April Indie Author Spotlight-James Coyle
This month on Indies&Ink, we’re excited to spotlight James Coyle, a talented indie author who has turned personal tragedy into a story of growth, resilience, and strength. His work captures a sense of adventure and wonder, creating out-of-this-world experiences that make him a standout voice in the indie community.
James Coyle writes science fiction stories centered around impactful adventures and meaningful character growth. With a passion for rich development, his writing holds onto that child-like sense of imagination. The feeling of “what if I were drifting through a full sci-fi adventure?”
His book, The Galactic Open, is a science fiction story that follows racers gliding through space as they prepare for the race of a lifetime. But as hidden truths begin to surface, the race quickly becomes the least of their concerns. Perfect for readers who love looking to the stars and dreaming of escaping reality, this story delivers both excitement and depth.
Indie Author Interview:
Q: How long have you been writing or when did you start?
A: I've been writing since I was about ten years old, it's always been my favorite hobby. I didn't start pursuing it as a career until recently though. Back on August 3rd of '24, I was out riding my motorcycle when I got T-Boned by a pickup. I sustained massive injuries, including a broken back and pelvis. I was incredibly lucky to have survived. In the hospital over the next few weeks, I had a lot of time to think and reflect. I realized that I was twenty-eight years old but I still hadn't chased my dream. So, I took the insurance money from the crash, quit the office job I hated, and started writing books!
Q: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A: Done is better than perfect. As writers, we often feel this urge to make sure our projects are flawless, but then we just end up getting bogged down and stressed out by the details. It's better to move on and finish the project we're working on and learn from the mistakes we've made in it to grow and be better in the future instead of trying to erase them all.
Q: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
A: Believe in yourself and your process. Trust that you know what you're doing and the end result will surprise you. Don't second guess yourself for trying something for the first time, expertise will come later.
Q: Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
A: The Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. They were my favorite books growing up and I remember I actually got to email back and forth with Mr. Flanagan a few times. I don't remember what all was said, but he was very encouraging of a little boy's dream.
Q: Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself?
A: Sort of. I definitely think it's given me more confidence, but since the crash I've really been working on growing as a person and one of the things I've realized is that our achievements don't necessarily define us and make us who we are. They can reflect it, but a person's true nature is deeper than that.
Q: When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
A: I often put on gentle background music and have the conversation out loud in my character's voices. Hearing the words spoken, hearing how the lines would be delivered in real life, really helps me to weave the raw emotion my characters are feeling into their words.
Q: What, to you, are the most important elements of good writing?
A: Emotionally rich characters, a plot that naturally evolves and reacts to the choices of the characters, and stakes that feel real and earned.
Q: What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
A: It depends. Ideas come to me in all forms, sometimes it's an idea for a character, other times it's a gripping plot point in a broader narrative. More often than not, however, the first detail that comes to me is the climax. From there, I have to think and reflect about who those characters are and how they got into that situation.
Q: How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
A: I have written two books so far and am working on my third! Out of the two that are published, The Galactic Open is my favorite. Not only was it my first, which automatically means I have a soft spot for it, but I also feel like the characters are bit deeper and more relatable than The Son of Wolf, although only slightly.
Q: What inspired the idea for your book?
A: For the one I'm currently writing, I was inspired last summer when my partner and I were walking along the beach at night. We could see the light of a lighthouse in the distance and the sky was covered in an ocean of stars. The whole scene made me wonder what life would be like for a lighthouse keeper if they were assigned to a lighthouse in space.
Q: How did you come up with the title for your book?
A: This is honestly one of the hardest parts of being an author for me. I really struggle to think of good names. When I'm writing my books, I give them project names (for example The Son of Wolf was written under the title Wester Moon), but once I've finished, I see if there's a main place or detail or person that really stands and would define the book. I really enjoy shorter titles that can quickly grab a potential reader's attention.
Q: If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?
A: I would tell them thank you and that I'm very proud of them.
Q: Share something about yourself that your readers don’t know (yet)?
A: I have a lifetime goal of writing 100 books! 2 down, only 98 to go.
James Coyle is a wonderful addition to the indie author community, and we’re excited to see what he creates next.
Check out James Coyle’s author page on Indies&Ink to explore more of his work and connect with him on social media.
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