Special Guest Interview with Philip Beaufoy, Author of The Lochwood Series - A Dark Enlightenment

  Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

The old races still live. They are hidden within us, more in some than others. The journey of a boy who must become more than he is, is a tale told a thousand times over, but it has never been told quite like this. 

I’m pleased to welcome author Philip Beaufoy to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book   

I have always been fascinated with the idea that many hominids roamed the earth at some point in ancient history. I wandered what it would have been like spying a tribe in the distance that was quite literally a different species. It is hard not to make parallels with the tales of giants, dwarves and elves that we all grew up loving and seem embedded into our culture. 

I was also taken with the idea of chaos as a scientific construct, in that given enough time all things will become dust, cold and empty and conversely the idea of life, a phenomenon that builds ever more complex structures the longer it is left to run. It was within this framework that I wanted to explore the moral norms of culture and how free choice is dependent on a person’s environment.  

Whenever I sit in an old English pub, next to a log fire sipping ale, I imagine I sit in a land far removed from the real world. I constructed the world where my story is set and the characters within long before the actual plot. These ideas gave be the basic construct for the Lochwood series. 

What is your preferred writing routine?   

I see scenes in my head. I play it like a film that I know has a good story if only I could find the correct words.  I know my characters and world. I have a map, currency, political system, weather patterns and cultures. After putting my first attempts on paper and outlining some initial ideas, I used Pro writing aid, to re-edit the whole book. As a beginner it helped me understand the methodology of writing as well as highlighting many dos and don’ts. 

I did not want my book to become overly formulaic. I welcomed the advice and guidance from a ‘bot’ but felt at times felt my style got lost in strict obedience to a set of rules. For this reason, every time I finished a chapter in pro writing aid, I dropped it back into word and did the final edit, which was torturous. It felt as though the excitement of the story exploded from me in a few weeks while refinement took three years. I am however very pleased with how I have developed from a total non-writer to someone who can express ideas in a way (some people at least) want to read. 

What advice do you have for new writers?   

Just write. Go back edit what you have written and write some more. Don’t be scared to put thoughts to paper they can be edited, refined, or deleted later. I spent hours agonising over a single sentence when I could have moved on and edited that sentence in context. Write, edit, repeat. Keep going until what you have, you like. Pass your draft to an honest friend or proof-reader and welcome any criticism. 

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?   

There are many platforms for indie authors with some great tools for marketing and premotion, but the support of writers working through the same process is most helpful. I have gathered some of my best advice from friends on twitter. It is best to meaningfully engage with people, not only post memes for likes. Guest posts, such as this, can help reach new readers, and spread awareness as you as an author. 

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research   

While researching for my book I investigated ancient cultures, rituals, language, and the meaning of names. I found it interesting to base my own cultures and rituals on these, I use literal names from old languages to denote ancestry. In the battle scenes I have tried to make troupe movements, shield walls, light horse and archers deploy in ways similar to historical battles. 

The most fun was researching the megafauna that roamed the earth with prehistoric man. I discovered giant crocodiles and snakes, big cats and bore that hunted like wolves. I used this as the inspiration for the monsters and beasts that roam the far-flung jungles of my world. 

What are you planning to write next?   

A Dark Enlightenment is book one of The Lochwood Series. I plan to explore magic, science, social norms and structures. I want readers to think about new ideas, hate with a passion the evilness of my some characters and grow to love the eccentricities of others. I am looking forward to exploring the yet untouched lands and creating new adventures for Aelfheah to face. 

Philip Beaufoy

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About the Author

Philip Beaufoy lives in Tamworth, UK, the ancient capital of Mercia. He has two children and a supportive wife who works as an illustrator and helped create the maps of Lochwood. He teaches science and maths at a school for students who have not been successful in a mainstream environment. Despite being dyslexic has always had a love of reading, writing and history. It is with this varied mix of interests he wrote the Lochwood series. Find out more at Philp’s website https://www.lochwoodseries.co.uk/ and find him on Twitter @PhilipJBeaufoy