John Pahl
Published Book
Martian Blood, BUY ON AMAZON = https://amzn.eu/d/aA0LHjw
Who are you? Tell us a little about yourself...
I live in London and last year got married, which is an exciting new direction to life!
My work involves developing simulation software and regulations for satellite systems, which is very interesting, particularly at the moment when so much is happening in the industry. We’ve recently updated our software to model spacecraft in the Langrange points, such as used by the James Webb Space Telescope. When you read book 2 of the Noctilucents series, Selenium (currently under development), you’ll discover there’s a key role for Lagrange points.
Much of my work involves international regulations and attending UN meetings, which were the inspirations for the Global Council at Justinian in Martian Blood. Our meetings can last up to 4 weeks involving nearly to 4,000 delegates, working all weekend and sometimes until 3am. It’s pretty intense but also very rewarding. Some of the characters there are a bit like Artur, Mr Bevan and Cita Stone. For fun I like to go sailing – as does Sophia!
What first inspired you to start writing?
I wanted to be able to tell a story, the ones in my head, as good as the books I was reading. I started by going on creative writing courses to learn the craft, then doing lots of practicing, exercising the writing muscles, including blogging for many years. Then one evening I had an idea for a story, one that started small, with the image in my head of a teenage boy flying a blimp across the red plains of Mars, but then expanded in size and scope, to cover AIs, space travel and the future of humanity. It was too big for a single novel, but fit well into the structure of a trilogy, so I started writing and I’m writing still, having just finished book 2 of the Noctilucents trilogy, called Selenium.
What made you want to work with Rowanvale and be published?
I wanted the story to be told and that meant published. But it’s hard to get a book out there if you’re not known, so I ended up taking the self-publish route. I looked around at various companies that could help those like me interested in self- publishing and went with Rowanvale as they clearly had the skills and background to provide a good service.
I’ve been very impressed and have tried to keep the same people to work with for book 2 as for book 1. They really seem to understand what I’m trying to do and have provided really helpful feedback and good support.
When you're not writing, what are you reading?
Obviously I love science fiction but don’t often find the type I like to read, big stories, often set in space, at the hard end of the SF range, with realistic technologies. Maybe that’s why I ended up writing my own! I’m a member of a book group with my neighbours, and recently we’ve had a sequence of novels based upon the story of one person’s life, such as Lessons by Ian McEwan, The Romantic by William Boyd and Bounville by Jonathon Coe, all interesting in their way. What I’ve most enjoyed recently has been YA fantasy books like Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines series, Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & co series and I’m currently enjoying The Library of the Dead by T. L. Huchu.
Which work are you most proud of?
Writing is hard work, though rewarding when a book is completed. I think finishing book 2 was the hardest, given other demands on my time, but the most rewarding as the structure seems to have worked well.
I’m looking forward to finishing the final book, and then having completed the trilogy will be what I’ll be most proud of.
What's your best advice for handling writer's block?
Go for a walk. There are very few problems that can’t be resolved by a long walk - it always works for me.
What's one thing you always have with you when you're writing?
A cup of coffee or tea – and sometimes our cat, Missy, sitting on my keyboard!
What is one book you would take with you if you were stuck on a desert island?
One book is not enough! Maybe I could have the complete works of P. G. Wodehouse bound into a single volume
and take that? Otherwise something big like War and Peace that I keep meaning to re-read but it remains
gathering dust on the bookshelf.
What is the best part about being an independently published author?
The sense of achievement, of having completed the book and seeing people read it.
I can’t wait to find out what people think of the second book!
What's next for you?
Book 2 of the Noctilucents trilogy, Selenium, is due to be published in October, which is very exciting after all the work writing, re-writing and helping with the cover design. I’m very much looking forward to holding it in my hand, and seeing its listing on publishing web sites. Afterwards I’m planning to focus on the second edition of a work related book, and then
finally turn to the last book in the Noctilucents trilogy.
