What is your
name and/or pen name?
Ben
Anderson
What genre do
you write?
Irish/Celtic
Fantasy
What made you
want to be a writer?
I’ve
always loved reading and writing since I was in grade school, but it wasn’t
until my own children got old enough for me to tell them bedtime stories that
my desire to be a storyteller and writer blossomed. Every night I would make up
a new piece of a tale that eventually stretched into a year-long bedtime story.
One day my wife said, “You know, you really should write that down…” Well, it’s
become four novels so far, with more to come.
How do you feel
about the writing community as a whole?
Great
people. They’ve taught me a ton about writing, and I’m still learning from
them. It’s been a real pleasure to get to know so many talented and kind
people.
Have you or will
you be willing to collaborate with other authors in the future?
I
have no plans for this at the moment, but who knows – if the opportunity arose,
I’d certainly entertain the idea.
Tell us about
your book and if it’s upcoming or already published.
I
have four books so far in an Irish fantasy series called The McGunnegal Chronicles. It’s clean, fun fantasy for general
audiences (ages 8+). No bad language, no sex, good moral lessons, and Christian
allegorical themes throughout.
Here’s
a brief peek at the plot:
It's 1846, and two
children, Colleen and Frederick, discover that Grandpa has been hiding a family
secret down in the potato cellar. It is a relic from a lost age of Ireland, and
when they stumble into it, they suddenly find themselves in the land of the
Others, where the creatures of Irish legend still live on. Leprechauns,
goblins, fairies, and a host of other strange peoples accompany them through a
whirlwind of adventures, dangers, and mysteries that carry them on a daring
mission to rescue Colleen's mother from the dark forces that have taken her.
Along the way, they begin to discover why their family is so strange, and what
it means to be truly human.
Although
the books are full of exciting adventure and are suitable for kids, there are
more complex themes woven in as well that young adults and adults can
appreciate, such as hidden images of Christian iconography, whispered quotes
from Church Fathers, and an exploration of human nature. The historical setting
is 1846 in Ireland, during the Great Hunger (potato famine), so I explore that
as well, albeit in a way appropriate for a young audience.
Is your book or
upcoming book an eBook, paperback, or both?
I’m
working on book five in the series, and it will initially be available as both
eBook and paperback. The first three books in the series (Into a Strange Land, Taming the Goblin, and The Witch and the Waking Tree) are also available on Audible as
audio books, and I’ve contracted with my narrator to deliver book four as an
audio book by the end of October this year.
Is this your
first book?
This
is my first published book series.
Are you planning
to write more?
Absolutely.
At least two more, and probably a trilogy of trilogies.
Is there
anything you would say to other writers, that want to write and publish a book?
Sure
– just keep at it. Take a little bit of time each day to write. Spend less time
on Facebook and more time putting words on the page. Don’t be afraid to have people
read and give honest critiques of your work. Accept constructive criticism and
learn from it. Improve your art. Never give up. And get an editor!
Where can my
readers find your book and how they can follow you on social media? Leave only
links that you want open to the public.
The
whole series is available on Amazon.
Here’s
The McGunnegal Chronicles Facebook page:
Thank
you so much for sharing with us Ben. Your series sounds very interesting and
entertaining. Also I love your advice for other writers, especially about
getting off of Facebook. I often have to do that myself to keep on track.
I
hope everyone will check out Ben’s books by using the link above.
As
Always, Happy Reading and Writing Everyone
G.
D. Talbot
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