Interview With Author Stephen Richard Hamilton Denton

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? My partner Cath listened to my lyrics in songs and felt that the tales I tell in music could be worthwhile expanded into a novel. I wrote the first line and was enthused. Then, I was taken along by the story until it was completed. 

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? As the title says, it is about two young friends William and Peter, as they take part in an epic adventure. After accidentally interrupting a leadership ceremony being conducted by the magical but evil Treplicons, Willy is cursed to grow warts over all parts of his body. This brings on a source of embarrassment that leads him to despair.  He soon discovers that he must travel to the Treplicon realm to reverse the curse. Once they arrive in the beautiful magical world, Willy and his best friend Pete discover that the reversal of the curse is only half their task. They must overcome the powerful and soleless Swamp Spirit to save the land they have come to love. It is a story for all ages that includes trials and tribulations, friendship and love. It involves intriguing characters such as stone trolls, sabre eels, wood rats, rose warriors and many more. The book has proven to be enjoyed by all ages that enjoy the fantasy genre. However, it is aimed mainly at younger readers.  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Fist and foremost, the entertainment that comes with a good read and connection with characters. I hope that younger readers will see that self esteem is important and that imperfections are part of everyone’s life, even those that we think are perfect. I also hope the book shows that sometimes we have to be tested to realise our strengths and virtues and accept ourselves as a whole.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The book title echoes the opening line in the first chapter, that is “that the name Willy has a double meaning and therefore is a little humorous”. The Continuous Adventures alludes to the fact that this the first of other adventures the characters both male and female will navigate as they grow. The cover combines the presence of a mystic yew tree and an infinity symbol that is important to the plot.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers other than run? My advice is one word, persevere (then run).  

6. What trends in the book world do you see - and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? The book world seems to be an ever moving feast today. Technology offers so many different ways for people to enjoy stories and this can only be good. The future of storytelling is only limited by our imaginations and technical capabilities.  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? The folklore of countries I have visited and worked in such as Europe, New Guinea, New Zealand, Vanuatu and my home, Australia, have all influenced the way I write.  Some of the more difficult, less honest people I have met in my time may have moulded the villains I have described. I think the total of good and evil a writer is exposed to during their lives generally translates someway into their work.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? Some reviewers have likened my story to those of J.R.R.Tolkien and J.K Rowling (I was extremely flattered and embarrassed).  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Two main challenges I had to overcome was the feeling of being good or worthy enough for people to want to read my creations and the fact that sometimes I have the attention span of a gnat.   

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? I think my book is an offering that is a simple and good read. It doesn’t challenge beliefs but shows that good and basic character traits still win the day and hopefully readers.  

About the Author: Steve Denton is an Australian author and lyricist. He has worked writing and editing stories for trade magazines and websites. His working life has taken him to many exotic places including New Zealand, Vanuatu and New Guinea. Along with his passion for music, rugby and dogs, he loves nothing more than making his beloved characters come to life.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.