James T Mather has lived in Nottingham since 1976.
During the first lockdown, work and normal life ground to a halt. He knew this was an opportunity not to be missed, so decided to live a little healthier, cut out alcohol, and throw himself into writing Karadas. It wasn’t long before he was hooked, waking each morning and writing throughout the day. James found the task gave him a real purpose and he certainly enjoyed writing his first ever book.
The Local News spoke with James to find out more about his lockdown adventure.
Where did your love of writing start?
“Curiously, I would say movies. Even from an early age I loved sci-fi and fantasy, and would often dream up my own storylines, scribbling down ideas and drawing monsters and spaceships! Sinbad, Clash of the Titans, and King Kong are among my old favourites (none of which had the amazing special effects of today). Star Wars is also a huge draw for me. In terms of books, The Hobbit, The Magic Faraway Tree, and Roald Dahl’s stories were never far from my bedside table when I was young. More recently, I have been reading George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. My writing certainly takes ideas from all of these examples.”
Can you give a brief description of what the book entails?
“The book is actually the first in a two book series; Karadas: The Veiled Realm. Book One, Spectre of Destiny, is a fantasy adventure aimed at teenagers (YA), although younger readers and adults will find the writing style appealing. Book One begins aboard the Titanic in 1912. Two young orphaned siblings, Theodore and Minnie Reed are accidentally swept away from the ship hours before it sinks. Lucky escape, right? You would think so. The children soon become separated, with Theodore awakening upon the vast, sandy beach of an uncharted island. He begins a fast paced journey through Karadas, frantically searching for Minnie, rubbing shoulders with a host of friendly, and far less friendly creatures. Expect dark magic, mystery, and unspeakable jeopardy at every turn!”
Do you have any future goals or ambitions, and what advice would you give to readers who have dreams of writing a book?
“Presently, I am working to get the second book ready for a Christmas release. After that, I plan to write a sci-fi story set in the present day. It is currently in the early stages while I work out the plot fully. I do not imagine I will ever stop writing. The practice has altered my life enormously and I would encourage anyone to go for it 100%. If I can write a book with questionable school grades, you can too. It’s never too early or late to start. Write about what you love. Create your own style, do it for yourself, and never give up.”
How can people find a copy of our book or where can they purchase it?
“Karadas: The Veiled Realm, Spectre of Destiny, is available in both paperback and eBook formats. Amazon, Apple, and Waterstones.com are among the many outlets the book is available from.”
To learn more about the book, explore a map of the realm, and find purchasing links, visit www.jtmather.com or his social media: Facebook: Author J T Mather. Instagram: j_t_mather