I first heard about indie author Ryan Tomlin when his 100 Days campaign to promote his book caught my eye on social media. He’ll tell you more about that below. Although his book isn’t really my kind of thing – can’t love everything! – when he contacted me to ask if he could do something for the blog, I was happy to agree.
First of all, would you tell me a little about yourself?
I’m Ryan and I’m a 21-years-old ex-student from Nottingham. This year I graduated from Leeds Beckett University where I studied filmmaking. This summer I’ve decided to spend 100 days out on the streets of my local city, promoting my latest book – it’s going well so far! [You can follow Ryan’s progress on Instagram]
What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always been a huge fan of movies and videogames. I was amazed at how much someone could get me to care about something or someone, despite me knowing that that person or thing didn’t actually exist. As I got older I found myself caring more and more about stories, debating in my head my favourite films, and researching theories and ideas behind them. The reason I started writing is because, after being inspired by all these stories and characters, I wanted to create something of my own, to make something that other people can get drawn into and care about – and something that I could escape to myself.
Tell me about your journey to publication.
My last five books got rejected by over 50 publishers so I was a little disheartened about my chances of making it. After writing this book, I believed in it so much that I didn’t want to send it off just to get rejected again, I wanted to share it with the world and show people what I’d made, so I self-published instead and went about marketing it myself. I haven’t been offered a publishing contract yet, but only time will tell!
In a nutshell, what is your latest book about?
The book I’m promoting at the moment is called “The Transition” and is a sci-fi, dystopian story about an alternate society where children are raised separately from adults, in order to form their own beliefs and identities. They’re raised in a facility until their late teens, and on their eighteenth birthday they meet their parents for the first time. [You can order a copy here: The Transition]
How did you come up with the title for your book?
If I’m honest, I’m really not sure. I debated several different titles that relate to the premise but, as a rule of thumb, I always like to have the title mentioned somewhere in the book in a sort of ‘oh yeah!’ moment. So ‘The Transition’ seemed like the best choice.
Do you have a work in progress just now?
Yes I do. It’s a stand-alone story with similar themes to my previous books, but I’d rather not mention too much right now…
What’s your favourite book you’ve read in the past few months?
I’d have to say Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck. Because I’ve been taking my writing a lot more seriously this past year, I’ve decided that it’s important for me to read certain ‘classics’ to see where inspiration for modern stories came from. The story was simple, and there wasn’t much to it in terms of depth, but it was a heart-felt tale with a sad, but well-written, conclusion.
What are you reading just now?
As of May 2016, I’m currently reading ‘I Am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore. I’ve only just started, but it seems very intense so far!
Tell me about your reading habits: book or kindle, bed or bath, morning or evening?
90% of the books I read are on my Kindle, for me it’s just an easier way of reading (though I have to say, there’s nothing quite like holding an actual book!) I usually read in bed, the very last thing before I go to sleep. It helps me relax and leaves something for my mind to ponder overnight.
How can people follow you or connect with you on social media?
The best ways to connect with me are on Twitter and Instagram, you can find me @rjtomlin on both!
And finally, if you could be a character in any book you have read, who would it be and why?
I’d have to say Alex Rider from any book in the Alex Rider series as it’s my favourite book series of all time. It would be just like being James Bond but without the responsibilities of being an adult, I couldn’t imagine anything better.
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