In conversation with John Tweedy, author of A Soul Called River
1. How did you get into writing? What drew you into writing a book based in the fantasy genre?
Like many I got into writing through reading first, and a book that hooked me from the start and led my mind off into the fictional world. That book was The Lord of the Rings Trilogy which I remember reading when I was about 13 or so. Everything else before then was light and not so creatively written, apart from the Shakespeare we had to read at school. But it was this book plus the music of Kate Bush which made me look at things differently, turning reality into fantasy and letting my mind wander across places and emotions that previously were hidden. Since then, books have always been a ‘go to place’ to forget and just be in the here and now. Music has also helped in drawing me into writing through the lyrics of Kate Bush, Bowie and may others.
Fantasy seemed the best genre for my thoughts and feelings to enter. My Dad always said I lived in a dream world and sometimes growing up, like many kids, I was drawn towards lives, stories and experiences which were not mine, as my own seemed so mundane. What I have learnt is that my life was not that, simply my way of viewing it was at the time. It has been said that how you approach something will directly impact on what you find and for me for many years that was the case. I think also the main fantasy was ‘love’ and what it can do, inspire, and bring to others when they need it. Love is, can be, a dream like state and for me who failed to jump personally into its waters fully for so many years maybe writing about it was easier as it took less commitment in essence. I guess maybe that’s where the ‘jump’ comes from for River in the story – because of love. Risking all because at the end love , and it pure innocence , will bring you home.
2. Can you tell us a little bit about A Soul Called River.
It was written about 7 years ago, in 3 months. Where it came from was simply writing a beginning of a story for a person, one chapter nothing more. From there it took on a life of its own and I just went off into a place in my own head and world where it just kept coming.
At the time it came from a feeling inside of me which ignited passion, connection, love and desire for another. I think also because that was un-requited it made the world and the fantasy of the story so more important to write form the side of ‘what if’? What if that fantasy and desire of the heart did become real?
The story ‘jumps’ straight in literally as that’s where my head was. Sarah travels to a world from a dream, and straight away finds herself in a place and with those she has never met, but at the same time doesn’t question it? She is confused, as the reader maybe to, but she goes with it as the real world she has left behind has the pain and emptiness of her Father’s death and in her new world, it may be confusing but it’s a distraction. Then she finds death and loss follows her and that wherever she is its just geography, feelings and emotions cannot be confined to the past world or her life, they have a life and path of their own.
The story line is simple enough in itself but it’s the characters journeys through their different emotions and paths are the main part of the book I wanted to try and get over. What they will do when they need to for those they love. It’s a story about hope being found in the darkest of places, where innocence can always be remembered and bring us back from a place where there is seemingly no way out. Even when we feel we are lost, we are simply in a place where we discover new things which can bring us through, give us light and show us the power of connection, selflessness and being there for others. Love is a verb, and all that River brings to the story is that – innocence with love at its centre.
3. This book has a lot of different spiritual and metaphysical elements; what inspired you to write this story?
From my inside, my heart, soul, thoughts, feelings, and emotions my experience something felt like it needed to be said. I guess at any given moment we are what we are experiencing in the present. There was peace and serenity within and that wonderful world we all come to know but sometimes struggle how to express it came out. I didn’t have a plan to write the book let alone write it in that way, but I guess just like the characters within the book there was my own journey in writing it.
I believe we all have a book inside that wants to be written…some live it; many dream it and some write it. Or more so write a world that exists in imagination, their desires and wishes which when they come together sometimes come out like this with those elements. I know that I am connected, even if I choose to ignore it or not acknowledge it, with everything around me. Like the line in the poem …a butterfly resting on a child’s hand…ripples exist they come and go, spreading out touching others through a touch, word, thought or feeling. For me that is the spiritual side, something that I try to capture when writing but know that I do not quite have the words to. That which cannot be explained by words can only ever be attempted. If A Soul Called River does this in an any small way, then I’m grateful for that…. but the true direction in it comes from something outside which is beautiful, unique, and simple. If I was going to try and describe faith, god and spirituality then for those , three words would be at the centre – beautiful , unique and simple.
4. A Soul Called River is written from the perspective of Sarah who is still grieving the death of her father. What do you hope readers take away from this book?
Nothing hurts more than an invisible wound – grief is a wound that is deep, hidden and not something which is healed fully in life.
A journey in grief does not run in a straight line. It has twists, turns and moments when nothing can seem to shift the feeling inside, the heaviness, heartbreak, and loss. It can come from nowhere, tapping at your heart and reminding you of the person no longer here and their absence. I found in moments when I had something which I wanted to share, good news mainly, I would instantly want to tell my Dad and then it hit me he was not there to call or go and see and talk to. It seems in those times the heaviness was heightened, the pain more so and the feeling of being alone came and weighed me down. The loss squeezed my heart at those times reminding me of him and what it was I missed most.
In the book I have tried to portray and describe this, when it feels that comfort will never come and the heaviness which brings on sleep and not wanting to talk or be around anyone, walking simply as part of a process when you know you don’t want to be still but have no sense of where you are going.
