An Extra Slice of Cake With... Tim Walker

This week I am delighted to have an extra slice of cake with Tim Walker.

Tim Walker is an independent author living near Windsor in the UK. He grew up in Liverpool where he began his working life as a trainee reporter on a local newspaper. He then studied for and attained a degree in Communication studies and moved to London where he worked in the newspaper publishing industry for ten years before relocating to Zambia where, following a period of voluntary work with VSO, he set up his own marketing and publishing business.

His creative writing journey began in earnest in 2013, as a therapeutic activity whilst undergoing and recovering from cancer treatment. He began writing a historical fiction series, A Light in the Dark Ages, in 2014, following a visit to the nearby site of a former Roman town. The aim of the series is to connect the end of Roman Britain to elements of the Arthurian legend, presenting an imagined history of Britain in the fifth and early sixth centuries.

His new book, published in June 2020, is Arthur, Rex Brittonum, a re-imagining of the story of King Arthur (book five in the series). It follows on from 2019’s Arthur Dux Bellorum, the story of young Arthur (book four in the series), that received recognition from two sources in 2019 - One Stop Fiction Book of the Month in April, and an honourable mention in the Coffee Pot Book Club Book of the Year (Historical Fiction) Awards. The series starts with Abandoned (second edition, 2018); followed by Ambrosius: Last of the Romans (2017); and book three, Uther's Destiny (2018). Series book covers are designed by Canadian graphic artist, Cathy Walker. Tim is self-published under his brand name, timwalkerwrites.

Tim has also written two books of short stories, Thames Valley Tales (2015), and Postcards from London (2017); a dystopian thriller, Devil Gate Dawn (2016); Perverse (verse and short fiction, 2020); and two children's books, co-authored with his daughter, Cathy - The Adventures of Charly Holmes (2017) and Charly & The Superheroes (2018) with a third in the pipeline – Charly in Space.

Describe the types of books you love to read.

I love to read British historical fiction and crime thrillers. I also read a lot of history books about the periods in which I’m writing my historical fiction.

Which authors inspire you to write?

My literary heroes/heroines are Hilary Mantel; Bernard Cornwell; SJ Parris; John Grisham. I love Hilary Mantel’s use of language, SJ Parris’s passion for her main character, and I admire the storytelling expertise of Cornwell and Grisham.

Since we last had a slice of cake, what have you been working on? 

I have been writing poems and flash fiction for performance at an open mic night in a pub in my area, once a month. After two years of this, I found I had enough verse and short fiction to put out a collection in lockdown. Perverse came on April Fool’s Day, and has amused a few readers…

What is your new project? 

My new book is Arthur Rex Brittonum, book five in my ongoing historical series, A Light in the Dark Ages.

Here’s the blurb:  Arthur Rex Brittonum (‘King of the Britons’) is an action-packed telling of the King Arthur story rooted in historical accounts that predate the familiar Camelot legend. 

Britain in the early sixth century has reverted to tribal lands, where chiefs settle old scores with neighbours whilst eyeing with trepidation the invaders who menace the shore in search of plunder and settlement.

Arthur, only son of the late King Uther, has been crowned King of the Britons by the northern chiefs and must now persuade their counterparts in the south and west to embrace him. Will his bid to lead their combined army against the Saxon threat succeed? He arrives in Powys buoyed by popular acclaim at home, a king, husband and father - but can he sustain his efforts in unfamiliar territory?  It is a treacherous and winding road that ultimately leads him to a winner-takes-all clash at the citadel of Mount Badon.

Arthur Rex Brittonum picks up the thread from the earlier life of Arthur in 2019’s Arthur Dux Bellorum, but it can be read as a standalone novel.

Have you recently tried any new cake? What was the last cake you baked? 

I don’t bake, but I bought a cheesecake with mandarine oranges around the top! It was divine.

You can connect with Tim here:

Author Website: http://timwalkerwrites.co.uk 

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/timwalker1666 

Amazon Author Page: http://Author.to/TimWalkerWrites

Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/TimWalkerWrites

Twitter: http://twitter.com/timwalker1666

Join me next week when I'm interviewing Derek Borne.

If you would like to take part in A Slice of Cake With... please fill in the form found here. I'd be delighted to have you.

You can also support my writing endeavours and buy me tea & cake - it's what makes the world go round!  

Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Discover her books at www.clairebuss.co.uk and join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.