Interview with Shaun Allan

Shaun Allan

Interview Date: 4/10/2012


When did you start writing, and was there a significant event that prompted you to do so?

I’ve written, so I’m told, from being very young.  I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t, to be honest.  I used to, apparently, make up stories and draw pictures to go along with them, though my art skills aren’t, now, as good as my literary skills hopefully are!  The one point that really made me want to be a ‘proper’ author, though, was when our English teacher read To Kill A Mockingbird to the class.  We were spellbound (he was an excellent reader) and I wanted to have that effect on people.  Since then I tried various novels, but was so not ready, so ‘honed’ my craft in short stories and poems.


If you could have one superpower, what would it be? (Assuming said power would be reasonably "powerful.")

To make cooked bacon out of anything. I do love a bacon sandwich. Or, of course, to be able to fly. I love flying and have had a good few flying (small plane) lessons. Plus, I might actually enjoy going to work!

Kev's response:  I'm still waiting for that odd person to come up and say they'd like something along the lines of "super-fast running on all fours" or "speed crawling."


Do you have a favorite superhero from novels, comics, or movies?

SO many. I used to avidly read the X-Men and the Avengers, and I had 200AD from when it first came out! My favourites, I suppose, would be Spiderman and Storm. Spiderman probably because he’s a geek made good, and Storm because she can control the elements!


Where do you get your inspiration for writing? What motivates you?

Everything. And anything. A conversation, a roadsign, something on the tv or radio, a memory, anything. It can all crop up in my writing at some point or prompt an idea.


Do you pre-plan your stories, or are you a by-the-seat-of-the-pants style writer?

Absolutely seat of the pants. I think, sometimes, I should try to plan them, but I can’t. I like how I’m surprised by what happens, plus, I don’t want to put words into the mouths of my characters. Some, such as Sin, have plenty to say themselves! I prefer it that way, though. It makes it more of a ride than a journey.

Kev's response:  You too?  I really love the times when I'm writing what I "see" in my mind's eye, and something from way out in left field pops up and even I'm left there thinking, "What the heck just happened here?"


Do you write only when inspired, or do you have a set schedule where you sit down to write?

I write when I can. I have such a busy job and family life, I can go days without ‘penning’ a word. Thankfully, I have Sin’s blog to keep my hand in. Each entry is a mini-story almost so I only have to write 350-500 words and can at least get one a week done!

I really wish I could find the time to write more, but it’s no wonder Sin took ten years!

 

Do you have a favorite genre to write in? To read?
I don’t pick the genre, the genre picks me – writing wise, at least. I don’t, usually, plan a story. I get an idea, or a character name or a sentence and that’s it. I find out what I’m writing about when it’s done! For many of my blog entries, I have the first sentence and go from there, with no idea what it will be about.

 

Where reading is concerned, I’ve changed genres as time has gone by. I started off with Science Fiction, reading all of Asimov’s and Clarke’s books, then moved onto fantasy, with Terry Brooks and David Eddings. Now I’m more of a Stephen King/Dean Koontz person, and as such feel very humbled that Sin has been compared to both of these.


What do you enjoy the most about writing?

Visiting other places or other lives. Finding out what’s going to happen next.
Is there any part of writing that you don't enjoy?
Apart from not having time enough to do it, no.  I love writing, and I love that other people enjoy my creations.

Kev's response:  Hmm, I knew zombies or other Frankensteineque monsters would be involved here!


Can you tell me something odd about yourself?
I’m a writer.  You’ve got to be a little odd to do that, haven’t you?  Hmmm...  Off the top of my head, no, though my family and friends might say I’m a little strange – which I take as a compliment!  Loud’n’proud!

Kev's response:  No, no no no ... YES!  There might be a tiny bit of the odd about many of us (writers).  Maybe.


Do you write one story at a time, or do you have several novels in the works at one time?
I have several. Whilst Sin was being written I wrote other short stories and a children’s poetry collection called Zits’n’Bits.  Now sin is finished, I still write his blog, have done a Christmas follow up to Zits’n’Bits (Rudolph Saves Christmas) and am almost done with a new children’s book.  And the sequel to Sin is started too!


Where do you see the future as far as paper books versus digital e-books?
Strange you should ask this. About 15 years ago I ran an online poetry and prose magazine that had submissions from around the world. This gained the attention of Sky TV and I appeared on their now defunct technology channel in a debate, against someone from Curtis Brown, on the pros and cons of traditional publishing as opposed to online. I never dreamed that, way back then, that you’d be able to carry a library in your back pocket! As much as technology moves on, though, so many people still love the feel of a ‘real’ book in their hands, and I think it will be a good while before that goes.


What are your current projects?
Well, as I mentioned, I have Sin’s blog, which is ongoing and is his diary from within his asylum. There’s the sequel to sin, called Mortal Sin, which is started, and I have a children’s book almost finished about the youngest of three witches who have lost their powers. I wrote 30,000 words of this in the middle of writing Sin, and forgot about it. It’s now been resurrected and is close to being finished.

Kev's response:  Oooh, resurrected zombie witches from the asylum of doom!  Or something like that.  :)


Do you have any advice for others about self-publishing?
Go for it. But edit and clean up first. Make it the best you can, don’t just throw it up. Be prepared that writing is only part of the job and you have to jump aboard the promotion wagon, but it’s well worth it and you can be sure to meet some wonderful people along the way.


Do you have any online sites where readers can find out more about you (and your books)?
I do.  There’s my own website at http://www.shaunallan.co.uk/a>, there’s Sin’s blog at http://singularityspoint.glogspot.com, I’m on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/singularityspoint and on Twitter at @singularityspnt.  Sin is also on Facebook at @SinNotSinful.  Autographed print copies of Sin are available from my website, and the Kindle versions can be bought from Amazon at (US) http://amzn.to/sinEBUS/a> and (UK) http://amzn.to/SinEBUK

Thank you very much for the opportunity to appear on your wonderful site.

-

Regards

 

Shaun Allan

 

Sin on Amazon: http://amzn.to/SinEBUS or http://amzn.to/SinEBUK

Website: http://www.shaunallan.co.uk

Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/shaunallan

Sin's Blog: http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com

TTwitter: @singularityspnt


Kev's response:  Shaun, thank you for joining me.  My apologies for the pokes, but now you have to write about zombie witches.  You HAVE to....  Good fortune!
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