About Andrew Môn Hughes:
I reside in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales, with my wife Judy, two Dachshunds—Bella and Benny—and our feline companion, Patch. Music is a big part of my life, evident in my extensive collection of vinyl and CDs. It's a diverse mix, predominantly classic and progressive rock, with a generous dose of German bands.
However, my foremost passion lies with The Bee Gees, whom I've collected for over 45 years. I've been involved in various projects dedicated to them, including writing tour programs, CD and DVD sleeve notes, and contributing to numerous TV documentaries, often using visuals from my collection.
It was inevitable that I'd eventually write a book about them. "The Ultimate Biography of The Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb" (Omnibus Press) debuted in 2000, followed by a second edition in 2001. After Maurice's passing in 2003, a third revised and updated edition was released. The final English edition came out in 2012 following Robin's passing. It's been translated into German and Russian and is currently out of print but available as an E-book.
Presently, I'm immersed in crafting a series of books chronicling The Bee Gees' career, each focusing on a different decade. The first installment, "DECADES: The Bee Gees in the 1960s," sets the tone for what's to come in the subsequent volumes.
What inspires you to write?
The inspiration to write struck me during the COVID lockdown when I was seeking an engaging pursuit. Two of my friends had recently authored a book about another musical group, leading me to contact Sonicbond Publishing and secure a deal. I then invited my friends, Grant Walters and Mark Crohan, to join me as co-authors due to their expertise in the realm of the Bee Gees, complementing each other with our diverse skill sets and areas of knowledge.
Despite the distance between us — I'm in Anglesey, Wales; Grant is in Ohio, USA; and Mark is in Melbourne, Australia — our Zoom calls make for interesting conversations. While Grant enjoys his morning coffee, I'm having lunch, and Mark rounds off his day with a nightcap!
Our latest book is "DECADES: The Bee Gees in the 1970s," and we've secured contracts for two more volumes — exploring the 1980s and 1990s — but we're eager to persuade the publisher to let us extend our coverage into the 21st Century, providing a comprehensive conclusion to the story.
Each book in this series has amounted to around 125,000 words, and by the project's completion, we'll have amassed over half a million words. To put this into perspective, the first book I co-authored, "The Ultimate Biography of The Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb," was about 360,000 words, showcasing the increased depth of research and detail in the "DECADES" books.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I'm not particularly inclined toward extensive reading; I mainly acquire books for reference purposes. Fiction isn't my cup of tea.
Occasionally, I stumble upon books with intriguing concepts or designs that I envision using for future writing projects. Recently, "From Me to You: Songs the Beatles Covered and Songs They Gave Away" by Brian Southall caught my eye. If I were to craft a similar book, it would revolve around the songs The Bee Gees gave away. Their vast catalogue boasts well over 200 songs recorded by other artists. I've already got a title in mind, and much of the research groundwork is already laid out from previous projects. Bringing it to life essentially involves finding a publisher and presenting it in an appealing format.
I’m not a fan of any particular authors – I’m more interested in the subject matter, and I may have many books about the same thing. I have a particular interest in the Cold War era in Berlin.
So, I don't frequently purchase books, but when I'm seeking information, I do seek them out. However, I rarely sit down to read a book cover to cover. I treat them more like reference material, diving into specific topics I want to learn more about. I'm currently engrossed in a few bookazines — one about The Who, a couple about Kraftwerk, and one each about The Eagles and Abba. They're perfect for delving into specific interests without committing to full-length books.
Tell us about your writing process.
For me, crafting factual material differs significantly from writing fiction. The research phase is where I find immense satisfaction. Scouring through old music magazines isn't just about finding relevant information; it's a treasure trove of fascinating stories. However, sometimes, there's a sense of incompleteness that keeps me up at night, leading to restless moments. The only solution is to rise at ridiculous hours and dive deeper into the material.
Similarly, during the writing phase, I can't just halt in the middle. I have to finish what I'm working on before calling it a night. That sense of completion is crucial for me.
I'm currently organising the work files for the upcoming volume in the "DECADES" series, focusing on the 1980s at the moment. Once the preparation is complete, I'll upload everything to Dropbox so that my co-authors, Mark and Grant, can access the documents. We'll collaborate over time to shape the narrative.
Considering the writing, editing, printing, and distribution processes, I'm optimistic about aiming for a publication in the final quarter of 2024.
What advice would you give other writers?
My journey as a writer might be rather unique. I've been fortunate to find publishers willing to take on all my books, sparing me the path of self-publishing. I’ve been very lucky in that respect.
When it comes to writing, factual books are starkly different from fiction. I work with established facts — I don't need an active imagination to create characters and scenarios. Instead, I report on real characters and their past activities. It might not sound thrilling initially, but I find delving into these real stories endlessly fascinating.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
It’s hard enough when you have a publisher behind you, so self-publishing has never entered my mind. I do the writing and the publisher does everything else!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I hate music streaming services – give me vinyl and CDs any day! It’s the same with books – I just don’t do E-books (even though my books are available as such) – I want a book I can hold and turn the pages.
Have you ever noticed that pundits on news programmes always have stacked bookshelves behind them? It implies that they’re smart – having a Kindle on a shelf doesn’t have the same effect.
I think, therefore, that factual and reference books will continue to be printed, and fiction will probably go more down the road of Ebooks.
What genres do you write?: I dislike the term “non-fiction”, it’s factual! Why not call fiction “non-factual”? My books are about music history – as a genre, it’s probably best described as “biography”.
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
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Andrew Môn Hughes Home Page Link
Link To Andrew Môn Hughes Page On Amazon
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
