The Homecoming

Hello and happy new week, everybody! Today, I’m delighted to welcome Dougie McHale, a Scottish indie who loves my country and has set his debut novel on the island of Zakynthos. From the little I’ve spoken to him, I can tell you he’s a sweetheart. The way he expresses himself exudes courtesy and good manners in a great degree, something that astounded me about him. Let’s find out what this Scot with the big, Greek heart is all about, shall we?

Louis Satriani has the perfect life in Edinburgh or so he thought, it only took a second to discover it was a lie. Forced to readjust to the shifting events that have rocked his world he confronts the secret and deception that will change his life for ever.

A moment of crisis can offer new directions and escaping his past he travels through Greece, an experience he hopes will afford him opportunities to reconstruct his life and rediscover a sense of normality, by burying his torment and establish a reason to be in control of the choices and decisions he makes. Will the lure and sanctuary of a Greek island, Zakynthos, erase the loss of the hopes and dreams that once galvanised his life? Will it offer a refuge and reconciliation with his past? Louis is offered a sanctuary, Maria, a local tour guide. The ghosts of Louis’ past are never far and the circumstances that have brought Louis and Maria together embroil them in conflicting emotions forcing them to face and confront their feelings for each other opening old wounds of the past and suppressed hopes that resonate in the present.

Passion blossoms in a voyage of love, doubt and self-discovery. But can there love survive life changing events and the unfolding of a secret that can only be resolved by a homecoming, forcing Louis to choose between his heart and head. The Homecoming encapsulates love, loss and reconciliation, set against the backdrop of Edinburgh, mainland Greece and an Ionian island.

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Hello Dougie and welcome to my blog!

Thank you for asking me to be featured on your site, Effrosyni!

What has inspired you to write The Homecoming?

I wrote a travel journal/book of my visit to the island of Zakynthos many years ago. It was my first serious attempt at writing a book but it was never published. I didn’t know it at the time but it was to influence the writing of The Homecoming which has Zakynthos as its main backdrop. I used that piece of writing as my research when the story line of the novel moves to Zakynthos. The main backdrop in the novel was always going to be Greece; that was never in doubt.

I’m interested in identifying with a physical place and the feeling of belonging, therefore Edinburgh and especially Greece are prominent in my writing and very much so in the foreground. I’m also inspired by what it means to be human, our thoughts, feelings, emotions and beliefs and how such things influence our relationships with others and our personal stories.

I’m hooked! Do you see yourself in any of your characters, or do any of them have traits you wish you had?

The main protagonist in The Homecoming is Louis Satriani. Although he has an Italian father, his mother is Irish and Louis supports Hibernian Football Club, a team from Edinburgh. I’m third generation Irish and also support Hibernian. There’s a part in the novel where Louis meets an Irish priest in St Marcos Church, the only Catholic Church in Zakynthos. There follows a bit of a theological debate where they try to put right two thousand years of Christianity. The views that Louis expresses originate from my own beliefs so I definitely see a bit of myself in Louis.

I visited Greece for the first time in 1987. The moment I stepped from the plane there was an instant attraction; the more I visited Greece it became a love affair so it was hard not to be influenced by such potent feelings. Louis’ attraction to the landscape, people and culture runs parallel to mine.

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

At the moment I’m writing my second book. It has the working title of The Villa. The main part of the book will be set in Majorca, Spain, although lately I’ve been debating whether I should continue to write with Greece as my main theme but that would mean trying to adapt the plot and themes of the book. It’s certainly a decision I haven’t made yet. I’m about less than a third of the way through so I’ve time on my side to decide.

Which are your favorite authors, and what do you love about them?

I have several authors whose books I always read. The common denominator is that they write about what it really means to be human through our relationships with the world and each other. Most importantly they write good stories with beautiful prose. To name but a few, Sebastian Faulks, William Boyd, Anita Shreive, Carlos Ruiz Zafon and I’ve a soft spot for Victoria Hislop.

Hislop writes about Greece so I presume that’s why – LOL. What genres do you read mostly, and what are you reading now?

I love books that have a sense of place and time that draw you in to the social and cultural complexities with ease. Currently I’m reading Midnight in St Petersburg by Vanora Bennett. It’s an intelligent and beautifully written love story swept with passion, danger and suspense.

Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

When I published my novel it became very apparent to me after the first week that I had no idea how to market or promote my book. So, I started on the long journey of finding approachable indie authors and sites for advice and information. Luckily I stumbled upon my ‘Greek indie guardian angel,’ metaphorically speaking (you know who you are), who has helped me enormously to navigate the maze that is indie publishing.

