Author: Ian Middleton

ISBN: 09760872736

Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Sketchandtravel.com & Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Ian Middleton.

Ian  is a freelance travel writer and photographer from the UK. He is the author of three travel narrative books and one travel guide to ancient Ireland, Mysterious World: Ireland. Ian has also written for several magazines, including Mysterious World, backpacker Ireland, Walking World Ireland, Take your car UK and the Slovenia Times newspaper. Ian's photography has been published in Mysterious World: Ireland, Masa Acher magazine, Bradt Travel Guides and the Slovenia Times newspaper. For more information visit his website. 

Good day Ian and thanks for participating in our interview.

You’re welcome Norm.

Norm:

When did your passion for travel writing begin? What keeps you going?

Ian:

It began after a four month journey around Mexico in 1997. Upon my return my head was filled with so many experiences and stories that when asked about my trip by people, I didn’t know where to start. So I decided to try writing it all down, partly to help me digest all that happened during the trip, but also with the thought that maybe my friends could read it if they wanted. But once I started writing I was like a man possessed and the stories just seemed to pour out of me and the pages piled up so high that I began to think that there was a possible book there.

But of course who would want to read about my travels? I thought. I’m not famous like Michael Palin. But when I picked up a book by Bill Bryson while in Spain during the winter, this changed my mind. Bill Bryson had simply been a journalist before writing travel books. So if he could do it, maybe I could. And that’s how it all started. What keeps me going is my passion for travel and seeing the world, and the wonderful reviews I get from people who read my books and take the time to write to me and tell me how much they enjoyed them.

Norm:

Could you briefly tell our readers about your Mysterious World: Ireland?

Ian:

Mysterious World: Ireland is the first of a series of planned travel guides focusing more on the ancient history and mysteries of countries around the world. The book is actually in three parts, the first, The Mystery, is a detailed review of Ireland’s ancient history from the earliest settlers right up to the arrival of the Celts.

The second part, The History, covers more the recent, although still ancient, history of the early Christian period and much of Ireland’s culture. The third, The Journey, is a narrative of my four month trip around the country in search of the ancient historical monuments and sites associated with many of the country’s most famous legends. Alongside each page is the travel information, best places to eat, sleep, drink and general advice and tips. So it’s the sort of book that can be read from cover to cover in your own home, and then used to plan your own holiday there.

 It’s also ideal for families travelling with children, as you can relieve their boredom by relating the stories of the giants and the fairies. The book is full colour and illustrated with my photographs and wonderful colour illustrations by the incredibly talented artist Jim Fitzpatrick. Each page is bordered with artwork from the book of Kells.

Norm:

How do you come up with ideas for what you write, particularly with Mysterious World: Ireland?

Ian:

The travelling mostly comes first, and the books are inspired by the journeys I take and the experiences I have there. Whilst travelling in Ireland to promote my book, Hot Footing Around the Emerald Isle, I had written a couple of articles about a king who lives on Tory Island (http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk/travelwriting/king2.html), a remote place off the north coast, and a strange phenomenon called the Road Where Things go Backwards (http://www.ian  middleton.co.uk/travelwriting/backpackermag.html).

I was looking for publications that would be interested in these stories, and discovered www.mysteriousworld.com, of which Doug Elwell was editor and publisher. Doug responded with interest and we discussed Ireland and my own experiences there from several years of travelling, which ultimately turned into the idea for a new type of travel guide. So rather than try to think up front about what to write, I find that the journeys themselves inspire the ideas.

Norm:

If you had to choose 10 of the most romantic venues in Ireland, which ones would they be and why?

Ian:

Ireland is absolutely full of them, but here are my favourites:

1. The Giant’s Causeway and North Antrim coast. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/index.html)  

            One of the most popular attractions in Ireland with stunning geological features. Watching the sunset here on a nice evening is one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. Legend says that the causeway was built by the famous Irish giant, Finn McCool, in order to walk across to the Scottish Isle of Staffa and do battle with Benandonner, a Scottish giant. A similar causeway can be found on this island. After building the causeway Finn was so tired that he fell asleep. Benandonner came across and so Finn’s wife, Grainne, seeing the size of his adversary quickly disguised Finn as a baby. When Benandonner saw the size of the baby he gulped at the thought of how huge Finn must be himself, and quickly turned and fled, tearing up the causeway in the process.

