About Justin Morgan:
I'm a Welshman with a love of the natural world and a thirst for adventure.
I've always been a storyteller, and have travelled the world seeking experiences to fuel my narratives and enrich my creative craft. In autumn 2021, the first of my 'Animal Eyes' series, 'The Dogs of Chernobyl', was released, setting off a whole new adventure which I'm loving so far.
Animals are my passion, and I've been fortunate to spend time in the wild with lots of interesting creatures across some of the world's most spectacular locations. My love of, and concern for, the natural world is the heart of my books and I'm excited about the release of two more titles in 2022 which further showcase this passion.
My globetrotting adventures have been made possible by my career as a teacher, allowing me to live and work in some fascinating places and to really immerse myself in the local culture, as well as its flora and fauna.
Currently, I'm living in South Wales and enjoying re-exploring the glorious Welsh countryside that surrounds me.
What inspires you to write?
Being in nature and moving with other animals is what I love to do, so that's what I write.
Empathy is such an important trait in our shared world, and novels can be an excellent tool for developing it. Giving myself the eyes of other animals and examining human influence and behaviour from their perspective may help others to do the same, which could be a net gain for nature.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Margaret Atwood is a real hero of mine, her writing is so spellbindingly skilful. I love how her dystopic futures are based around what’s actually going on in the world. Her wit is so intimidatingly sharp and she seems full of mischief and fun.
I’m a big fan of Kazuo Ishiguro too. I’m in awe of how much space he finds and the understated nature of his writing. Plus, I’m a huge Japanophile, so whenever those influences seep into his work I get a thrill, especially now that another trip to Japan seems a distant prospect. I guess that’s why one of the next books in my series is set around Japan – if you can’t go in body then why not go in mind?
I’ve taught ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne in high school a number of times and loved it. The biggest response from teenagers is always when the storytelling meets the history. The naïve perspective on history that comes through the young protagonist is incredibly powerful and is what I’ve attempted to capture through my dog narrative exploring Chernobyl and Soviet society.
Tell us about your writing process.
Being disciplined is crucial, and no matter where I am in the world I keep regular writing hours with clear daily targets.
My animal characters are kept as true to their nature as possible, which requires a great deal of research before writing can begin. This is a really enjoyable part of the process and motivates me when thinking about beginning a new book.
Prior to researching, talking through a story idea helps to see if it feels exciting and whether it's viable. There's something about saying it out loud that makes it easier to see the big picture and get a feel for its potential.
I don't begin writing until I have a sense of how the novel will work structurally, but once I've established that, I get going with the production phase and don't stop until I have a first draft.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
It's generally the case for me that writing begins before the whole story is plotted, and it's the characters that shape the direction events take. Where they come from is a mystery, but characters develop the more time you spend with them; you realise that what you thought was going to happen just isn't how they'd behave at all and a completely new way forward suddenly becomes the only option because of the personality that's emerged. It's strange!
What advice would you give other writers?
Comparison is the thief of joy – focus on yourself and don’t worry about how everyone else is doing. Even the smallest step forward is progress, but when you start looking at other people’s success it’s very easy to lose sight of that.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
After a LOT of research, I discovered that self-publishing was a good option for those writing a series of books and so went in that direction.
Being a bit of a control freak and perfectionist when it comes to my books, the idea of having full responsibility for every aspect of the process also appealed massively.
Having said that, a great editor is invaluable, and no author should bypass professional feedback if they want their work to reach its potential.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Most readers like curators who reassure them that they're spending money on something of quality, and for that reason, I doubt the traditional publishing industry is going anywhere anytime soon. Adventurous readers, who really know what they like, tend to dive into the world of self-published authors with a bit more confidence.
What genres do you write?: Animal literature, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, YA, Environmental Fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Justin Morgan Home Page Link
Link To Justin Morgan Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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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.
