Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Author Q&A With Simon E Bond



Author Simon E. Bond has recently been added to my read list, having penned the excellent 5 Day Festival. He is in Indie Author, and like many out there, needs help from you - the readers, the bloggers and yes....other authors to get the word out there.

This is a brief insight into Simon. His contact links are below!

Thank you to Simon for taking time to answer the questions!

Tell us why did you start writing? 

I was made redundant last November from my old job i heard a lot about indie authors and decided to give it a go for myself, also writing helps me escape from the real world.

Where do you get your ideas from?

Any idea that happens to pop into my head, i quickly note them down so i don't forget them.


5 Day Festival

Your vampire book, 5 Day Festival pays homage to the likes of The Lost Boys, and perhaps 28 Days Later too. But where did the original concept for the story come from? 

I was sat watching Glastonbury on the TV one day and thought it would be a great idea to mix horror with a huge social gathering, and from that i just went with the idea deciding a short story would probably work best at the time. 

What was the first vampire / horror themed book that you read?

Hmmm, Bram stoker's Dracula i think.

What was the first vampire / horror themed film that you saw?

Lost Boys of course.

Best horror villain – and why!

Micheal Myers from Halloween, still freaks me out to this day, amazing what horrors are hidden behind a mask.

What is your all time favourite book, and why?

1984 George Orwell because of it's scary vision of society's future, i will stop there.
  
Have you read books where the plot was great but the character development was poor, and vice versa? Was it enough for you to finish the book (s)?

I have not arrived at such a scenario just yet, what i have read so far both elements seemed to work just right together.

What is the most disappointing book you have read?

I don't think i have read anything of disappointment, each book has felt like a good adventure in it's own way.

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Tell us about the difficulties you had in order to get published.

None at the moment.

What is your favourite book of the ones you have written?

It has to be Credit Rush my first book in a science fiction space opera series, i plan to release 3 books in total followed by numerous back stories for each of the characters.

What was the first book you ever read?

Now that is a difficult one.

E-Readers are very popular now. What was the first book you read on your e-reader?

First book i read on my amazon fire was Dracula, and Phone Monkey "The Secret Diary of a frustrated Call Worker"

Which authors inspire you to read?

Stephen King, and all indie authors.
    
Which authors inspire you to write? 

All indie authors, but i am a fan of Micheal Robertson he pulls no punches with his books.

Have you read a book that really surprised you, in that it looked okay, but turned out to be much better?

Yes, Killing the dead by Richard Murray it tells the story of a serial killer who is surrounded by the undead.  I thought it would be your average zombie read i gave it a go and was very surprised.  The concept of a serial killer and the undead worked a treat and it felt refreshingly different.

What is your favourite book series and why?

The Crash Series, by Author Micheal Robinson.

Who is your favourite heroine?

Supergirl, she looks good in a cape.

Who is your favourite hero?

Han Solo.
  
Do you think there are many original stories out there, or is everyone re-hashing The Hunger Games and Twilight to death?

There are a lot of original stories out there, but i do find there is a lot of re-hashing of zombie stories fight for survival, huddled together, food is running low for survivors etc.

What keeps you motivated to keep writing?

My children, and my sanity.

What is the best debut novel you have read?

The best one, let me think well it has to be Crash by Micheal Robinson, although not a debut as such it was the first Indie book i really took a shine to. 
  
What kind of research do you do for your books?

Mainly on the internet, but i write fiction so not that much is needed.
  
How long does it take you to do a first draft?

If my mind is on the ball usually around 3 months or so, that is without any distractions.

What is the best thing about writing for you?

It gives me a great sense that i have achieved something, and always brings a smile on my face when the end product is all done and dusted.

And the worst thing?

Writers block grrrr

Do you have a minimum number of books to read each year? 

No number, just read as many as i can time permitted.

How do you find time to read?

It's hard with the children, mostly when i get a spare minute or when the children are in bed.

What's your favourite book cover?

I really like Ready player one by Ernest Cline, the most original cover i have seen so far.
  
Do you have any special editions of books, for example, a very old, one of a kind book that may be now out of print?

No, which is a shame.

E-Readers or Printed Books. What's your preference?

Both to be honest.

Now a difficult question! What is your favourite inspirational quote?

John Lennon  "Life is what happens when your busy making other plans."

Other things now. 
  
Favourite film? Star Wars
Favourite food? Indian
Favourite author? Indie wise, Micheal Robinson
The one book you would have on your own desert island? Treasure Island
Favourite location? Iceland (i have never been by the way, but it looks amazing there.)
Favourite actor? Christian Bale
Favourite actress? Kate Winslet
Favourite drink? Beer
What's the best thing about being you? Being a Father to 5 children
And the worst thing? 

Rubbish at DIY
  
Thank you Simon!

Twitter @writingstation7
Facebook (include separate author page if you have one)  https://www.facebook.com/simon.bond.5030
G+ 
Blog page -  Simon has no blog yet

Comprehensive list of books, including forthcoming ones
A Weekend At Stanley's
5 Day Festival
Credit Rush Outpost Krone

Upcoming books
Lorna (A Krone Series Short)

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