Interview with James W Bancroft

Published 2015-04-06.
Who are your favorite authors?
Fantasy writers, especially those with a zany or nonsensical theme, such as Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, Spike Milligan and the Monty Python Team.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Singing, and writing and listening to music.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
The first story I started was Timewater Bridge, which has become 'Axitoria: The Land Beyond the Glade - and I am still writing it!
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first story I ever read that had any kind of an impact on me was 'Alice's Adventures In Wonderland', and I have also been greatly influenced by the motion picture 'Zulu!'
What are your five favorite books, and why?
Fantasy because I love to be taken away from the real world, and military, which unfortunately is a major part in the modern world.
What do you read for pleasure?
I read fantasy to escape - not so much for pleasure, and many research books and documents.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Much of my work contains biographical tributes to military and sport heroes of the past so I use the local media in a specific place where a subject was born, lived or died, to bring that person to the attention of people local to that area.
Describe your desk
Indescribable!
When did you first start writing?
I started writing in 1985 when my music career was coming to an end
What motivated you to become an indie author?
There is not much contact between a not-so-famous writer like me and the publisher so there is not much difference, and I have never used an agent.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
By helping to get my books noticed by a wider audience than I could have got to without them.
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