Welcome, George, to Inside the Writer's Mind. I'll be asking you some questions, sort of picking your brain a little bit to get to know you as an author. Thank you for joining me. Ready?
Same DiNamics: Writing can be a daunting prospect, what made you decide to share your story with the world?
George Lockie: I have been an avid reader all my life and having served in the British Army felt that there were two subjects relating to Army service that had never been adequately covered. I have tried to cover them in my two novels to date, Eye of the Hunter and Chameleon.
SD: Who has influenced you as an author?
GL: I became an avid Wilbur Smith follower and have read all his novels. Clive Cussler followed and lately Vince Flynn and Tom Clancy are my favourites. I generally read about four books a month, but lately with my Kindle have increased that.
SD: What is your writing method? Do you outline first or do you purge your brain on paper until your story is told?
GL: I suppose having a good basic theme and doing a lot of researching the subject, the timeline, the background adds meat to the basic skeleton and the novel takes shape. When I first start there is only about 40% of the final story clearly defined, the rest slowly just adds as you get into the plots and twists that occur sometimes overnight.
SD: How long does it take you to write your story, from getting it down on paper to publishing?
GL: I try and set a basic plan of one year from initial start to publish date with basic writing about half that and editing, reviewing, discussion with publishers the other half. I must admit with computers and Google it is so much quicker than by hand, I could not contemplate the work and effort authors faced prior to these advances.
SD: Can you tell me a little bit about your book(s) without giving away too much? Why should I read it?
GL: I mentioned earlier two issues that prompted me to write my novels. Eye of the Hunter the first covers my belief that the bond that exists between serving personnel in the front line who rely day on day on the fact their lives are totally depended on their mates actions forms a relationship not easily disclosed. The final sacrifice of having to kill one of your closet mates in a death defying action and its effect on the mind are central to this novel. The second Chameleon involves the total disregard the Army appears to have for the servicemen it trains to kill without remorse or thought, who then return to a civilian life without any consideration how they will adapt to a changed environment. My second novel covers what can happen when one goes rogue and seeks the old pleasure of killing he once enjoyed.
SD: How much of yourself is in your character(s)?
GL: They say that your first novel contains a lot of your own experiences and memories and in my case I agree with that. It is easier to recount actual happenings in your own life, your upbringing, your background, it adds colour to how you see things and you write accordingly. This dissipates as you become more assure in your researching and editor interface tends to help you become more professional in your approach. My third novel currently 75% complete has no link to my experiences at all except to locality and country.
SD: What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
GL: I think everybody has a good story in them, it is the discipline, the planning and sticking to it that brings satisfaction. A good team to support, to critique and assist when needed is vital. This I have found reduces as you gain more exposure and learn the ropes.
SD: Is there anything else that you'd like to share?
GL: The main difficulty I found occurs after you have your treasured offering ready for review. It is so difficult as a first author to gain any traction in the publishing field. Most editors will not even recognise your approach, others don't even read your submission before sending you brief refusal. There are a few exceptions and I found their reasons both constructive and meaningful and they helped immensely. I have self-published both my novels for this reason but feel much more comfortable my third one will be more what publishers will be looking for so I will try that route with more confidence.
George Lockie: I have been an avid reader all my life and having served in the British Army felt that there were two subjects relating to Army service that had never been adequately covered. I have tried to cover them in my two novels to date, Eye of the Hunter and Chameleon.
SD: Who has influenced you as an author?
GL: I became an avid Wilbur Smith follower and have read all his novels. Clive Cussler followed and lately Vince Flynn and Tom Clancy are my favourites. I generally read about four books a month, but lately with my Kindle have increased that.
SD: What is your writing method? Do you outline first or do you purge your brain on paper until your story is told?
GL: I suppose having a good basic theme and doing a lot of researching the subject, the timeline, the background adds meat to the basic skeleton and the novel takes shape. When I first start there is only about 40% of the final story clearly defined, the rest slowly just adds as you get into the plots and twists that occur sometimes overnight.
SD: How long does it take you to write your story, from getting it down on paper to publishing?
GL: I try and set a basic plan of one year from initial start to publish date with basic writing about half that and editing, reviewing, discussion with publishers the other half. I must admit with computers and Google it is so much quicker than by hand, I could not contemplate the work and effort authors faced prior to these advances.
SD: Can you tell me a little bit about your book(s) without giving away too much? Why should I read it?
GL: I mentioned earlier two issues that prompted me to write my novels. Eye of the Hunter the first covers my belief that the bond that exists between serving personnel in the front line who rely day on day on the fact their lives are totally depended on their mates actions forms a relationship not easily disclosed. The final sacrifice of having to kill one of your closet mates in a death defying action and its effect on the mind are central to this novel. The second Chameleon involves the total disregard the Army appears to have for the servicemen it trains to kill without remorse or thought, who then return to a civilian life without any consideration how they will adapt to a changed environment. My second novel covers what can happen when one goes rogue and seeks the old pleasure of killing he once enjoyed.
