Front Cover of Tony Flood’s book ‘My Life With the Stars’ (image: Tony Flood)

GUEST BLOG by TONY FLOOD, the author of celebrity book MY LIFE WITH THE STARS – SIZZLING SECRETS SPILLED!, spicy crime thriller TRIPLE TEASE and fantasy adventure THE SECRET POTION.

As a former Fleet Street journalist and Sky Television executive, I fully appreciate that authors need more than writing skills to produce a successful book. It is vital to carry out extensive research and to engage with people – particularly non-fiction writers who need to conduct interviews in order to write stories about others’ experiences. This was the case with the new edition of my celebrity book MY LIFE WITH THE STARS – SIZZLING SECRETS SPILLED!

Sizzling Secrets Spilled!

It applied both when I was encouraging showbiz stars such as Des O’Connor to pass on amusing anecdotes and while I was interviewing those who had been involved in epic events. This was particularly the case in my exclusive interview with former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar immediately after the Hillsborough disaster, and when preparing sensitive questions to obtain Bobby Charlton’s emotional memories of how Manchester United rose from the ashes of the Munich air crash

Interviewing is a skill that I learned as a journalist, and it is important to have rapport with anyone from whom you are seeking information or help.

Getting Celebrity Endorsements

A friendly and positive approach can also enable authors to obtain endorsements after their book is written. I was able to call upon comedians Al Murray and Tim Vine, singer Anita Harris, actors Brian Capron and Daniel Hill, football legend Malcolm Macdonald and former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno to provide recommendations for My Life With The Stars.

The popular Bruno gave an excellent overview of the new edition by saying: “Former journalist Tony Flood recalls some knockout anecdotes about his meetings with me and Muhammad Ali. He also has plenty of stories about George Best, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Harry Redknapp, Kenny Dalglish, Sir Alex Ferguson, Elvis Presley, Eric Morecambe, Joan Collins, Frank Sinatra, Kylie Minogue and many more!”

Research

Carrying out research is important when writing books of fiction as well as non-fiction. My spicy crime thriller TRIPLE TEASE has benefited greatly from the advice I was given by some of the Boys in Blue regarding police procedures.

Here again, it is most helpful to obtain endorsements from those highly regarded in a relevant sector. Sun writer Stuart Pink, and top authors Peter James and Tamara McKinley were among those who recommended Triple Tease.

Tamara, the worldwide best selling author of more than 30 novels, found time to say: “Triple Tease comes up with a thrilling plot and unique romance. The glamorous Katrina sets out to trap suspected killer Justin but when he starts to fall in love with her she finds herself responding. Readers are desperate to discover if it will end in blissful harmony – or death. Triple Tease is full of suspense, twists, turns and passionate relationships.“

Favourable Comparisons are Important

It can also attract readers if an author’s book is compared favourably to a successful novel written by someone else. For example, another best selling author, Jessica Duchen, said of my fantasy adventure THE SECRET POTION that it is ideal for those seeking more magic post Harry Potter.

Marketing is such a key factor now. With potential readers having so many countless thousands of books to choose from, it is so helpful to spread the word through respected bloggers, reviewers and fellow writers like James Kemp.

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