Smashwords Interview - Part 2

This is the second part of a Q&A originally published on my author page at Smashwords.com.What do you read for pleasure?If I’m reading purely for pleasure, nine times out of ten it will be fantasy fiction. The idea of being able to slip away and go exploring in an alternative world has a perpetual attraction for me. Cliché though it may be, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ made a huge impact on me when I first read it and saw the films in my early-mid teens. Then, at around the same time, a friend introduced me to the work of Terry Pratchett and I quickly became hooked on the Discworld series. The warmth, humanity and sheer intelligence of Pratchett’s writing make every book sparkle and he remains to this day my literary hero. More recently, two authors whose work I particularly enjoyed are Patrick Rothfuss and Brandon Sanderson: the worlds and plots created by both are richly detailed and full of well-realised characters. I’m also a fan of a number of authors who write primarily for children and teenagers, including Brian Jacques, Philip Pullman, Frances Hardinge and Michael Hoeye.Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?I did most of my growing up in a small town in Derbyshire, surrounded by huge hills and cliffs - a beautiful and dramatic landscape. My imagination used to populate the countryside with fictional characters, both those taken from books and films, and those of my own creation. To the child I was then, the open spaces seemed so vast that there might be anything out there!It was also a safe area, for the most part, so as I got a bit older I tended to go out wandering by myself. That and the fact that I was an only child gave me plenty of mental space to daydream, and I certainly needed no other encouragement!What motivated you to become an indie author?The opportunities that this mode of publishing offers. If you take advantage of all of the services which are available to help produce and distribute your book, you can have a reach which is comparable to that of traditional publishing, which is fantastic! Of course, the other big advantage is that you can do everything on your own terms. I won’t say that that same independence doesn’t have its challenges (it does!), but I’ve learned a lot about how the e-book industry works, and about the mechanics of producing an e-book, in the process of getting my first one out there.Describe your desk.Wherever I happen to be when I’m writing! As I started writing while I was still at school, I got into the habit of always carrying my notebook with me and fitting in as much wordsmithing as I could, whenever I could. That habit persisted all the way through university too. After I graduated the notebook was replaced with a netbook, and I still write whenever and wherever I can: the corners of pubs while my partner does his sound engineering work, the decommissioned boiler room at my workplace (no, really – it’s quite cosy!), the local library and, of course, those favourite writers’ haunts: cafes!When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?Music is the other big occupation in my life: I play keyboards and sing, and at any given time am usually trying to learn at least one other instrument as well... I spend a lot of time listening to music too. I’ll try anything once and my CD collection ranges from film soundtracks and musical theatre to indie rock, disco, world music and metal!I also enjoy sewing, especially in the context of creating costumes. I first dipped my toes into the colourful world of fandom and conventions a few years ago, and quickly became hooked: there’s a wonderful, instant sense of camaraderie to be found wherever people meet together dressed as fictional characters.Originally published at:http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/GRForrest