Author Q&A with Sean Clarke

Sean Clarke is an author of urban fantasy who lives in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, Scotland. His two current works are A Hunter Rises & Captain Hudson and the Red Ghosts. Both are available to read in Kindle Unlimited.

1. Tells us about your writing/ published books?

I have two published books out right now. The first is a multi-POV urban fantasy novel called “A Hunter Rises.” It’s a story about a disillusioned hunter searching for the key to elemental magic before the forces of evil can get their hands on it. “A Hunter Rises” is the first book in the Jacob Crestmore Trilogy. It was originally titled “Crestmore: The Lost Elmkey” but proved impossible to market with such an obscure name. You can read “A Hunter Rises” in Kindle Unlimited. The second book is a novelette titled “Captain Hudson and the Red Ghosts.” It’s a dark fantasy story that follows a side character from “A Hunter Rises.” It’s also available in Kindle Unlimited.

2. Tell me about your current work?

I’m working on a few projects right now. My main project is the sequel to “A Hunter Rises“ which will be called “Fallen Angel.” I’ve also completed 95% of the work on a short comedy story for young adults and will be releasing it under a different pen name so as not to alienate my current readers. They expect urban fantasy, so I don’t want to confuse or disappoint them. Oh, and then there’s my horror novel set in Ardrossan, the town I grew up in. It will also be released under a different pen name for the same reason as above.

3. How do you approach starting a new book?

With a great deal of excitement. Of course, there’s always a fear things could go wrong but the sense of wonder is enough to keep me going. I’ll generally start with an idea and work my way from there. The story usually comes before the characters but once I’m content with both, I’ll start tying them together and establishing the themes of the book with each subsequent draft. It’s all very methodical.

4. How do you fit writing into your everyday life?

Sometimes, with great difficulty. I think most authors would love to write for a living. Of course, that’s not reality for most of us. I’m still trying to establish myself so sometimes it’s tough to justify my hard work to others. I also have a six-year-old son at home who was recently diagnosed with McCune’s Albright Syndrome. He needs a lot of care, but he’s a brave little soldier. My partner, Samantha is very supportive in general, especially when it comes to my writing career. She pushes me to keep going when I’m struggling to motivate myself.

5. How do you handle criticism?

I’m an expert at handling any criticism of my writing. Which is surprising considering how much I hate criticism in other parts of my life. There’s always a lesson to learn from constructive criticism and while it’s important not to let one person’s opinion sway you too much, there’s something to be said for constructive criticism across the board, where it’s obvious something is wrong and needs fixed. Destructive criticism I always ignore. Some people are just mean/jealous or a horrifying mix of the two.

6. What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?

I would tell them not to get too bogged down in the process. There’s a lot of bad advice out there for writers. Everyone has a different way of working. What works for them might not work for someone else. It’s important an individual writes their own way. If you don’t know your own process, then you’ll certainly discover it along the way. I wish I’d known this before I spent six years working on my first book. I had a specific way of working but second-guessed myself at every turn because it didn’t align with the advice I saw online. Now, I’m aware of my own process, so it’s a lot easier the second time around.

This or That…

Short books or long books?

Long Books

Romance or Fantasy?

Fantasy

Ebooks, Paperbacks or Audiobooks?

Paperbacks

Finally, what’s the best piece of advice someone has given you about writing, marketing, or just generally about life?

Hmm, that’s a tough one. In terms of writing, I’d say the best bit of advice I’ve ever been given was to work on my brand. Keep it consistent and always look professional. For advice that works in everyday life, I’d say it’s important not to let the past drag you down. Everyone makes mistakes but it’s important to learn from them and become a better person.

Where can you find Sean?

Twitter

Website

Author Q&A with Sean Clarke