With great pleasure I would to introduce the next author for my blogs Author to Author segment!
His name is Dr Graham Clingbine.
Among his various personal interests, Graham has a keen interest in #sciencefiction and extensive research knowledge in the subject area of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. He is the author of author of Disclosure, Release from Stasis, UFO Sightings and Alien Abductions, The Real Roswell Incident 1947, A Collection of bedtime & daytime stories for children, The Network Marketing Bible, Whet you need to know about human sex, Secrets of human sexual attraction, and Corona Virus: Pandemic Virus.
Dr Clingbine spent a long career mainly in education teaching Biological Sciences at a number of schools and colleges before retiring from City & #IslingtonCollege in #northLondon. His award of #PhD followed a research programme on the memory mechanisms of the brain undertaken at North East London #Polytechnic (later re-named the University of East London). His work led to four papers being accepted for publication in scientific journals.
He is a keen angler and not only enjoys fishing the rivers, lakes and seas of his home country (the UK) but has ventured further afield to countries across Europe and to the Gulf of #Mexico off Key West in #Florida in the #USA. During his teaching days, Graham authored a number of #paperback books related to model answers to Biology examination papers set by the London University Board with co-authors including Dr C Anderson and B Moradbakhti.
In recent times, Dr Graham Clingbine has become a prolific and well-read #author in various genres. His #books have received good reviews from various media.
Here are the excerpts from my conversation with him:
1. What does writing mean to you? Why do you write?
Ans – Writing is a means of communication between individuals. It allows our thoughts to be shared with others whether they are for reasons of #entertainment, #education or #information. Therefore writing is an important medium to express what is held inside our minds and for sharing this with others.
2. When did you start writing? Do you remember the first time you wrote something?
Ans – I always enjoyed writing in my school days whether it was a poem, short story or an article. In my 30s I co-authored several model answer books relating to Biology examination questions. In more recent times around 2016/2017 I began to write more seriously as an author and this produced my first ever #sciencefiction novel #Disclosure. Since then I have gone on to write a number of books in various genres and at the time of writing this answer I have had ten books published.
3. What was the source of your inspiration earlier? Did it change with the time?
Ans – My motivation to write comes from a desire to share information. To begin with my initial science fiction novels allowed me to express my visions of a possible fate of planet Earth in the distant future. Later I was able to change the subject area following my experience in home business and this resulted in the publication of a network marketing book. This again changed over the years and books followed in various subject areas. Among these are my books about #UFOs which include very enigmatic subject matter and I enjoy sharing my researched information with my readers.
4. Would you like to share few of your favourite lines of your story?
Ans – I would like to share one line from my last released novel which is inspired from real life. “John Powell inhaled deeply. It was not easy. In fact, breathing was becoming a conscious effort. How had it come to this? The Great Plan needed to succeed. In fact, it needed to succeed very quickly or it would be too late… John surveyed the scene. This was a futuristic Earth. This was an Earth unrecognizable to those that lived in the distant past. Lush green landscapes were gone forever.” This extract is taken from Release From Stasis – The Future Is Now.
5. What is the most difficult part of your #writing process?
Ans – Proofreading can be tedious and it is easy to miss your own errors. Sometimes periods of writing can be unproductive, the so-called ‘writers block’. In this situation I think it is a good idea to take a break away from writing your manuscript.
6. What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
Ans- For me the plot comes first in my novels. I like to map out a plan of the story before I start writing in any detail. However, this is flexible as ideas can change and the plot may alter as the storyline develops.
7. What’s your favorite and least favorite part of publishing?
Ans- I think the nicest part about having a book published is when you receive positive #feedback from readers and good reviews. The process of #marketing and book #promotion is challenging and does not give the same personal satisfaction that is gained by writing itself.
8. How did you come up with the title for your book?
Ans – The answer to this question varies for me as I have written various books in different genres. My two science fiction novels cover the areas of #timetravel and changes that may occur to human society in the distant future. Hence both of my books #Disclosure and Release From Stasis incorporate the sub-title ‘The Future is Now’.
