Guest Author Jeff Gardiner

Please help me welcome author Jeff Gardiner. Jeff is going to tell us a little about his current releases, “Igboland” and “”Treading on Dreams.”

Liz: Hi Jeff, welcome! To start, please tell us a little about yourself, and what inspired you to become a writer.

Jeff: I’m a UK writer and editor, with three novels, a collection of short stories and a work of non-fiction to my name. I’ve also had many short stories published in anthologies and magazines. I’ve always loved reading and I had an Enid Blyton obsession as a kid. Then as a teenager the obsession turned to the fantasy writings of Michael Moorcock. As I got older my tastes widened and changed to writers such as Mervyn Peake and Haruki Murakami.

Liz: Tell us what your current releases, “Igboland” and “Treading On Dreams” are about.

Jeff: I’ve had an exciting year so far, with two novels being published close together.

“Igboland” is a tale of passion and conflict, set in Nigeria during the Biafran War. The story is told from the perspective of a young English lady.

Blurb for Igboland:

A new life begins for her thousands of miles from home.

Lydia and Clem Davie arrive in an Igbo village in Nigeria in July 1967 just as civil war breaks out, but Lydia has trouble adjusting to life in West Africa: a place so unfamiliar and far away from everything she truly understands.

Initially, most of the locals are welcoming and friendly, until one or two begin a frightening campaign of anti-white protests.

Lydia’s life is changed irrevocably after she meets enigmatic Igbo doctor, Kwemto, and war victim, Grace. Through them Lydia learns about independence, passion and personal identity.

Conflict and romance create emotional highs and lows for Lydia, whose marriage and personal beliefs slowly begin to crumble.

Will this house in a Nigerian bush village ever seem like home?

“Treading On Dreams” is a coming-of-age romance about obsession and unrequited love. Donny is at university and the woman he falls for is engaged to another, but their blossoming friendship gives him hope.

Blurb for Treading On Dreams:

Donny is obsessed with his housemate, Selena – but his love is unrequited. He enthusiastically accepts her willing friendship, which only fuels his deepening fantasies.

Jaz is their crazy landlord who likes sleeping with women – lots of them. He takes pleasure in educating the once innocent Donny in the hedonistic pleasures of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. It blows Donny’s mind.

Selena is engaged to Melvin – the perfect man – but is also keen to befriend the ever-demanding Donny ... until she falls pregnant and her wedding looms.

Donny expresses his true feelings at the wedding, causing mayhem and anger. But there remains a chink of hope: perhaps Selena’s marriage to Melvin is not quite as perfect as it seems.

Here’s where you can find more information about me, and order your own copies of “Igboland” and “Treading on Dreams.”

Jeff’s website: http://jeffgardiner.com/

Jeff’s Blog: http://jeffgardiner.wordpress.com/

Igboland Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Igboland-Jeff-Gardiner/dp/1909841528/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396001107&sr=1-2&keywords=igboland

Treading On Dreams Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Treading-Dreams-Jeff-Gardiner-ebook/dp/B00J4Z63PI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396001171&sr=1-1&keywords=Treading+on+Dreams

Amazon Author Page (UK): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jeff-Gardiner/e/B0034QC3H0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Tirgeaar Publishing: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Gardiner_Jeff/treading-on-dreams.htm

Liz: They sound intriguing! Wonderful reads. Now, for some fun…if you were casting the movie version of “Igboland” or “Treading on Dreams,”, who would you choose for the leading roles?

Jeff: For “Igboland” Emma Watson would be perfect as Lydia, with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Kwemto – he actually has Igbo parents!

Nicholas Hoult would be good as Donny in “Treading On Dreams,” and I need someone young, bad and handsome as Jaz … perhaps Alex Pettyfer or Jack O’Connell (a brilliant turn in prison flick ‘Starred Up’).

Liz: I’d like to see those movies! Tell us about a hidden talent you have that most people don’t know about.

Jeff: I have performed quite a bit on stage (all very amateur) – playing roles as varied as Dionysus and Salvador Dali! My greatest moment was as Danny in ‘Grease’.

Liz: I love Dali, but didn’t know he was the subject of a play. Interesting. Now, tell us what’s your favorite comfort food?

Jeff: Peanut butter on anything. Try it on malt-bread – it’s amazing (and gets stuck in the roof of your mouth for hours afterwards).

Liz: A writing question: are you an outliner or do you write by the seat of your pants?

Jeff: I like to have a basic outline, but I never over plan. I need room for flexibility and change. So I’m more of a ‘seat of your pants’ writer. (That makes me laugh because in the UK ‘pants’ means your underwear).

Liz: LOL! Who knew? Here’s a safer one. What’s your favorite season and why?

Jeff: Autumn, because of the beautiful colours (oh, and it’s my birthday). The summer means school holidays, so I get to spend more time with the kids, which is also brilliant.

Liz: If you weren’t a writer, what would you be? Unbearable to think of, I know.

Jeff: Either an actor – I’d especially love to do voice acting for cartoons – or a rock star. The only problem with the latter is that I don’t play an instrument and my singing range is too narrow. We can but dream.

Liz: Rock star…I like it! While we’re talking about famous people, tell us about anyone famous you’ve met.

Jeff: I’ve met the writer Michael Moorcock and I swap emails with him. My book about his writings is coming out later this year, called ‘The Law of Chaos: the Multiverse of Michael Moorcock’.

Liz: And finally, what’s your favorite non-writing-related website?

Jeff: I love reading about classic rock music and prog rock. The best website is http://www.progrockmag.com/. My other obsession is Liverpool Football Club (soccer). The website I check daily gives gossip and rumours about transfers and players.

Thanks, Liz, for hosting me on you blog. It’s been lots of fun.

Liz: It’s been my pleasure! Can’t wait to read your two amazing novels.