SD: How much of yourself is in your character(s)?
GL: They say that your first novel contains a lot of your own experiences and memories and in my case I agree with that. It is easier to recount actual happenings in your own life, your upbringing, your background, it adds colour to how you see things and you write accordingly. This dissipates as you become more assure in your researching and editor interface tends to help you become more professional in your approach. My third novel currently 75% complete has no link to my experiences at all except to locality and country.
SD: What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
GL: I think everybody has a good story in them, it is the discipline, the planning and sticking to it that brings satisfaction. A good team to support, to critique and assist when needed is vital. This I have found reduces as you gain more exposure and learn the ropes.
SD: Is there anything else that you'd like to share?
GL: The main difficulty I found occurs after you have your treasured offering ready for review. It is so difficult as a first author to gain any traction in the publishing field. Most editors will not even recognise your approach, others don't even read your submission before sending you brief refusal. There are a few exceptions and I found their reasons both constructive and meaningful and they helped immensely. I have self-published both my novels for this reason but feel much more comfortable my third one will be more what publishers will be looking for so I will try that route with more confidence.
~End Interview~
Synopsis of Chameleon:
All attacks are identical in method, weapon used and victims, suggesting perpetrators are linked in some way, could it be a vicious female gang. The latest incident draws a tough no nonsense Chief Inspector with a dedicated team of detectives who are determined to bring the killers in. They follow clues that drag them all over the UK as they doggedly follow their investigations relentlessly.
The murders also raise the interest of MI5 who recognise both the weapon and method as those taught to assassins in their service. Thinking it could be one of theirs gone rogue another team of dedicated hunters take to the field. It is their aim to nullify these targets before the public realise the ramifications and their involvement is made public.
Two fearless teams tracking the same killers with different ends in mind create chaos for their leaders one of which is located in both teams. Rory Glassen must tread carefully to protect his identity is not blown by the police before the killers are eliminated by his MI5 squad first.
Available at Amazon.
Synopsis of Eye of the Hunter:
The ability to kill without thought or remorse was bred into Rory from a very young age. Forced to live all alone by bigotry and ignorance he was isolated from the society of the day, with only a grandmother as support. He was born into the world with a German father and Scottish mother just after the First World War. His father’s subsequent death meant he was forced to raise himself in a wild place high in the Scottish mountains, where just surviving was extremely difficult. It was just before the outbreak of World War II that he came in contact with other male company as troops were sent into the mountains for training. Attracted to their disciplines and comradeship Rory was drawn into their world. He gained their respect and trust and felt for the first time in his life, needed.
Once the conflict was over however he had felt lost. He had been unable to return to his former life and eventually he decided to enlist. With his raw talents for survival, including killing without regret and with his physical attributes far above the norm, he rose quickly into a person to be respected in this new life. Forming a close association with another recruit, they slowly became noted as something different and were soon promoted.This bond grew through years of service with the SAS and close encounters with enemy forces in many parts of the world. It was extremely valuable deep in enemy jungle and fighting as a small team, harassing much larger forces in the post war military struggle in Burma. Only when he was tested to the limit in frightening circumstances, which resulted in the death of his friend, did Rory crack. He was pitted against horrendous physical odds in a cruel jungle, which brought him to the edge of death.
It was the unexpected appearance of the dreaded enemy leader who was to blame for Rory’s tragic killing of his friend that snapped him back to reality determined to seek revenge. The stalking and planning of this Russian’s execution, brings Rory back to earth.
About George Lockie
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1941. Married 1964 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Wife’s name is Avril.
I have two children, Darren 46 and Vanessa 40.
Enjoyed six years service in the Parachute Regiment in the British Army. 1960/65 mainly in Middle East and Europe. We migrated as a family to Australia in 1965 seeking new challenges and a different lifestyle in a more exciting environment. Travelled extensively worldwide whilst employed by a major Australian International Packaging Group, as National Operations Manager a senior management role. 1986/2003
Started writing in 1995 as I felt that the Army relationships and strong emotional bonds that are created in life threatening experiences in the field had not been exposed or described adequately in the novels I had read. My first novel tried to cover that. It takes place post WW1 through to Post WW2. The second novel, a follow up military story again covering a subject not exposed as a problem before. My third, just in the initial stages, is another military novel again covering a very unique aspect of specialised training and human capability.
Written two novels – 1st Eye of the Hunter. (Thriller, suspense.)
All novels are linked by a common major character Rory Glassen, a ruthless dedicated soldier with extraordinary senses and physical attributes gleaned from his childhood upbringing alone in the Scottish Glens.
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