Interview with Author Sean-Paul Thomas

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Sean-Paul Thomas. A bit of background info before we get started: Author Sean-Paul Thomas is from Edinburgh in Scotland. Sean-Paul's bio shares that he "spent most of his childhood and teenage years growing up on the move with his Scottish and Irish Parents (No they weren't bank robbers ;) in the likes of Cyprus, Germany, Wales and England, as an army brat. With a keen interest in both reading and writing he was diagnosed with the travel and writing bugs very early on in life. Now, writing, traveling, reading, cinema and Scottish football are his main passions in life, along with cooking, yoga, meditation and health and fitness. His main inspiration for writing today comes from living in such a beautiful, charming and hauntingly, Gothic city, such as Edinburgh. This awe inspiring wee city has given Sean so much amazing inspiration to write the more time he spends there. At this moment Sean is working on a couple of screenplays and a sequel to his young adult, fantasy, indie sleeper hit - 'The Fairy Boy of Calton Hill' - The Fairy Boy of the Seven seas."

And now, on with the interview. Find my questions and Sean-Paul's answers, below:

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
When I was around 12 or 13 I watched Bram Stokers Dracula for the very first time. I fell in love with the movie and suddenly became inspired to write a sequel, in novel form. So I did (lol) And it was awful :) But then a few months later I decided to write something else, something from my own imagination, and  it was a little less awful. So I just kept on going.

What do you find to be the biggest challenge, as an author?
I guess, time to just sit down and write. There are so many distractions in the world. And so much going on in our lives, from just checking e-mail and facebook and internet browsing, to watching TV shows.The key is to find a balance and have a good strict schedule to work too and treat your writing like a job, even just a part time one. Only it's like a volunteering job for the first few years or 10. I always try to aim to do at least 3-4 hours of writing a day, 4 or 5 days a week, or even just something writing related.

What do you find most rewarding, as an author?
Turning ideas into full, in depth stories. Creating words, lines, sentences, characters, personalities and worlds that only you really, truly, understand the heart and soul core meaning and conception of.

Share with us a daily habit of yours, that helps you reach your goals.
Meditation for sure. Everyday now for the past few years, I try and meditate for at least 15-20 minutes a day. It keeps you grounded and focused and I couldn't imagine my crazy, hectic life now without meditation

What is one piece of advice you would share with an aspiring author?
Get out now while you're still aspiring (lol) If not, and you're still determined, then grow a thick skin and beard. Talk to people about your book and hear what they have to say, like really bloody hear them. Become a good listener. Become a good people watcher. Travel as much as you can, meeting weird and wonderful characters and having crazy, great experiences that you can one day write about. All new writers should learn how to say yes more than no, even to the illegal stuff, that's where you'll find your best stories.

Get out more. Become more present. Take a look at what is going on around you. Mediate for at least 15 minutes a day with your eyes open. Procrastination is your cancer. Read, write or edit something, between 30 minutes and up to 4 hours a day. Make a schedule. Get into a routine. Make at least one other writer/artist friend. Read each others work, but never, ever socialize with them or make them your girlfriend, that is a disaster just waiting to happen :)

Read everything that is put in front of you, and read often, even if it's just the first chapter and no more. Find a published writer who you think writes similar to you and emulate the hell out of them.

Finish these sentences:
I am most grateful for...my health, for without that, I have nothing.

If I could give my 18 year-old self one piece of advice it would be...always hire a proofreader before you publish anything, no matter how much you can't afford it, get a credit card or 2 if you have to, but get it bloody proofread. Hell has no fury like a reader who purchased your book for 99 pence, or worse, for free lol and they find spelling and grammar mistakes. They will not let you forget it for as long as you both shall live.

My least favorite thing about being a writer is...all the PR afterwards and sending the work out to be reviewed :) I'd much rather be starting on my next book, but hey ho. It is what it is.The nature of the writer beast.

My goals for the future are...To see all the countries in the world that I haven't seen yet and write another 50 books.

I love living a creative life because...it keeps me very sane, grounded and extremely open minded.

The last book I read was... Unforgivable by Philippe Djian and The Torrents of Spring by Ernest Hemingway.

My favorite book, ever, is... Ask the Dust by John Fante and Watership Down by Richard Adams

Outside of writing, my favorite hobby is...Traveling, Watching Scottish Football, Playing Tennis, Meditating, Reading everything, Watching select films and TV shows. Performing random handstands.

The most important thing to do if you want to achieve your goals is... Get a schedule written down, along with some realistic goals too and put it up where you can see it everyday, then make a plan of action and put it into motion.

A few more questions...
Do you have any New Years Resolutions for 2017? Write 2 or 3 more books this year.

You can find Sean-Paul Thomas at the following links:
https://www.amazon.com/Sean-Paul-Thomas/e/B006DJXCVG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sean-Paul-Thomas/e/B006DJXCVG/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1416006577&sr=8-1
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5364942.Sean_Paul_Thomas
https://www.facebook.com/SeanPaulThomasAuthor

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Stacey Ritz is a bestselling author and award winning writer. An empathetic and compassionate storyteller, Ritz wrote for a plethora of local and national news outlets, magazines, blogs, and websites (copywriter), prior to becoming a novelist. Her book, Covered in Pet Fur  has gained attention from RIVA Media and Animal Planet. She is the Executive Director and co-founder of Advocates 4 Animals, Inc. – a 501(c)3 non-profit animal welfare organization that has saved more than 11,000 lives (and counting). She currently resides in Ohio. Ritz is published through Rockville Publishing. You can interact with Stacey online via Stacey's Book Blog, on Pinterest, and Instagram.

Ritz writes the following genres:
Non-Fiction:
Motivation/Inspiration
Writing/Publishing
Animal Welfare
Fiction:
Romance/Thrillers

Click here to view Stacey's fiction books.

Click here to view Stacey's non-fiction books