In the book Sarah walks straight into her feelings, raw, deep, and powerful. Other’s pain mixed up with her own wounds and she feels them deeply. It feels like she can’t escape grief and in every moment the intensity of the pain at the beginning has no bounds. But she does not try to hide from them, they are visible to her, she is keenly aware of that in every moment as are others who she then meets.
Here is the main part, they are in the open, she is not dealing with them alone and those around her are sensitive to her needs, aware of her pain and care for her on a level which helps her through. They don’t try and change her or try and move her away from where she is, within her grief. It’s the main part of grief when its visible, open and you have others around who sense that then healing can come. Nothing in grief truly gets healed, but feeling the pain, sitting with the loss and not being forced into talking when you don’t want to can bring you to a place where you can find a way, a path through to where you need to be. Nothing physically will ever re-place the person who has gone but the relationship continues with them, it’s just different , and its in that difference you can find a way.
5. What sort of challenges did you overcome while writing your book?
In writing this book the challenges were not as large as I thought they would be. As mentioned, I did not start A Soul Called River with the thought ‘I’m going to write a book about…” I did not feel under pressure. In trying to write other books I have found the challenge is staying in the process, trusting the outcome and knowing that if I stick to this then I will find a way through to what I would like to write. Also, I think it’s important to have one person only maybe in mind that you are writing for. If you keep that in the centre of my heart and my thoughts, then I will write for that person rather than trying to tick many boxes for a wider audience.
Also, as with other things try not to over complicate things. Simplicity is the key for many things in life, writing is just another one of those things. Do what works for you, give yourself time to think about what you want to write and put in the action. Faith is the biggest of things to have, in yourself, your book and knowing that at the end of it you will have done your best that you can – no one can ask for more.
6. You self-published A Soul Called River, what was that process like? Did you always want to self-publish? If so, why?
The process of self-publishing was a long one. It was something I had looked at over the last few years and tried different ‘houses and places to get this done. If I had a wish I would not have self-published but rather had an agent who would have done that side of things and sort out a publishing house to then edit , publish , market and promote the book.
In a lot of my communication with various places around self-publishing I was put off by the fact that the communicate was inter mitten and inconsistent and it only seemed when they wanted to, they got in touch. It also seemed that many places simply wanted money form me to begin with and to sign a contract which committed me to some aspects I did not want to get involved in.
It got to a point where I lost heart for a while and forgot about it all together, letting other more important things in life take priority. Then a voice and thought in my head would rise again, pushing me to have another go and try again. It would always have been a big regret if I had never self-published at least, put myself out there and become vulnerable. I think that is what held me back for much of this time also, the fear of vulnerability as A Soul Called River does expose my soul and the darkest sides of it also.
Luckily I did try again, which I am grateful for, and found the right fit in KDP Publishing. They were supportive, easy to communicate with and invested in the actual book itself, giving me positive feedback in it right form the start. I never felt they were doing it for any other reason in believing in me, wanting my story to be seen and read by others and helping me understand how that worked. If I had any advice to others, it would be look around, find out about other books and authors who they have worked with and take your time. At the end of the day, you have to take a risk and make a decision but doing your homework , taking time and speaking with others for support will bring you to the right outcome for you personally.
7. What are you reading at the moment?
I have just started A Step Away from Paradise, which is a story about a Tibetan Lama’s journey to a land of Immortality. It’s a description of a journey of over 300 people who ventured to a high mountain in search of a land of utopia. peace and serenity. I have only read 50 or so pages but it has got me interested and curious in what else I will find from it. It’s based on a true story so who knows maybe I will go searching for that land one day….
8. What's the most useful advice you could give to an aspiring author?
The most important part would be to invest in, create and paint in words the most important piece of art. Your soul, your heart, your life.
Believe in yourself that you have a story to tell, as you do, and be curious as to where that journey may take you. Also, sometimes you don’t have to know where the hundredth step will take you or how you get there…. just take the first step and write the first line, paragraph, and chapter. I don’t think I have ever written anything when I knew what the last word was going to be, where it would end up. I trusted in something to direct and guide me to wherever I was meant to finish. In the end there is only learning and if I get that out of something then it’s been a success…. it’s the only true measure.
Inside of us all there is a place of beautiful imagination, where life is simple and we write, holding faith and fear in equal measures. It’s a place inside us all - soul - spirit- essence we are more than we know. Be the real you inside and find your own beautiful story, then write it..
About the Author
Tim ‘John’ Tweedy was born in London. Bought up in a one parent family by a dad who gave all for his 3 children. He started to write verses and poems from the age of 17 and many of these were dark, deep, and reflective of the darker parts of life. Within the grips of these thoughts, he fell into the grips of drug addiction.
Lost and broken he finally at the age of 38 found recovery through the love and care of others that bought light, creativity, love, and imagination into his ‘soul’ which then became a guide to his words and actions. He found study again, went to university and through the guidance of something ‘greater than himself’ created a different life, reaching out to others in need through his occupation as a Counsellor. He was drawn into writing A Soul called River, inspired by feelings towards another at the time he wrote it in 2014 in three months. It helped him, alongside his previously published poems, to find light in places where shadows lived before.
Instagram: @twistypoet
Book Title: A Soul Called river
