What inspired the idea for your book?
My inspiration came from an epiphany moment, as my stories are all based around the site of Aphrodite’s Rock in Cyprus where I live with my family. It was by chance and then my imagination kicked in. What happened to me happens to my main character in my book and sets off a set of events that change his life, in many ways that happened to me too.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
The title “Mistress of the Rock” is the most natural one to use as it sums up the goddess of Love Aphrodite in the most perfect way and of course her birthplace which is the focal point of the story.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
Like all good storytelling, the plot has to be free-flowing, in other words, the story must have a beginning a middle, and an ending so that the story can evolve. Central to this are the characters. In my way of working, the best way I can describe and how I do it is that I think in pictures, I suppose because I have had experience with scripts in TV and radio it is easier to imagine the action, after that, I write the dialogue. It works for me as I can plan each scene.
How long have you been writing or when did you start?
If you mean writing books I suppose I started late though I did try penning a few books when I was younger those never really got off the page. My comedy career was as a freelance comedy writer for the BBC, in the late 70s and 80’s where I wrote for radio and television. In shows like “The Two Ronnie’s” “A Kick Up the 80’s” “Not the Nine O Clock News” and for Radio “Hudd Lines” and “Weekending” I also was a copywriter for JWT in London at the time one of the biggest Ad agencies in the world.
If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?
Well, I did try to make it into a movie and we had signed up Gillian Anderson of the X Files, and Peter Andre a UK recording artist, as for the other characters. I think it comes down to protocol now you have to be selective with your casting if you want to get your movie distributed. So I am open to suggestions, but to be honest I think it is best left to the casting director.
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
An idea first of all, then a plot, and finally characters, as I mentioned previously my train of thought is to write in pictures, it helps me to balance my thought process. But occasionally if I am lying awake at night I grab my book by the side of my bed and start to jot down what ideas have come into my head, which could be plot or dialogue.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I do a lot of research, I have to due to the subject matter, as my books are based on ancient antiquity I need to look at those references and also cross reference them with online sources
I find this is a good double-check on what is fact or fiction, and people’s various and different impressions of the information.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Are you sure you want to do this? Writing is a commitment and before you start think about what you are willing to sacrifice because no matter how hard you think you can do this without sacrifice you are wrong. If you think you can just sit down and write or type and you will be a best-seller, forget it. The whole process of writing a book is sheer determination a no-compromise attitude, of selfishness that will come at the expense of family or your best friends. To write is passion, it is a feeling that you alone can bring your story to life, that all you want to do is tell it. Your energy is abundant and your task to write it absolute. But even if you do write it and finish it. You then have to decide where I publish it. How do I publish it? Traditional Big Five publishers require an agent; how do I find one of those? Self-publishing can be expensive if done well, but beware soon as you start looking down this road, you will encounter the cowboys of the book world, the vanity publishers who will say your book is a masterpiece and you only need to pay them $5,000 to get it printed. Of course, there are many different ways to publish explore them and find the right one for you.
Do you prefer e-books, printed books, or audiobooks most of the time?
I have never tried an audiobook; it is something I have thought about for my books. As far as
E-books go I have a Kindle and occasionally use it. But for me, there is no better feeling than holding your book in paperback or hardback in your hands and slowly turning the pages and watching your story evolve.
At what point do you think someone should call themselves a writer?
I think being a writer can best be summed up when you have completed your story. Whether it’s a book, a poem, or a script. Once you have written it you are a writer.