Interview: TimNorwood
Author of "System."
"Taking Time."
What can we call you (name)?
I'm happy with Tim, but a few older people call me 'Timothy' - which is meant affectionately - I think! 'James' is a bit of a family name, so I sometimes write as 'Timothy James'.
Where are you from?
I was born in England but have also lived in Scotland. I've moved around a lot, but currently live in a new city called Milton Keynes. It's known for its concrete cows and roundabouts, but is actually pretty green - with a maze of cycle routes, ancient woodland and common pasture land.
What is your favorite hobby?
I play guitar, mandola and ukelele - and have five instruments hanging from my study wall - which is pretty distracting...
I swim, walk and visit the gym. I'm not a body builder, but I had a serious back injury two years ago, so still have a lot of muscle recovery to work on...
Coffee or tea?
Tea when I wake up, coffee with friends. Decaf latte is my beverage of choice.
Interesting Fact?
I once drove a monorail for a living. It was cool because it went through a hole into a large building and out the other side. I used to feel like Luke Skywalker flying into the Death Star!
What book(s) are you reading now?
I'm trying to finish 'Mockingjay' but my daughters say it's really bad, so I'm not there yet! I'm also enjoying Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter's Long Earth/War books. I enjoy the universe that they've created and really wish I could slip into parallel universes like the people in their books...
Who are your favorite Wattpad authors?
Hard to say... And I'm not sure I want to name anyone particular, since what I like about Wattpad is the way it encourages people simply to have a go. Some of the stories that I have enjoyed most were not particularly well written - but I could see what the writer was trying to do, and it was really exciting to see them take a few first steps... There are other writers on Wattpad who are clearly brilliant, but they also have a huge number of fans. I prefer the freshness and immediacy of my fellow amateurs.
When and why did you start writing?
I wrote stories when I was a small child and loved the idea of being a proper writer. I won a poetry competition in primary school - really! - but my first proper story was probably a Doctor Who rip-off i wrote when I was ten...
I started toying with ideas for books when I was in my late teens - but they never seemed to go anywhere. 'Taking Time' is my latest attempt to finish something I actually started when I was fourteen...
I'm not sure why I write - except to say that I have all these worlds and characters in my head - and they still want to get out.
Is there a specific genre that you like to read/write?
I'm still a sci-fi fan - can't help it - but I like stories that seem real or make me think. A lot of science fiction is really fantasy with ray guns - which isn't my thing.
I've got fairly eclectic tastes though and enjoy a good story in any genre - if it's well written.
What or who inspires you in your work?
