fail to see some of the pitfalls.
How are you publishing your books? Indie, traditional or both?
I am now a hybrid author. I self-publish my Harrogate Series and I have a three-book contract with Hobeck Books for the Merseyside. At the beginning I had a seven-book contract with my first publisher. However, I managed to receive my rights for the books and self-published the series with new cover designs. It is good to have a foot in both camps and there are pros and cons for each way. Self-publishing is hard work and can be expensive but what every author needs is a little bit of luck added along the way.
What are your views on social media?
Without social media I would not be writing this! It is a vital tool to meet and communicate with readers and authors. To be part of the many different groups has been a lifeline in both good and bad times. When imposter syndrome kicks in, receiving a positive comment from a friend or reader/blogger can be the inspiration to continue to write. I know social media can be seen as a pit of nastiness, it is also filled with genuine and honest people. Treat it fairly and it gives back. I must thank the many groups who have supported my writing and brought me back from the brink when I thought I should close the laptop for good.
Do you write every day?
I try to write a thousand words a day. That will mean reading what has gone before, editing and then continuing. I need to do this as I never work to a plan. I’m a ‘pantser’ by choice!
How can readers discover more about your books?
The best way is to chat. Contact me through social media or take a look at my website: malcolmhollingdrakeauthor.co.uk