9. What inspired the idea for your book?
Ans - – I have always had an interest in the development of science and technology and speculated about how these would be applied in future scanarios. This interest sparked my imagination into generating stories for my two science fiction novels. It later evolved into a closely related interest in UFOs and this resulted in two books being published in this area. Other books related to my family educational and work experiences and this background allowed me to write books about children’s stories, human #sexuality and home business.
10. What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
Ans- At times it becomes bit challenging to make that the plot or book content keeps the reader engaged all the way through.
11. What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
Ans- This requires a clear image in your mind of what you are trying to convey to the readers. I find it best to write on my own in my office away from distractions.
12. If your book were made into a movie, which actors would play your characters?
Ans- I do not have any strong views about this. I would only expect the storyline to be followed in a serious and dramatic way by the actors and actresses rather than be interpreted as something comical or too fanciful.
13. What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
Ans – Disclosure was the first format of my science fiction scenario about the Earth in the distant future. Release From Stasis is in fact a sequel and the same characters featured. However, Release From Stasis can be read in its own right and it is not necessary to have read Disclosure first to understand and enjoy the story. Both books have now been published as 2nd editions.
14. What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Ans – I have many interests including #badminton and #cricket. In recent years I have developed a great passion for #fishing and I often go on global angling #vacations chasing various species of freshwater and #marine fish for sport fishing. I return the fish I catch to the water.
15. Which writers have inspired you? Do you feel yourself ever influenced by the writing style of a writer?
Ans - I do not follow the writing style of any particular writer. I am inspired by various #documentaries into the #paranormal and exotic technologies as well as accounts relating to #astronomy and #spacetravel. I enjoy the broadcasts by people such as Nick Pope who is a retired UK Ministry of Defence officer who has become an authority on UFOs.
16. How often do you write? People say writing needs time; best words come out in leisure. How do you manage your time to write and work?
Ans - I have never followed any schedule for writing though once I begin writing I like to get to the end of the #manuscript as quickly as possible. It can involve a series of starts and stops to ensure that the quality of the writing #content does not decline. When I was working in teaching in the field of medical science adult education I was able to write in the evenings or even into the night because writing was so different to my daily employment activities.
17. Please let the readers know about your projects for future? Are your working on any book? And please share any stanza you have written and you repeat it most of the times.
Ans – I may write some further future books but at present I am focused on book marketing and book promotion. I like to tell aspiring authors to “be persistent to achieve your goals’’ as writing can be a very rewarding personal achievement though not necessarily a massive boost to finances or income.
18. What is your message to the young & aspiring authors who are willing to explore the new dimensions of creative writing?
Ans – Young aspiring authors should research the market and see if their book will fit into a new niche. It is good to be knowledgeable about the different routes to getting a book published and have some idea about future strategies such as book launches, book signings and making use of social media. Once the manuscript has been started do not be distracted by people with negative outlooks. Be consistent and persistent in your writing and ensure you have sufficient self-motivation to complete your book before you begin writing.
19. Mention your upcoming writing endeavours?
Ans- I am looking at various methods of book marketing including email marketing and social media. I also am the Administrator of an online (#Facebook) book and authors group and am using a dedicated author website for referral marketing. Please visit www.grahamclingbine.co.uk I have also organized book signing and book exhibition events and hope to do these again.
You can connect & follow his work on www.grahamclingbine.co.uk Also purchase links for his books are available on the website.
Thank you taking time out to read my conversation with Dr Graham Clingbine
- Jasveer Singh Dangi
Disclaimer - All views & facts mentioned above are the sole responsibility of the respective author being interviewed. The Author, Dr Graham Clingbine, is solely responsible and liable for the information including but not limited to the views, representations, descriptions, statements, information, opinions and references.
Jasveer is an Author, Behavioral trainer, award -winning Health and Safety professional & Founder of The Cog Publication LLP, India. He is currently based in Canada. His Amazon Author Central profile is - https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07M6KS48Q