Granny's encouragement helps Tain man make it into print – even if his old English teachers might be surprised!
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A Tain man whose first novel has made it into the USA’s largest book chain has thanked his gran for helping him open a surprising new chapter in his life – and admitted his former English teachers may be surprised.
The Fall of a Warrior, written by James L Cook (29), made it onto the bookshelves thanks to the help of the author’s granny.
The epic fantasy novel, in the style of Lord of the Rings, weaves together three stories including that of Leif the Warrior as he vies for survival in the first of three novels in the world Mr Cook has created.
A former Invergordon Academy pupil, Mr Cook said the completion of his first book would not have happened without grandmother Betty Cook from Kindeace.
He said: “It started as a kind of hobby. I was never much of a writer and this is my first venture into it. I started reading it to my grandmother in 2017. She has macular degeneration, so reading the book to her was good for both of us.
“Reading it to my gran helped me write the next chapter. She would encourage me, and we would discuss the book and the characters for hours on end. I would go down for my tea, and we would read it and then talk about it.
“I can honestly say that without my gran I doubt that the book would be published. She really encouraged me when I was writing it, by bringing me drinks as I was hunched over the keyboard writing.”
Covid-19 restrictions have meant he has not been able to see his grandmother quite as much, but he has started on the second of the trilogy.
He said: “Her reaction to the story definitely changed the book, and the course of the story. I would not been able to come up with some of the ideas for the story, and it was great to be able to see her reaction to what I had written. Without her I would have given up after a few chapters and I would have moved onto something else.”
The book took around 18 months to complete. Mr Cook approached UK Book Publishing who worked with him to publish the book according to demand.
He said: “I have a small number of copies of the book, but it is mainly a print on demand service. It can be purchased on Amazon for £10.99, and Waterstones are stocking it. And I have found out that Barnes and Noble in America are now stocking the book, which is amazing news.”
He added: “I was never top of the class in English at Invergordon Academy, while the effort was there it was never my top subject – so I am sure my English teachers will be surprised and delighted to see my first book published.”
More stories on books in the Ross-shire Journal
