Interview with Nicholas McGirr

Author of Byron

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I’m originally from Youngstown, Ohio. I moved to South Carolina in 2012, currently living in Charleston.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

“Byron” is my first book under my pseudonym, Nick Knight, but is my seventh self-published titled. With the pseudonym, I wanted to reach a bigger audience with a happier ending. My Emotional Support Animal, Byron is obviously the star of the book, but I wanted to keep my themes of the afterlife. Readers will see that Byron is a special animal indeed.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I was dubbed, the Author of the Afterlife by a fan once and the name stuck. My books all have themes of the afterlife whether through reincarnation, visiting the afterlife, or through Greek Mythology’s Underworld. If you have a curiosity that needs to be filled about the paranormal and the afterlife, it’s more than likely I will touch on the subject in my books.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Those curious about what lies beyond the grave. Paranormal fans of ghosts and the unexplainable will also find my work interesting.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

Researching the histories of haunted locations is always surprising. As far as process, I never thought I would have as much support as I do now. I’m working with several colleagues, some artists for marketing and covers, and other folks that believe in my work. I always thought that a writer’s journey was alone at a desk, I was dead wrong.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Learn to write better before pushing words into the world. I published my first book when I was 21, it was awful, received horrible reviews and I almost quit writing. After realizing I needed to polish my craft, the confidence to come back to the keyboard was there and with each book, I feel like my writing is still improving.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Thousands. I know my work isn’t for everyone and I don’t pretend that it is. What’s realistic is that everyone has a curiosity for the unknown, that’s why it’s “unknown”. For those thousands that enjoy reading about the afterlife, they should know that my fiction is based on real findings of past lives.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Time. There’s never enough of it, yet it’s always there.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

The people I work with. If it weren’t for some great advice from colleagues, graphic design work and support from my wife and my followers, I wouldn’t continue writing or podcasting.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

The infamous “Imposter Syndrome”. It’s real, folks. With every blog post, novel, podcast episode or any other creation, I always hesitate for just a moment before releasing it into the world. Even social media posts, I often wonder if I’m the person who should be spreading the word about this topic. Then I answer with a question of “Why not me?”

When do you think you will write your next book?

I have several pieces in the works including a teen version of “Byron”. Currently, I’m plotting my next full novel with hopes of launching it in late 2020.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

All seven of my titles are self-published.