Martian Blood, BUY ON AMAZON = https://amzn.eu/d/aA0LHjw
Who are you? Tell us a little about yourself...
I live in London and last year got married, which is an exciting new direction to life!
My work involves developing simulation software and regulations for satellite systems, which is very interesting, particularly at the moment when so much is happening in the industry. We’ve recently updated our software to model spacecraft in the Langrange points, such as used by the James Webb Space Telescope. When you read book 2 of the Noctilucents series, Selenium (currently under development), you’ll discover there’s a key role for Lagrange points.
Much of my work involves international regulations and attending UN meetings, which were the inspirations for the Global Council at Justinian in Martian Blood. Our meetings can last up to 4 weeks involving nearly to 4,000 delegates, working all weekend and sometimes until 3am. It’s pretty intense but also very rewarding. Some of the characters there are a bit like Artur, Mr Bevan and Cita Stone. For fun I like to go sailing – as does Sophia!
What first inspired you to start writing?
I wanted to be able to tell a story, the ones in my head, as good as the books I was reading. I started by going on creative writing courses to learn the craft, then doing lots of practicing, exercising the writing muscles, including blogging for many years. Then one evening I had an idea for a story, one that started small, with the image in my head of a teenage boy flying a blimp across the red plains of Mars, but then expanded in size and scope, to cover AIs, space travel and the future of humanity. It was too big for a single novel, but fit well into the structure of a trilogy, so I started writing and I’m writing still, having just finished book 2 of the Noctilucents trilogy, called Selenium.
What made you want to work with Rowanvale and be published?
I wanted the story to be told and that meant published. But it’s hard to get a book out there if you’re not known, so I ended up taking the self-publish route. I looked around at various companies that could help those like me interested in self- publishing and went with Rowanvale as they clearly had the skills and background to provide a good service.
I’ve been very impressed and have tried to keep the same people to work with for book 2 as for book 1. They really seem to understand what I’m trying to do and have provided really helpful feedback and good support.
When you're not writing, what are you reading?
Obviously I love science fiction but don’t often find the type I like to read, big stories, often set in space, at the hard end of the SF range, with realistic technologies. Maybe that’s why I ended up writing my own! I’m a member of a book group with my neighbours, and recently we’ve had a sequence of novels based upon the story of one person’s life, such as Lessons by Ian McEwan, The Romantic by William Boyd and Bounville by Jonathon Coe, all interesting in their way. What I’ve most enjoyed recently has been YA fantasy books like Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines series, Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & co series and I’m currently enjoying The Library of the Dead by T. L. Huchu.
Which work are you most proud of?
Writing is hard work, though rewarding when a book is completed. I think finishing book 2 was the hardest, given other demands on my time, but the most rewarding as the structure seems to have worked well.
I’m looking forward to finishing the final book, and then having completed the trilogy will be what I’ll be most proud of.
What's your best advice for handling writer's block?
Go for a walk. There are very few problems that can’t be resolved by a long walk - it always works for me.
What's one thing you always have with you when you're writing?
A cup of coffee or tea – and sometimes our cat, Missy, sitting on my keyboard!
What is one book you would take with you if you were stuck on a desert island?
One book is not enough! Maybe I could have the complete works of P. G. Wodehouse bound into a single volume
and take that? Otherwise something big like War and Peace that I keep meaning to re-read but it remains
gathering dust on the bookshelf.
What is the best part about being an independently published author?
The sense of achievement, of having completed the book and seeing people read it.
I can’t wait to find out what people think of the second book!
What's next for you?
Book 2 of the Noctilucents trilogy, Selenium, is due to be published in October, which is very exciting after all the work writing, re-writing and helping with the cover design. I’m very much looking forward to holding it in my hand, and seeing its listing on publishing web sites. Afterwards I’m planning to focus on the second edition of a work related book, and then
finally turn to the last book in the Noctilucents trilogy.