A. D. Landor: Amazon Author Interview

 

Angel Falling: A Noir Fantasy Thriller

 

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Congratulations A. D. Landor! Your book’s available to buy on the Amazon bookstore. How did you feel to see it there for the first time?

 

It was quite an experience and it felt unreal until the first review was posted. I remember reading a great series of blogs by US writer and editor Anne Mini, who is also the daughter of storied science fiction writer Philip K. Dick who wrote the short story ‘Do Androids dream of electric sheep?’ which became the movie ‘Blade Runner’. She said that if your prime motivation to be published is to see your book on the shelf (virtual or otherwise) then you’re on the right track.

  

 

Can you tell us about your book and why you wanted to write it?

 

Angel Falling is a mystery crime novel set in a fantastic universe of angels and demons. It’s about Azshael, an outcast angel who is drawn into a deadly conspiracy where a scheming cabal is trying to restart a war that the two sides previously fought to a standstill.

The angels came to judge what they thought was a rapacious race of killers, only to find the reality was somewhat different. This makes their Archangel leader question their entire purpose and whether they are really doing the right thing. It’s an existential puzzle that others are trying to solve through violent means and Azshael finds himself in a race against time to prevent an atrocity which would be the needed excuse to restart the conflict.

I wrote it because there weren’t enough Machiavellian Angels versus Bushido Vampire novels around.

 

 

Have you always been a writer / wanted to become an author?

 

I have been writing for about 25 years and have worked on a few projects that never came to a conclusion. This time, with technology having moved on and no interest from literary agents after two years of submitting, I decided to have a go at self-publishing and see if I can build a following. I have a dream of being an author full time, so this is the foundation stone of that vision.

 

 

What made you take that leap and publish your book?

 

I am a voracious reader and love books of all kinds. At some point, I just thought to myself that my own work was as good or better than some of the books I was reading and I decided to go for it. There was no ‘wow’ moment or specific trigger – it was just a nagging itch that wasn’t going away and so I decided to back myself and just go for it.

 

 

Have you any more books in the pipeline?

 

Yes I do! Angel Falling is the first in a series of 7 stand-alone stories in the ‘Azshverse’. The plots themselves are individual stories that can be read on their own, but the world narrative will progress as the ripples of the impact of events on the characters shape and change things.

 I also have one and a half (!) volumes of an Elizabethanesque fantasy trilogy written called the ‘Dreamwright’s Codex’. This features a magical playwright who summons characters into existence for his plays using a magical resource called ‘Radiance’. However, these entities prove to be more than what they seem… 

Finally, I have a Lovecraftian horror novel in sketch format that may see the light of day eventually.

 Lots of words that need mining!

 

 

What advice would you offer other aspiring authors who are thinking of self-publishing? 

 

So generally on writing: 

I have found preparation is key to maintaining writing momentum – try and sketch out a synopsis before you begin. You’re going to need it in the future anyway. Unless you know where you are going and have a plan of how to get there, it’s easy to get lost. Of course, your characters and your creative mind will add things in as you go along, so be prepared to adapt and change as needs be.

Don’t seek perfection in your first draft. You will probably read your work a number of times and there will be distinct times when you will hone and polish your work but don’t let that get in the way of your writing engine.

Understand your industry. If you are planning to submit to agents, make sure you have some knowledge of how they work. You can do this research ahead of time and ensure your submission packages are in keeping with their guidelines.

WRITE! Writing is a craft just like any other and you will get better at it the more you do it. To quote the inventor Thomas Edison, it is ‘1% inspiration and 99% perspiration’. You need to get words down on the page as often as you can.

Finally, maintaining discipline is key. I try and write something every single day. Some days you get good words and some days you get bad ones. You can keep the good and rewrite the bad down the line.

In terms of self-publishing – other than having Michelle in your camp – be aware it’s hard work and not for the faint-hearted. You’ve got to be all in, as books won’t sell themselves and unless you are prepared to work hard at it, the reality is you will struggle to sell more than a few copies.

Definitely invest in cover art relevant to your genre or market expectations. A good proofer and an editor too are vital unless you are completely certain you know what you are doing.

Above all, back yourself and believe. Good luck – there’s no better feeling than seeing your work on a shelf – virtual or otherwise and then seeing others get involved in the product of your hard work and creativity.

 

 

Thanks so much, A. D. Landor!

 

Very best of luck with your fantastic novel.

It’s been such a pleasure working with you and seeing all of your hard work come to life.