I wasn’t prepared for the amount of time and energy that needs to be invested in marketing and promoting an indie book. I work full time therefore I have to try and be disciplined in my approach however I’m finding that most of my spare time is taken up with trying to get the book out there to as wide an audience as possible. At the moment it’s difficult and a bit of a struggle to concentrate and be disciplined on my writing which is definitely not a good thing.

My advice for other indie authors who are just starting out would be, do your research and make contact with others in the indie publishing world for information and advice before you publish.

Networking! Oh, precious advice! Thank you Dougie. Are there any sites or writing tools that you find useful and wish to recommend?

I was given the good advice to check out Beezebooks.com and get in touch with Michael. C. Smith who has been a great help and source of advice. Another good site is eNovel Authors at Work, again full of great information and advice for the indie author.

I totally agree. Both Michael C. Smith and Jackie Weger are online angels that educate and support indies with all they’ve got through these sites. On to the next question: what do you enjoy the most as an indie author that you imagine you wouldn’t if you were traditionally published? If you had a choice would you still go indie?

I enjoy seeing my book published and also holding it in print. For an author there is nothing more satisfying. I’ve had total control over designing the cover and setting the pricing. I spent years sending the standard three chapters, synopsis and bio to agents and publishers in the knowledge that it would land up on their slush piles along with the tens of thousands manuscripts that took the same journey each year. During that time I redrafted the novel about eight times until I was at the stage where I felt it was ready to publish and it was then that I started to explore indie publishing.

I suppose in the world of traditional publishing the benefit would be others take the responsibility for marketing and promoting a book which leaves the author with more time to be creative and write which is the point of it, after all.

If I had the choice would I still go indie? That’s a difficult one; there are pros and cons, however, if I hadn’t gone down the indie route my novel would still not be published. To know that people are actually reading my book, meeting the characters and hopefully emotionally responding to them and the plot, well, as an author, there is no better feeling.

Being an author involves a lot of sitting around. What do you do for exercise?

I have a very hyperactive Golden Retriever called Gracie who likes her daily walks. I often use that time to think through and develop my writing, characters and plots. I enjoy going to the gym but not as often as I should. I bought a hybrid bicycle about two months ago which I’d like to say has helped keep me in shape but this summer has not been summer at all so the bike is still brand new. My wife, Sheona, is a health and fitness lecturer and also a personal trainer, so she keeps me on my toes.

Gracie is adorable! Do you listen to music while you write and if so, what kind?

Actually, I do, and it is often an integral part of my writing routine, just as important as my laptop. I enjoy a wide range in musical taste but throughout the writing process of The Homecoming I listened to classical music from the Baroque period, especially composers like Corelli and Boccherini. My favourite composer is Mozart, but strangely I don’t listen to him while I’m writing.

I love Mozart, too. I believe you have some pictures of your favorite places to show us?

Yes, Fros, here they are. These are all special places that I love to visit: the river Forth with the road bridge and rail bridge, St. Andrews beach and of course Edinburgh.

Oh my goodness, what splendid photos! You know, Scotland is one of the places I long to visit someday. Last question: who is your favorite poet? Quote a couple of lines from your favorite poem.

These are quotes as opposed to poems but the words say it all for me:

“I am at last determined to go to Greece; it is the only place I was ever contented in.” Lord Byron, 15^th June 1823.

“Our love of what is beautiful does not lead to extravagance; our love of things of the mind does not make us soft.”

Pericles, Athenian statesman. (430BC)

These are both wonderful, thank you. You know, the Greeks love Byron, and it’s only fair. He did a remarkable job defending the nation when it needed it the most. Dougie, it’s been a great pleasure to have you here today. Thank you very much!

Efcharisto, Effrosyni. It’s been a pleasure!

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Dougie has been a musician and a song writer, playing in several bands, performing live and recording throughout the U.K. He retired his guitar and studied at Dundee University and Strathclyde University. Writing has always been part of his life, crafting lyrics or poems before embarking on the long learning curve of writing a novel. The novel developed from a visit to the island of Zakynthos. Dougie was transfixed by its landscape, its light, its ambiance, people and sea, all of which have become important symbols and themes in The Homecoming and his writing.

He lives in Dunfermline, Fife, with his wife, teenage daughter, older son and golden retriever. The Homecoming is his first novel, inspired by his favourite city Edinburgh and a passion for Greece.

Visit Dougie’s Amazon page US UK

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dougiemchale

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