Author Interview with Kenneth Thomas

7/10/2020

Who are you?

My name is Kenneth Thomas, I am the author of the VanWest series.

A bit of a futurist, I'm enthusiastic about green issues as well as history.

My series reflects on our treatment of Earth in the 20th and 21st Century, and the world it could create.

Where do you live?

Currently, I live in the Netherlands, but my hometown is Windsor, UK. Home of Windsor Castle and the Queen, it also has miles of parks and wildlife reserves (Crown Estate).

What’s your home life like?

My home life hobby, apart from writing, is long walks, as much as possible along waterways and parks. A great way to recharge the mind.

What genre(s) do you like to write? To read?

History books, currently I'm reading about the Aztecs and Mayan culture. Items that will feature in my third book, VanWest The Future.

I enjoy also the dystopian genre, especially that imagining our future.

Why did you start writing?

Working in MGM Studios and 20th Century Fox in my early 20s, I wanted to create a screenplay. From there, it evolved into a book series. It's great to be creative and to do something for yourself. Writing a book, painting, it's therapeutic.

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What do you do when you’re not writing?

Long walks, it's good for the health and helps one to be more creative.

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Where do you like to go when looking for a new book to read?

Waterstones; a big book-chain in the UK. I love to explore the shelves for new releases as well as classics. It's usually a peaceful place. And I can spend an hour or two there at a time.

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At what point do you call it quits when reading a new book?

When it becomes too convoluted.

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My books are well-paced and written to keep the reader's interest. I spend a lot of time getting the details right, especially if an element of historic fiction, and an equal amount of time weaving it into the story so it is seamless.

Most books I try to read to the end.

Are you independently or traditionally published?

Independently.

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I've read many stories about publishers not doing a great job promoting a book and leaving the writer with small royalties.

If I find the right publisher this may change, but at the moment I like the freedom of being independent. And focusing on enjoying writing.

How many books/stories have you published so far?

I will be releasing my second book at the end of July 2020. Before that I used to be a journalist and published 100+ articles.

What book/story are you currently promoting or working on?

VanWest The Past.

The Past is the first book in the VanWest series, about an Enforcer who lives in a dystopian Earth of the year 3000 and works for an authoritarian ruler called the Universal Council. Tasked with travelling through time to stop a renegade sect, that seeks to change Earth’s past, he comes to learn about his dark origins and his unique ability.

Falling in love with the daughter of its leader, Mad Newton, he returns to the present to face a difficult choice, whether or not to save her. And be part of the New Beginning.

What’s the elevator pitch?

In a dystopian Earth of the year 3000, an Enforcer must decide between love and loyalty. As he races against time to stop a renegade sect from changing Earth's past. His mission revealing his dark origins and that of his masters the Universal Council.

Dystopia, time-travel, historic and science fiction, this book has it all. It's strength is its multi-dimensional and strong written characters. It's as much an emotional journey as an action story.

How long have you been working on it?

The idea for the series originated many years ago. When green issues were getting more and more spoken about. Out of University and trying to get onto (and stay on) the career ladder, I shelved my writing for a number of years. I picked it back up in my 30s.

When will it be available to buy? Where?

ASIN: B088WYFK9Q

How can readers find you?

Anything you’d like to add?

A special thanks to my mother for proofreading my book multiple times :-)

Also a thanks to Elementi Studio, for bringing my book cover and design to life. Providing one of the best covers of the year.

My thanks and best wishes to Kenneth Thomas for participating on My Laughably Inane Blog.

Welcome to My Laughably Inane Blog!