Introduction
Tim is someone I’m very proud to introduce to you because he’s one person who bought Bill Keeth’s book, Write It Self-Publish It Sell It, and learnt from it. I am sure that you will enjoy his story as much as I did. Without further ado, I have great pleasure in introducing to you, Tim Keogh …
Aneeta: Tim, thank you for agreeing to this interview.
Tim: It is my pleasure, Aneeta.
Aneeta: Please tell me a little about yourself – where were you born, where did you grow up, what do you do for a living and where do you live now?
Tim: I was born in Middleton, North Manchester. I am the eldest of three brothers all of whom are teachers. I guess you could call it the family business as my dad was a Headteacher and his sister was a teacher of English. I teach French and Spanish and live only a few miles from my childhood home, in Chadderton near Oldham.
Aneeta: How did you first become interested in writing and storytelling?
Tim: It has always been there, really. As an English teacher Dad encouraged us to read and our house was full of books. My grandad was Irish and they say that the Irish are a nation of story tellers! I remember as a child at primary school winning a prize in class for writing about my weekend at the football.
Aneeta: I understand that you have self-published your first book. Please describe it for me.
Tim: In Nothing But Blue Skies I describe a happy childhood and adolescence growing up in North Manchester in the late 1960s and 1970s. The book centres around my devotion to watching Manchester City home and away in this great period. I do not simply churn out match reports but instead describe a series of experiences which inform the reader just what it was like to be a football fan at this time. But the book is not just about football. I describe my schooldays, first love, holidays with friends, and early attempts at trying to meet the opposite sex in the night clubs and discos of a Manchester dominated by the punk rock music scene. I wanted to portray a happy carefree childhood and adolescence- one of nothing but blue skies!
Aneeta: Now, the more interesting aspect of this story is that you used a book, also self-published, by one of my columnists, Bill Keeth, as your manual for self-publishing [Write It Self-Publish It Sell It]. Why did you do this and what aspects of his book did you benefit from the most?
Tim: I was thrilled to see that such a manual existed. You see, as we all know writing can be a lonely business but to know that there are others out there like Bill who have done it all is very reassuring. And the practical help has been absolutely invaluable. In particular the advice about setting up accounts with wholesalers and Amazon and the like. Thanks again Bill
Aneeta: Would you self-publish again?
Tim: Yes. I would have no hesitation.
Aneeta: Tim, as you know this website caters for storytellers. What advice would you give those who would like to self-publish?
Tim: Do not be afraid to ask for help. It is out there!
Aneeta: Tim, this is all I have to ask. Is there anything you’d like to add?
Tim: Only, thank you for letting me speak to you. I wish you and your readers “Nothing but blue skies”!
Aneeta: Tim, thank you, once again.
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