Interview with Geoffrey Walker
Published 2014-03-04.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Going to work and my love for the world of shipping.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I am still very active in my work (even though clocking on in years) so I spend at least 12 hours per day engaged in this - mostly on a consultative or advisory basis
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
From the internet - mainly marine related
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes - "A Tramp for all Oceans". From memory direct to my laptop. I wrote this very quickly for something to do when I attempted early retirement, but discovered I was too young and active to retire and it was all a little premature
How do you approach cover design?
Usually I adopt a cover design based on one of the originals of my collection of Maritime Art
What are your five favorite books, and why?
I cannot say I have five favorites - I have many more - mainly modern history or Maritime related
What do you read for pleasure?
Well, I enjoy research and therefore spend time reading Maritime history or non-fiction books
Describe your desk
Surprisingly tidy - I think this derived from my upbringing and nautical training
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I spent most of my years in Hong Kong - educated and lived there for many years. Some of these memories are described in my first book "A Tramp for all Oceans" - Hong Kong and Asia feature predominantly in it
What's the story behind your latest book?
The exploits, memories and adventures of a young many who arrived in Hong Kong at an early age, grew up and was educated there, then embarked upon a career at sea as an Apprentice Deck Officer in the British Merchant Navy. The book traces the voyages from the outset until completion of my apprenticeship. The setting is mainly Asia, India, Oceania, East and South Africa - not to mention my beloved Hong Kong. Subsequent books encompass years I spent as an Officer and then Captain, tramping the oceans mainly within Asia, visiting ports both large and small alike, some of which were little more than clearings in the jungle, up rivers only just navigable or not even depicted on an Admiralty Chart
What motivated you to become an indie author?
A wish to convey my experiences (and the nostalgia) of a bygone era in shipping - mainly to those who may have experienced it themselves during the 1950's and 1960's.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
