Author Guest Post With Graham J. Sharpe

Graham J. Sharpe, has kindly agreed to guest post about his inspiration for becoming a writer in honor of his debut release, Purple.

 About The Author:

At the age of 12, author Graham Sharpe regularly danced around the lounge to Kate Bush's “Wuthering Heights.” Today, he still hasn't decided what he'll do when he grows up. So far, the East Sussex, England-based writer has worked in an ice cream shop, trained as a hairdresser, studied sociology and psychology, written for and performed with a touring theatre company, and backpacked across far-flung countries with loose change in his pocket. Graham now combines travelling with writing and he completed his first novel, Purple, during the sleepless, jet-lagged hours spent in hotel rooms around the world. Honored as a Kindle Book Review Finalist Best Indie Book for 2012, the 358-page eBook is also available in paperback from Amazon. 

Find Graham J. Sharpe on the Web:
Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 Guest Post:

 

Inspiration Blog Post

Graham J. Sharpe

I began writing Purple a few years ago, and I’d be lying if I said that my path to becoming a writer has been easy. A lot of readers would be surprised to know that I hated school. I have, however, always considered myself to be a creative person.

Throughout my life, I’ve had a number of jobs. I worked in an ice cream shop, trained as a hairdresser, studied sociology and psychology, wrote for and performed with a touring theatre company, and backpacked across far-flung countries with loose change in my pocket.

Right now, as a flight attendant, I combine travel with writing, and I completed my first novel during the sleepless, jet-lagged hours spent in hotel rooms around the world. It is truly all of my life experiences combined that inspired me to write Purple, but I think the first and biggest thing that inspired me happened when I was 13.

My best friend’s dad died in a car accident, and it completely shocked me. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that someone could be here one day and gone the next. It also made me think about the fact that life doesn’t last forever and contemplate where we go when we die. A lot of people have strong religious views that answer those kinds of questions for them, but other people don’t. No one really has any concrete evidence so I think that’s one of the biggest things and something I really wanted to investigate in the novel.

Another incident in my life that really inspired me is the fact that I was bullied in high school for being gay. When I combined this life experience with my experiences as a flight attendant, I found a lot of inspiration, and channeled it into one of the major themes in Purple. After meeting people from all over the world, I’ve discovered that, despite our differences in language and colour, we’re all the same. We all respond to a smile or a kind gesture. That, to me, is really inspiring, and I think readers will pick up on that when they read Purple.

I’ve always followed my passion, and I think that’s ultimately how I became a writer. After working all of those different jobs I realized that I missed having a creative outlet. One day, I mentioned to a friend that I had a story idea for a book, and she challenged me and asked me why I hadn’t started yet. At first, I thought, “Who am I to write a book?” As a writer you have to get over that fear. Just go for it. Use your own life experiences and channel them into the creative outlet that gives you a sense of freedom and happiness. That’s what inspiration is really all about at the end of the day.
         

   Purple:

Title: Purple

Author: Graham Sharpe
Publisher: Sharpe Tale Publishing

Release Date: September 7, 2012

FINALIST IN THE KINDLE BOOK REVIEW'S BEST INDIE BOOKS OF 2012

After a purple storm sweeps around Planet Earth, stealing millions of people, four teenagers struggle to make it alone in London.

Drawn together by a series of bizarre coincidences, Ellie, Midge, Scott and Marty soon find themselves entangled with a bunch of interfering pensioners. Among the cast of players are flamboyant hairdresser Mr Rupert, Pearl the loud-mouthed tea lady, and June, a psychic, who travels the world on her motorbike.

As the tranquillizing effects of the Purple diminish, greed and the lust for power take hold. Penny Treasure, leader of the Decision Makers Council, dreams up an idea that could destroy the world forever.

In a desperate hunt to find the missing, clues are pieced together and some shocking secrets come tumbling out of the closet. 

Find Purple Online:  

Goodreads

 

Happy reading until next time!