T.N. Baldwin interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

A little introduction:

Hi, my name is T.N. (Tom) Baldwin. I’m an Australian author who accidentally wrote The Magicium Series, a dystopian fantasy series of five books so far.

When did your love of books begin?

Honestly, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love books. I knew my alphabet before I was two and read my first book, Dr Seuss’s ‘One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish’ at the age of four. From there, I just kept reading, much to my parents’ frustration.

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

I got excited about the idea when I wrote my first story in Grade 1. In a task that would be considered culturally insensitive today, I was asked to create an indigenous Dreaming Myth. I wrote ‘How the Giraffe Got Its Spots’. The story was so well-received by my teacher and other students that I was badly bitten by the bug.

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

I thought that dream of being an author had passed me by. I was Head Teacher of English and Drama at an Australian private school and had no time for writing. An unexpected year teaching in England gave me the time and freedom to accidentally write my first novel, Discoveries. Once I’d started, I just couldn’t stop. So, though it took a while, the process of becoming an author was remarkably easy. It’s the process of becoming sufficiently successful to give up your day job that has proven a challenge – but I’m finally there!

What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

Occasionally, an author will have a major breakthrough that changes their life. However, most have a series of minor breakthroughs, constantly making gradual progress, to get to the point where they are satisfied. For example, I was recently blessed when my first novel, Discoveries, won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award. However, it was just another little step in the process of getting my name out there rather than a game-changing moment in my writing career. So, keep celebrating the little wins – and make sure you make a little progress on your writing career every single day.

Tell us about your book/books:

The Magicium Series follows four Point of View characters as they seek to restore humankind to the Open, having been driven underground by creatures of myth that we created through science and magic. I have written five books in the series: Discoveries, Disruptions, Disciples, Disintegration and Dissidents. I am currently writing the sixth.

What do you love about the writing/reading community?

I love how everyone shares and encourages one another rather than treating the industry like we’re in competition with one another – even though we are a little. On the whole, people share knowledge, uplift one another and provide feedback to help each of us grow. I love that.

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

Thank you so much. Whether you read my work, wrote a review, told someone else about it, gave my novels as a gift or just encouraged me along the way, every one of you has been a gift, a gift that gives me the opportunity to do something I love every day.

Where can people connect with you?

The best way is to sign up to my mailing list at https://tnbaldwin.com/free-novella/. Then you’ll get a free download of my prequel novella, Disfigurement, about a side character from The Magicium Series, as well as being kept up to date with all of the latest news. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and BookBub. Finally, if you want to speak to me directly, email tom@tnbaldwin.com and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.