T.R. Thompson #WeLoveOurAuthors

T.R. Thompson is an Australian speculative fiction author. He lives in Belgrave on the outskirts of Melbourne with his wife and two young sons. When not writing or reading, he spends too much time gaming and taking long meandering walks through the forest that always seem to end up at a tavern.

Tom, what drew you to write in the fantasy genre? Were there any authors that inspired you to write fantasy?

I’ve always loved the escapism and possibility for real originality in speculative fiction. I remember hiding in my room lost in other worlds as a child, and that feeling hasn’t left since. Plenty of spec fic authors have inspired me: Raymond E. Feist, David Eddings, R.A. Salvatore, Philip K. Dick, Iain M. Banks (I think I have a thing for initials!). Other genre authors have also been a big influence: George V. Higgins, Elmore Leonard, William Gibson, Jorge Luis Borges.

Do you find your characters and settings are based upon your own life experiences?

Not purposefully, although I do live in the hills near a large forest that I often hike through, so I’m sure it’s had an effect!

Wilt and Higgs and the other characters in The Wraith Cycle have had an incredible time in the first two books of your series. What adventures can we expect them to have in future books?

Book 3 aims to be more of a quest as the main characters chase down the source of the darkness leaking into the world, crossing the Eternal Sea to the Eastern Dales. Anything else would be a spoiler…

What is your biggest motivation for writing?

If I don’t do it I’ll go crazy in the coconut. I realised long ago that writing is a necessity for me, I’m just glad others enjoy the end result!

How many books have you written?

2 novels published, 1 in progress and 3 others completed and in various stages of polish.

What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?

Getting published at all is an accomplishment these days. Now to chase down that Netflix deal….

Lots of young writers (or emerging mature authors) seek the advice of authors who have been there, done that. What advice would you give a writer trying to get published?

Stop editing yourself so much while writing – complete the project first, no matter how much you think it sucks. Then go back and draft it again and again and again. And keep at it!

What inspires you when you’ve hit that writer’s block?

I have faith that my natural paranoia will get me writing again soon enough – block isn’t something I really suffer from.

Describe your writing style in three words.

Fast-paced (is that cheating?) Gripping. Fluent.