C.G.EBERLE

My very first book was about a detective born in the Peak District of Derbyshire UK (John Gammon). He worked at Scotland Yard but is asked to go to his native Derbyshire to help in the arrest of a serial killer.

This being my first book  “Things will never be the same again” it was an idea nurtured over many years before I finally had the confidence to complete it. I had a few attempts but never felt it was quite right. I was working away from home a lot so a lot of spare time in hotel rooms. I decided to do it with the full intention of writing this one book. Now twenty five books later I have a passion beyond belief.

I modelled the John Gammon books of which there are currently eighteen with number nineteen almost complete) .round the area I knew the Peak District of Derbyshire. So I changed the names of the villages and the characters to reflect this.

John Gammon is not you’re archetypal detective he was successful in his career, well dressed, good looking a bit of a ladies man but at the time of the first book he also had a trophy wife. Most detective books tend to have a divorced down at heel hero who smokes and drinks heavy so I turned that on its head when I created John Gammon.

I love all my characters but have a soft spot for Saron Docharty the real love of John’s life. Carol Lestar is a main character portrayed as a loveable gossip. Steve Lineman John’s best friend. The most unusual character is called Pants on Your head Bob a guy who does stand -up comedy and who was modelled on a complete opposite person which makes me smile each time I write something with Bob in it.

My readers of which there are many love the characters they see themselves in the characters they enjoy knowing about the lives of the characters and their ups and downs in the books.

Generally my books tend to take 3-4 months to write. I have a tendency to have 4-5 books being written at any given time.

I have the basis of a book in my mind but I do not stick to a rigid plan I let it flow which so far has been successful. My research is generally done on the internet or a visit to a place or museum I am writing about.

I write the book but alongside that I have a spread sheet running with names of places and people and also a word document to be able to relate to.

Most people after reading the stories tend to contact me through my website or social media to say they felt entertained and gripped by the plot and almost every time I get when is the next one out.

I think writing has changed my life. Locally I am quite well known and it is often an occurrence that I will get somebody come to me to ask for an autograph or sign a book. At first it all seemed strange but I am used to it now.

I don’t think my upbringing influenced my writing other than I feel it is a gift. My father was an established musician and whilst I can’t get a tune out of anything. I feel my writing is also a gift so I guess just lucky

I write every day. I don’t set word targets I write until I feel I have had enough. I can sit and write five thousand words a day or fifteen hundred just depends on me and the commitments at the time.

I enjoy a cup of tea while I write and currently I am working on book number eighteen of the John Gammon series and I am also writing four other books one of them being a follow up to amateur sleuth Gilbraith Drake and the help he receives from the afterlife, Book One I am Fawn Jones book two Calming Farm both published with book three not yet named.

I do tent to name a book at the start but change it many times before finally deciding on the name.

In my opinion the most essential part of my books is the reader must be entertained and not want to put the book s down I have so many people who wait for my book to be available and will say they sat down and had to read the whole book because they can’t put it down which is satisfying from my perspective.

By chance I met a successful Author and my friend told him I wrote books. My reply to this at the time was I had written one book. He was really helpful and supportive. With working away it was almost five months when I saw him again and of course he asked me if I was having success. Which I said I was pleased how the first book had been received. I then told him I had just finished my second book called “Got to keep running” He asked if it was a follow on to the detective book. I said no it wasn’t that it was a one off. He told me not to publish it until I had at least a further five books in the detective series. He said I would confuse the readers and I needed to build an audience. I was a bit gutted but followed his advice not releasing  Got to keep running until I  had five detective books published. Great advice it turned out.

I promote my work on social media a lot I also have posters in bars, bed and breakfast establishments, book shops. I have had article written on me and the books by magazines and local newspapers. I put a lot of effort into this area alongside my marketing guy who also maintains the web site and creates my book covers and marketing.

I have a achieved top fifty on Amazon in historical love stories for my only current love story set during WW1 and WW2 a story with a massive twist called “Let’s dance in the kitchen”

If I could have lunch with one person it would be Jesus Christ to thank him for all he did for mankind.

 

Colin J Galtrey