Simon Singleton - Author Life

Simon Singleton published his debut novel, Lyttle Perils, in November 2017. We wanted to catch up with the author and find out how his life has changed since the release of the book.

Did you always dream of becoming an author?

It was a thought that had crossed my mind on many occasions, however I never really gave my work the credibility to warrant publishing. Even though I had been told many, many times over the years that my work was of a reasonable quality.

What was your first job?

I worked in the Bonds & Stock Department of The Reserve Bank of Australia as an office clerk. Processing trading documents for listed companies and the bank itself. It was an exciting position, particularly when it came down to the trade and sale of large group companies.

How did you come about writing your book? Was that your intention or did you start writing for fun?

I began writing my book as the creation of a ‘sponge for my spare time’. It was more a covert personal project, than an immediate attempt at becoming a published author. I used the book to fill voids in my professional, weekly schedule, as well as a dedication project, to see just how far I would take the base of the story.

What was your life like before you became an author?

Becoming an author has done very little to alter my life. However, I have noticed the massive amount of interest that the book creates among strangers. People I have never met before, or that have been told via a third party, that I have written a novel. The comments are flattering and this increased attention sometimes highlights the different avenue of pursuance I now have for my life. Prior to writing the work, my sole focus was on my career and it’s pursuance. However, now I seem to have a far more laid-back approach to where I am going and what I am doing in my life, as strange as it must seem.

Did you face any struggles before becoming an author? If so, how did you overcome them?

No real immediate struggles – financial or otherwise. The project did, however, become a positive distraction for me during the period of my mother's passing to breast cancer. I think without this tertiary outlet or focus, I would have found the whole scenario with my immediate family overwhelming and far more difficult to understand.

Now that you are a published author, how has your life changed, if at all?

My life has not changed at all. I do draw a lot of positivity from the fact that something I initially begun to distract myself and to police my boredom, has now become published. The creativity has helped me personally appreciate certain positive traits about myself that I had never previously identified.

Can you please describe a typical day in your life now?

My day is generally based around the interaction with professional chefs and venue owners. Reconstructing and aiding failed, or failing, restaurants. Training less experienced owner/operators, as well as locating and hiring personnel to make the venture a success. As a fine dining chef of 26 years who worked in Paris for two years and in London for 10, my experience usually leads me into unique and sometimes extremely stressful scenarios. Consequently, I generally arrive home at bizarre hours and find I now need another project, to aid in my unwinding from the day’s stress.

What is your most memorable moment of your life as an author?

Without doubt, the time I opened a selection of personal emails after being abroad on holidays, to find that two publishers had offered to print my work. A truly unique experience, one I cannot describe to anyone. Without doubt, Pegasus being the most flattering, hence my decision to move forward with them.

How would you best sum up your experience with Pegasus Publishers?

Professional and meticulous. From start to completion, Pegasus had an accurate appraisal of the project and did not fail in even the smallest of details, to deliver what they openly advertised. Their professional decorum greatly enhanced the satisfaction and happiness that I drew from the entire project.