Welcome to Tommy Batchelor

Today I have Tommy Batchelor with me.

Here is a bit about him.

Growing up in central Georgia gave Author Tommy Batchelor many outdoor adventures either in the woods or along the banks of the Flint River. Tommy's first book, a picture book for ages 5 - 9 , "Sunday's with Papa T, A River Adventure. “Lost on Spirit River”, is Book 1 of the Spirit River Trilogy and Tommy’s first Middle grade fiction for ages 9 – 12 He resides in Middle Georgia with his wife, Cathy.


Here is his latest release.




Thirteen-year-old Tony’s parents are in the middle of divorce, his mother sends him to his Grandpa’s along the banks of the Flint River in Southwestern Georgia. With his younger cousin Kathryn, they set out to look for a Christmas tree for the holidays, along with Grandpa’s aging beagle, Sally. The three become lost in a snowstorm, Finding shelter in a hidden cave, stumbling upon Native American wall art. Now the adventure really begins.



Good morning Tommy. It is lovely to have you here today on my blog, is there anything you would like to say before we have a chat?

Good Morning Margaret and thanks for having me here today. As the world around us changes from day to day, so does the world of books. I remember as a small child, I’d sit on the library benches to read or curl up in bed with books before bedtime. A good book in my hands made me feel grown up, it felt as if I was on the same level of my sisters and parents. I can read, I kept telling myself. Least I never told this to my school friends. Each year, as I progressed to the next grade level in school, we were given at least one new book to use. I loved the smell of a new book.

The books I read were my escape from everyday life. I could catch a plane across the ocean or dive to the deepest bottom of a lake. I might blast off for the moon or end up on Mars, march with soldiers across Germany or France. I was there with General Lee in Virginia and I was there when the first Englishman came to the Americans. I greeted the Native American with open arms, sat down with them and ate a meal together.

Our book world changes to e-books on Kindle’s and Nooks, even though I haven’t bought one yet. My Dad bought my Mom a Kindle this year for Christmas, she loves curling up on the sofa or reading chair with a hardback book in hand. That’s changed now. I guess this is best for her, since she is now in her eighties. It doesn’t smell like a new book and it’s too small to curl up with, I think, I’ll wait another year or longer to buy an e-reader. Maybe I’ll wait until they smell like a new book each time you turn it on!

How lovely that would be. I have to agree that I just can’t think of anything better than a book in my hand. I have many writers who inspire me, but mainly life does that job. Can you tell us who inspires you to write?

It was mainly my Grandchildren, several of them had problems getting into reading and I knew this would hurt them once they started school. I began writing short stories to use for bedtime stories. They seemed interested in my stories, inspired by Grandpa’s books they began to reach out for other books to read.
How fascinating. It looks like there is a real niche for your type of writing. Now you can share it with your family as well as others. Something to be very proud of.
I’m always looking for something special to leave for my Grandchildren, I believe a book is the perfect gift. Maybe two hundred years from now, I’ll pop back in to see my great-great grandchildren and there on the book self is only a single book, entitled “Lost on Spirit River, Book One”

Do you have any more books planned?

I’m working on several project’s, book two of Spirit River is one and a memoir non-fiction of growing up in the sixty’s as a young boy from Central Georgia. This is something I’ve wanted to do for quite awhile now, before my memory gives out.
That’s very different from your new book. So while it’s still fresh in your mind, can you pick your favourite character from your new release and tell us about them
Tony is my favourite character; he’s hurt and bitter in the beginning with his parent’s divorce. He feels his father and even his friends have abandoned him. He decides to not accept anybody’s help for anything, he feels he doesn’t need anyone. That’s far from the truth as the story progress farther into the book. Can he change ? Will he accept his cousin’s help? You have to read the book to find the answer!

Do you have any advice for new writers just starting out?

Patience, is the key. Since I self-published through Mirror Publishing, most self-publish author seem to rush to get the book out and on the shelf. That’s the big publishing houses and consumer’s weapon against the self-publisher. You might have written a great story, but it hurts you and the self-publishing authors to rush your book. Take a little time to have everything set up before you publish. Have Patence’s!

Being self published, would you use the ‘publisher’ route now or do you consider self publishing the way forward? Do you edit your own books?

I like being in control with my books, doesn’t everybody who self-publishes. You can pick your Illustrators, editors and cover designers. You can control the cost of your book and/or e-books. You do most of your books marketing. I think we’ll see more and more of the big name authors getting into self-publishing their own books and e-books.

Before you go can you tell us where can your followers find you?

Website
Author site
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Thank you so much for popping in Tom and I wish you lots of luck with your new release. Please come back when your next book is out and tell us about it.