Getting to Know Michael Cargill

Hey Guys!
So today I am introducing you to the talented Michael Cargill, author of Shades of Grey. I will be asking him some questions for you all to read over and enjoy!
Hope it helps you get a better insight into him and his novel!

Hello Michael! Welcome to A Daydreamer’s Thoughts! To start us off, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself, anything you would like your readers to know.
I am 32 and it’s my birthday soon.  Yay!  I am not actually a fulltime writer and by day I work in IT for a jolly large company that has made lots of people redundant over the past couple of years.  Luckily I wasn’t one of them and I get to sit in my cosy office all day.

Let’s hope you can keep your job! Since it’s not your full time career (yet), how long have you wanted to be a writer?
In all honesty; not very long at all.  I am not one of those people who loved writing the moment I was conceived.  In school I found it boring and tedious.  It was only in the middle of last year that I seriously considered it.

I think it’s really refreshing to meet someone who hasn’t been writing for years, so when you’re not typing away at the keyboard coming up with new ideas, what do you do?
Fix stuff what has been broken.  IT was actually my passion from a fairly early age.  I found out that I was pretty good at it and have been nerding it up ever since.

So now we know more about you, what about your book? What is it all about?
It is a collection of three short stories.  Each story throws the main character into a situation that they have no control over and it is about how they deal with it.  There is some suspense, a spot of action, a bit of humour and several thrilly bits.

Sounds interesting, but I’m curious, what inspired you to write a book set out this way?
Um, dunno really.  Short stories are a common way for a writer to find his writing feet and this is the result of my efforts.

I’d say that’s a good enough reason! With that in mind, who would you say was your target audience?
Bleurgh.  Gonna have to say ‘dunno really’ again.  Anyone who likes short stories or something interesting to read I suppose.

Anyone, anywhere, anytime then! Would you say there is anything you feel readers should know before they start reading?
None of the stories are set in Wales or Australia.  Also, if anyone is wary about handing their hard-earned cash over to a new author I completely understand.  My book titled Shelter from Thunder is a short story that is available for free and is probably the ideal starting point for anyone wanting to see what I can do.

Ah, thanks for that helpful tip, I may have to get myself a copy! Going back to Shades of Grey though, I’m curious, did you use a structured plan or did it sort of tell it’s own story along the way?
Plan, schplan!  I just get a kernel of an idea and tippy-tap my way through the story as I go.  If it worked for Roman emperors it can work for me as well.

Haha, why not? Sounds like an inventive way to write! With no true plan, how long did it take you to complete? (roughly)
I would say four or five months, give or take four or five months.

Brilliant! In those four or five months, what was your favourite part about writing it?
When I finished I actually thought “this is jolly fun and I may even be able to make a pretty penny out of it.”

Wise thought to have! I hope it goes well for you! You finished it, but were there any challenging scenes that you felt that you just couldn’t get right?
Yes, several.  Any writer who says they are 100% happy with every single little thing is a liar.  Roman emperors probably said it but they were Roman emperors so no-one dared say anything to them.

I think you may have a thing for Roman Emperors, or is that just me? Back on topic though, aside from Shades of Grey and Shelter from Thunder, do you have any more novels already written, or on the way, or both?
I have one on the way that I am working now.  Anyone hacking Google Docs will probably find it there.  I have several kernels of ideas bouncing around in my head as well.

And finally, do you have any advice for any aspiring writers out there?Yes.  All those writing guides out there that give you dos and don’ts?  Ignore them.  They will just fill your head with rules that will confuse you.  They don’t really make sense until you have an idea of how to write.  It’s like learning to ride a bike – giving someone a list of rules won’t help them.  You just have to kick them up the arse and tell them to keep practising instead of reading comics in their treehouse.

and a quick fire round;

ebooks or hard copies?
Ebooks.  My Kindle is brill.
day or night?
Day.  I can draw the curtains if the sun starts to annoy me.
reading or writing?
Oooh, evil.  Reading as it can be fascinating.
paper or computer?
Computer.  Away with your papyrus scrolls of nonsense.
tea or coffee?
Coffee if done properly by someone else.
favourite book of the moment?
The Dukkering Boy by Frances Lewis.
most memorable book?
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer.  A fascinating book that propelled me into the world of non-fiction.

Thank you Michael, it’s been a pleasure questioning you today!
To find out more about Michael and his works feel free to follow his twitter, blog or add him on goodreads!
All of his current books are available for purchase on Smashwords, here.

Faye