This week’s Featured Author is Pam Bloom, science fiction author of Whole New World[s] – The Parallel Universe Adventures, Book 1. She lives in Wirral, England, with her husband, teenage daughter, cat and many, many fish. In her spare time, she likes walking there and back again, and her interests include nature, science, history, metal detecting, and words.
Whole New World[s] is her debut novel, the first in The Parallel Universe Adventures trilogy. Aimed at Young Adults, it is a science fiction adventure about a boy who discovers the universe is not quite as simple as he thought. Her second book, Running (A Parallel Universe Adventures) is out now.
Read her interview below and don’t forget to check out her book on Amazon.
Can you tell us a bit about Whole New World[s] – The Parallel Universe Adventures?
Whole New World[s] is about eleven-year-old Ethan Jones, a carer for his mum and little sister, finds a pebble-like device on the floor of an abandoned coastguard house while out on a walk. Unknowingly pressing the button, he discovers himself in a changed world, where pigs are walked like dogs, no-one seems to know him, and his absent, abusive dad is back at home. He is actually in a parallel universe – a fact he discovers when he thankfully returns home and a stranger comes to the door asking for his device back. A light sci-fi read aimed at the younger end of the market, it’s a tale of adventure, friendship and, ultimately, the realisation that your own less-than-perfect world is not as bad as it could be.
What inspired you to write the book?
My daughter, who is now 14, has never liked reading, despite being surrounded by books (her grandma was a librarian, while I was a journalist). I tried everything to get her to read for pleasure, to no avail. I have always written for fun, but never before completed a novel – until I decided to write a book for my daughter. It didn’t work – she still wouldn’t read it, but I read it out to her and she enjoyed it.
Who has influenced your writing?
I am a big fan of Charles Dickens, Stephen King and Douglas Adams, in no particular order. I truly think aspects of all three have influenced my writing, though I don’t put myself in the same class as any of them, unfortunately.
Can you tell us a bit about your writing style?
I like to have at least one chapter plotted in my head before I write – the general outline, anyway. I enjoy long walks, during which I can plot a few chapters at a time. But I don’t write anything down when plotting, and I let the characters develop on the page. They often do things I didn’t expect them to. It’s really quite odd – the book often writes itself.
What do you like about writing?
I love creating whole people and their worlds and losing myself in them while writing.
What do you like the least about writing?
The least enjoyable thing is worrying if anyone else will actually like your work. I’m a sensitive soul, and don’t take criticism well.
What challenges have you come across in your writing journey?
I find the writing bit of being an author relatively easy, but the marketing aspect (as I am a self-publisher) is a huge challenge, requiring a lot of research and learning new skills.
Can you tell us about what you’re working on next?
My second book in The Parallel Universe Adventures, Running, is currently resting before being edited, while I am plotting the beginning of the third book, which doesn’t have a title yet.
What’s the last book you read that left you with what people call a “book hangover?”
I have read a lot over the years (I am a very old person – well, 49) but do not read much at the moment. I like the classics, but the last book I read was The Bafut Beagles by Gerald Durrell. It’s an affectionate account of his animal-collecting antics in Bafut, in the Cameroons, Africa, and has some laugh-out-loud moments.
What’s the best advice you’ve heard about writing?
The best advice I have ever had is write, write, write and write again. Even if you think no-one is ever going to read it, you need to get words down on paper.
Thanks so much, Pam!
Learn more about Pam Bloom!
Website: https://www.pambloomauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pambloomauthor/
Blog: https://www.pambloomauthor.com/?p=30
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pam-Bloom/e/B01I8AH8NK/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
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