Alex French is the author of Carpentry in the Elven Forest – a cozy fantasy tale featuring an apprentice carpenter, a down-trodden half elf and a bad-tempered talking badger (with a serious addiction to caffeine). You can find it here.

Who was the first author that you remember reading?

The first author I remember properly was my Mum reading The Hobbit to me aged 5. Of course, I then demanded The Lord of The Rings after that I re-read them on my own. Several thousand times.

Who was the first indie author that you discovered?
Probably, Ryan Cahill. I got into his Bound and Broken series.

What was your original perception of indie writing and how has that changed?

To be honest, I had no perception of Indie writing as I did not know it was a thing until I ended up doing it and talking to other Indie writers. My original goal was to be traditionally published but that is nigh on impossible these days so Indie was just the logical way forward. Another means to the same end, a published book people can read.

Which authors have most contributed to or influenced your indie experience?
This one is easy to answer. Holly Tinsley, Tomas J Devens, Anthony Self… They would be the main ones. There are others but those three stand out.

Do you feel like you’ve ‘arrived’ as an author yet?
No and because of the type of person I am, I never will.

What are your #authorgoals?
To be a full-time author. There is no other goal.

Do you have any strange or quirky writing desk habits?

I need to cleanse my mind first, so I play some sort of pc game before writing. I have writing playlists which do not change and have all sorts from light jazz to Death Metal, different music for different story genres.

What element of writing life do you find the hardest?
Editing. I am useless at editing. All the time I am editing or applying changes an actual editor or beta reader has suggested, I am thinking that this is time I could be writing the next story.

What practices, rules or disciplines do you set yourself when it comes to writing?
None, I tried to aim for word targets in the beginning, but they were just annoying me as they shot by unreached.

Where do you write and how often?
I always write in my office (converted garage at the end of my garden) and when I am in the right mood, I will write every evening. Sometimes I will go for a month where my brain rebels and nothing comes out of it but thankfully they are few and far between.

What real life hobbies or interests inspire your writing?

None that inspire my writing other than writing itself. Creativity breeds creativity.

If you had to write a book about your writing experience, what would it be called?
Err… wait.. nope… hang on… eesh… wow… eureka… Oh, bugger.

What’s the best piece of critique you’ve ever gotten?
From H L Tinsley herself. “This is just word soup!”

Or, from my first editor.  “This is the best ending I have read in years. I laughed, I cried and now I am walking around with a big grin on my face”.

What common mistakes should new indie authors watch out for in their MS?
Don’t be swayed by “experts” online claiming you should not have adverbs or don’t write from this perspective, or any of the other rules they want to chuck out as content. Writing is a creative process and what one person hates, another will love. Write the story you want to write, the way you want to write it.

What’s a myth about the writing process you’d like to dispel?
It is unlikely to make you rich.

What have been your greatest indie author successes/milestone achievements?
Only one, publishing my first book. That is a feeling that will stick with me for a long time.

What is the best way to get reviews for your book?
When I know I will tell anyone who asks…

What’s the best interaction you’ve ever had with a reader?
Not sure if this counts, but probably my boss finding out he actually quite likes fantasy.

What’s the weirdest thing in your google search history?
Average length of a wolf’s canine or carpentry glossary of terms

Do you have any furry/scaly/feathered writing companions?
My half Greyhound half Malinois dog StanLee. He usually sits in the bucket chair behind me, sleeping or grumbling about the music

What should people expect from your books?
Hopefully, comedy and a good story.

If you could collaborate with another indie author, who would it be?
No idea, I would have to up my game a lot before anyone I know would be able to sink down to my shoddy standards.

What have you got coming up or what are you working on?
A troll detective book, murder is afoot in the troll capital and only Tomus can solve it…   

What do you need in order to have a really productive writing session?

My brain to switch off from thinking about all the stuff I have to worry about like:
My contract at work runs out soon how the hell am I going to find another job?
My partner is upset because DPD have lost her parcel. How do I cheer her up?
When the hell do I find time to book my car in for its next service?

I really want to write a femme fatale into my next book, but there is nowhere to put her, how do I get her out of my mind?

Why is no one buying Carpentry in the Elven Forest?
How do I advertise Carpentry in the Elven Forest?

BRAIN, PLEASE SHUT UP! I just want to write something!!!