John Bowen is a multi-genre thriller author from the UK whose titles include the chilling Where The Dead Walk and the thrilling Vessel. He has sold over two-hundred-thousand copies worldwide and three of his books have reached the Amazon top 100 bestseller chart in both the UK and the US. Quite a resume!
I caught up with John to see what he’s working on now and to ask how he broke into the world of writing.
Hi John! Why don’t you start by telling us what you are working on right now?
I'm currently closing in on a completed draft of my fifth novel, Vessels, a sequel to my second one, Vessel. Like the first book, it's a blend of thriller, historical fiction and science fiction. Hopefully it will make it out sometime this summer.
Can't wait to read it! Can you remember when you started writing and why?
The when is easy.
Largely due to belatedly appreciating the value of an education, I managed to leave school without any real qualifications, but fell in love with reading in my early twenties. I attended evening classes to get my English GCSE and picked up the creative writing bug there too. I think I started my first novel not long after, which itself became a several year-long practical lesson in how to write a novel.
The why is a bit trickier.
Without doubt, there’s a creative itch being scratched, the desire to craft a thing, but also the desire to express myself and communicate something.
If you’re someone who has ever been deeply moved by a novel, thrilled by one, made to think about something differently, or simply been massively entertained or hopelessly lost and engrossed, it’s hard not to admire and envy the author who was able to work that magic on you.
There will always be some of us who can’t resist the urge to take it further and see if we can do it too.
"Seeing my novel sitting next to Stephen King’s latest made me feel like a real author"
What do you think it is that has propelled you this far?
Faith in my work (despite many, many agent rejection letters) and the belief readers will enjoy it, but also good timing, and almost certainly a fair dollop of luck.
I think I was fortunate to explore independent publishing seven years ago when there was more scope to make mistakes, more freedom to just take a swing.
I never had a plan. My first three books were in wildly different genres. I wrote the story I wanted to write, and worried about how to market it after. Now, I think you need a plan. It’s just a more competitive space, and, unfortunately, that probably means marketing should be a consideration before you start writing. Things like encouraging readthrough from one book to the next, either by sticking to a single genre or writing a series are increasingly important.
I don’t think it was ever exactly easy, but it was easier.
As you mention, you write across multiple genres. Is there a certain philosophy or theme that connects your books, something in the back of your mind when you write?
Only an attempt to offer the reader something more and different than they expected.
Tell us about your proudest author moment.
The first time one of my novels broke into the Amazon US Top 100 chart. Seeing my novel sitting next to Stephen King’s latest made me feel like a real author, a truly rare and fleeting sensation.
That’s so cool! Now every author knows that writing is not all fun and games. What’s the thing you hate most about writing?
For me, how bloody crushingly difficult it is. Really, every book I’ve written feels like a mountain, where once it’s finished I look down from the top and can’t quite believe I managed to climb it. It’s even harder when you know writers who are prolific and make it look easy.
"You will always be the special sauce that makes your story unique."
Definitely. And what’s the thing you love most?
Those occasional moments where everything does seem easy, you find the perfect piece of dialogue, the perfect turn on a scene, where one thing connects perfectly to another thing and resonates, you know you have something special and for a few seconds you feel like a genius.
Finally, what advice would you give to new authors?
Listen to advice, but be ready to ignore it and trust your instincts too. You will always be the special sauce that makes your story unique.
Quick bonus question: What advice would you give to seasoned authors?
Always make sure the cap is screwed tight before you shake the ketchup. That stuff can really stain.
Good advice. Thanks John!
John’s new book, Vessels, is due to be published this summer. Click here to check out John’s back catalogue and to buy the first instalment in the series, Vessel, for only £3.99.
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