Which city or town did you grow up in?
I grew up in Glasgow in Scotland where I went to school and got my first motivation to write. I was born in castle in Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire. But before you jump to conclusions, it was a maternity hospital. I was friends with Billy Connelly, the comedian, who was a year higher in school than I was.
Were you a big reader as a kid too? If so, what were some of your favorite books then?
They were mainly schoolboy type books e.g. my first book ever was Rip Foster Rides the Grey Planet. It was story about mining an asteroid. I can’t even remember the author. Then I read books like Davy Crocket. But my favourite books were Ian Fleming’s James Bond series.
Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?
That has got to be my wife, Rita. She tolerates the hours I spend alone in front of my computer. She, too, is an avid reader and proofreads all my efforts and can be highly critical which is great. She certainly doesn’t hold back when critiquing.
What made you realize that you wanted to be a writer?
My dad. He tried to write several novels and failed. That was, of course, before the days of word processors and computers. He used to write in school exercise books but never finished any. He didn’t really know enough about his subject to succeed. All his books started with the same sentence… It was a dark and foggy night in London. But he’d never been to the city so had no idea of its geography. That’s why I write about my own experiences and things that I know.
Do you remember the first suspense novel you ever read?
Ouch! That is a tough one. It would almost certainly have been one by Alistair Maclean, the Scottish author, but I didn’t read his books in sequence, so I can’t remember. If I had to guess, I would say it was The Cruel Sea, but I can’t be sure. I only like his earlier books. His later ones changed significantly. Other early suspense novels I read included Hammond Innes, another British author.
How long did it take you to complete your first novel?
8 Years. I started it and then got de-motivated. When I finally went back to it, I finished it in 6 months. It was a story that was incubating inside me for a much longer time. By the time I got down to finishing it, I had all the scenes pictured in my head, but I must say that I’m not a plotter – more of a pantser.
Having the ideas thought out did speed up my writing process. I didn’t plan my later books because I much enjoy learning the story as I go along. It’s a bit like being a reader but even more fun if that is even possible.
Who inspired the character of Brad Willis?
I think it was Ian Fleming, he is a mixture of James Bond and me. My friends tell me that Brad is my alter ego. I’m not as adventurous or as brave as Brad is though. I have travelled a lot, and that helps as I can write scenes that I remember from experience. I had a job that took me all over the world and that helps me a lot.
How did you come up with the plot of your novel, SHADES OF WHITE?
I had started a similar novel a few years earlier. But I couldn’t make the plot believable and make it work, so I rehashed it and changed the main plot significantly. It takes place in Antarctica and it’s such a wonderful and beautiful place to write about. Shades of white is a term often used there to describe the ice and glaciers. They are many shades of green, blue, purple and yellow, while still remaining white. It is indeed wonderful. The plot had to take advantage of the continent’s isolation and extreme conditions. Of course, knowing about how astronomy was conducted at the south pole also helped immensely. I was able to include some of that (but not too much) into the story. All the science in my books is accurate.
How many books do you plan to write in the "Brad Willis Adventures" series?
I have just finished my third Brad Willis adventure, and I am waiting for the cover design to be produced. The third book rounds off the common story running through all three books, but I am already working on a fourth story, and it is progressing well. There are even some ideas for one after that. I am now addicted to writing. I’m not sure when it will end. The plan will be to continue as long as I enjoy the process.
What are some important elements of good writing?
Obviously having strong characters and a believable plot. But some conflict is also important (and a little romance) No one expects the hero to be killed, but it has to be a distinct possibility to keep the story alive and exciting. If the reader doesn’t know when the last book in the series will be, then that makes the unthinkable possible. The secret must be to keep surprising your reader.
When did you decide to become a full time fiction novelist?
It wasn’t a decision I made. It just happened. I discovered that I enjoyed writing books even more than reading them. It was satisfying to be in control and yet to let the story have a life of its own. I never know how it will end until it happens. (My first book was the exception) I have never suffered from writers’ block – touch wood – usually I can’t wait to get back to writing to see how the story ends. That’s great source of motivation to have.
How has been your experience of being an astronomer?
Being an astronomer has been pivotal in helping me succeed. It is the exact opposite of my dad’s failure to write. Here was a subject that I understood, as well as the interactions between scientists that helped it become alive. Knowing the locations helped immensely too. I have been an astronomer since I was eleven. A friend brought a small telescope into school and I was hooked. Astronomy is a wonderful obsession to have. When you look really far into space the whole Universe opens up to you. There is so much variety to see, but it’s also something that seldom changes. The things I looked at when I was eleven, that day at school, are still there. Sure, the moon and planets move, but they, themselves, are almost the same as when I first saw them, and distant galaxies never change during a lifetime.
Do you write- everyday, 5 days a week, on weekends, etc? What are some of the things you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
I try and write every day even if only for a few hours. But I am not obsessive about it. If on a given day, I don’t feel like it, I don’t but will use the opportunity to rest and recuperate. However, my mind is always working on the plot – even in bed. To keep fit I do Nordic Walking. That’s using poles to help you speed along faster and for longer. I also give lectures to local astronomical societies, but that is something that has dropped off since COVID.
Which is the next project you are working on?
As I have already mentioned, I have finished the third adventure and started on the fourth. As an astronomer I have given lectures on cruise ships but this stopped due to the pandemic, but I will likely start doing that again. I keep descriptive notes when the ship stops at ports to possibly use in future books. I even have an idea for a series of murders taking place on an ocean liner involving well-known personalities. Let’s wait and see.
How did you first come across the AllAuthor website? What do you like or dislike about the site?
I found AllAuthor when I was searching for sites for authors. It immediately attracted me because I recognised authors using it whom I knew and respected. It is a very user-friendly site. At first, I found it difficult to identify authors to follow. They seemed to be writing across multiple genres, but that is sorted now. It would be great if you could promote to more social media sites.
