Could you tell us about Yourself?  

I was born in the coastal town of Durban, South Africa. For most of my life I have lived all over  Durban, South Africa. At present I live in Durban.  

What made you write your book?  

My book Nightmare Destinations was the culmination of many years of writing. It features a  collection of short stories guaranteed to keep you up until late at night.  

What is the first book you remember reading? 

The Stand by Stephen King. It’s a classic.  

What’s your favourite book? 

Well it’s more of a series. The Dark Tower by Stephen King.  

Who is your favourite author and why? 

Stephen King. His output is legendary and his books have stood the test of time.  

How many hours a day do you write? 

I normally aim at 5 hours a day.  

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer? 

Procrastination.  

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? 

That would be getting started. Once I have begun the process rolls quite smoothly and it’s all about  filling in the gaps.  

If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose and why? 

Stephen King. I would love to learn more about him and his writing process. 

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?  

Peace and solitude.  

What’s your favourite writing snack or drink?  

Coffee.  

How do you celebrate when you finish a book? 

I normally go out for a hearty breakfast to celebrate.  

Do you listen to music while you wrote your book(s)? 

Sometimes, I generally favour trance music it helps a great deal.  

Where do you get your idea (s) for your book (s)?  

They can come from anywhere. Sometimes walking down the street or sometimes in a dream.  

What is / was your writing process like?  

I generally like to start with a skeleton draft and then fill in the blanks. For the most part I have the  ending in mind but sometimes that may change.  

Notes help a great deal.  

Do you try more to be original or rather give readers what they want?  

Mostly I am at originality but if a reader wants a particular story I try my best to see what I can do for  them.  

How did you publish your first book? 

I had to go the route of self-publishing and it was certainly a learning curve and I learnt a great deal along the way. Now you can find most of my books on Amazon.  

What kind of research do you do and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? 

I like to take my time with research so it can take anywhere from a few months to a year for  research depending on how complex the subject matter is.  

How do you develop your plot and characters? 

This takes time and I work on them both constantly. The plot and characters have to stand out.  

What’s your favourite and least favourite part of publishing your book (s)?  

The favourite part is getting it done. There’s a sense of accomplishment in it. The least favourite part  is chasing a deadline and getting all the requirements in place to publish in time.  

What part of the book was the most fun to write?  

I had a wonderful time writing the story about the drone.

How did you come up with the title of your book? 

The book title for Nightmare Destinations came from a place where scary tales could happen.  Where would that place be?  

Would you and the main character get along?  

That depends on which story we are talking about, if you are talking about a serial killer then  certainly no, but a policeman with drive, that I could relate to. 

If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?  

If you only knew how long it took me to create you.  

Which of the characters in your book(s) do you relate to the most and why?  

Certainly the detective, after all a great writer is very similar to a detective.  

What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?  

Many of the characters changed and some were rewritten to make each story better.

How would you describe your book’s idea reader? 

I think that would be someone who is looking for an enjoyable read. Certainly someone who loves  short stories, there are also tales for anyone who loves science fiction, mystery, horror and  suspense. The tales are also perfect to read on a plane or bus trip.  

What did you edit out of your book? 

Certain pieces became to wordy and sometimes you just have to cut them out to make the story better.

 

What was your hardest scene to write?  

The final scene in the story The Head would be the one. It took a great deal of time and work for  everything to come into place.  

How long did it take for you to write a book?  

Nightmare Destinations took around two years to complete.  

What do you hope your readers take away from your book?  

I hope they enjoy the book and getting taken away to different worlds and I hope afterwards they  think differently about life.  

What was the hardest part of writing your book? 

Finishing it.  

Did you get some negative feedback on your book? And if so how do you deal with that? 

Not really, most people have loved reading it.  

How did you feel when you published your book? Scared? Excited? Nervous? 

All of the above.  

Where can people who are interested in your book, buy your book?  

You can find my book Nightmare Destinations on Amazon:

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

 At present I am working on another collection of short stories.  

After writing your book what is your advice to people who want to become writers?  

Learn as much as you can about the craft. Read as many books as you can and write as much as you  can. Also if you get a crazy idea write it down. You never know it might just lead to a bestseller.  

What are common traps for aspiring writers and have you faced any of them? 

Certainly getting started and also finishing a book. Dealing with rejection from publishers. I have  faced them all. Keep pushing and get your book finished and keep trying to get your book published. 

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?  

I read some of them and learn from all of them.  

Is there something more you want to tell us which I forgot to ask about? 

I have read many comics and watch many series and movies. You can learn a great deal from them. 

Fred Felton Media Links

Amazon Profile + Books

Website

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