2.  The Burren, County Clare. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-burren.html)

            The Burren is an incredible world of limestone. The most stunning area is along the coast from Doolin to Ballyvaughan. Giant sheets of limestone pavements stretch as far as the eye can see with a shimmering grey mountainous backdrop. My girlfriend and I had a picnic on the low cliff edges, and enjoyed the scene and listened to the waves crashing against the limestone below. The limestone sheets stretch right out into the ocean and re-emerge in the distance to form the beautiful Aran Islands. One of the most interesting, and photographed, Neolithic monuments lies here on the Burren landscape, the Poulnabrone Dolmen.

3. The Beara Peninsula, West Cork. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-cork.html)

            The southwest corner of Ireland comprises of several long peninsulas. The most famous is of course the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry. But the Beara Peninsula in Cork is my personal favourite. Not only is it littered with Neolithic monuments, but is a mecca for the hiker and cyclist, or even drivers. Wild and rugged in the south, and lush green in the north, the views from any part of this region are outstanding. I first discovered this place back in 1999, when I hiked from the lovely village of Glengarriff to Adrigole. Glengarriff is an excellent starting point. Tucked neatly into the corner of Bantry Bay, its climate is extremely mild even in winter. I’ve since returned twice with my girlfriend.

4. Rosses Point, Sligo Bay. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-sligo.html)

            The area around Sligo is dominated with the lovely green mountains of Benbulben, Carrowkeel and Knocknarea; the latter of which is distinguishable by its large burial mound clearly visible on top. This mound is said to contain the remains of Queen Maeve, one of Ireland’s most famous queens and goddess to the Celts. As the sun goes down in the west this mountain is beautifully silhouetted against the bright orange sky. Rosses Point lies just a few miles from Sligo town and sits right at the entrance to Sligo Bay. From here you get a perfect view of Benbulben, on one side, and Knocknarea on the other side. I stayed in a lovely campsite here, but there is also the choice of B&Bs and a big hotel with a golf resort.

5. Croagh Patrick, Westport, County Mayo. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-cp.html)

            The jewel of the west, this mountain with its distinctive conical shape was once known as the Mountain of the Eagle in Pagan times, but was renamed after Saint Patrick was said to have climbed it and fasted for 40 days and nights in order to win some concessions from God (and banish all the snakes from Ireland in the process). Since then the Pagan Lughnasa festival was replaced with a Christian Pilgrimage carried out on the last Sunday of July. The mountain sits beside Clew Bay, and the views from it as you climb are unrivalled. You can stay in Westport Quay, located on the shore of the bay, or in the town of Westport itself, which is a colourful little place with impeccably maintained streets and a lively music and pub scene. You can read my article here: http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk/travelwriting/backpackermag-cp.html

6. County Donegal. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-donegal.html)

            The forgotten northwest corner of Ireland, Donegal is the northernmost county in the Republic of Ireland. I have selected this entire county because quite simply it’s impossible to choose a favourite place there. In the south you have Glencolmcille, a lush green coastal region with golden sandy beaches and soaring cliffs (the Slieve League here are the highest sea cliffs in Europe) and a lively music scene that attracts musicians from all around the world to study at the schools and play in the pubs with the locals. In the north you have Dunlewey and the Poisoned Glen (more beautiful than it sounds) sitting the shadow of the mighty Mount Errigal, and the wonderfully peaceful and romantic setting of Bunbeg Harbour. I always stay in Bunbeg House (http://www.bunbeghouse.com) owned and run by a great family and situated right at the edge of the harbour. From here you can take walks along the rugged coastline, or drive along the Gweedore coast. You wouldn’t think it so, but the Donegal coast has some of the most gorgeous beaches in northern Europe.

7. Tory Island and its King. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-donegal.html#tory)

            Still in County Donegal, but I have to give this a placement all of its own. To many people, Tory Island may not seem like a dream romantic destination; situated in the North Sea and battered by ferocious winds most of the year. The only way to get there is on a small ferry which, if you are lucky, will be a lovely calm crossing, but most likely will require good sea legs as this is one of the roughest stretches of ocean in the region. You will also be lucky to get good weather on Tory, as mostly you’ll see thick ominous clouds hanging over the island, and experience strong howling winds. But how many people can say that they travelled to a remote island in the North Sea and met a king? In ancient Ireland there were three levels of kingship, the lowest being the Petty King, who would rule over small areas.

Because Tory has been isolated due to its remote location, the islanders doggedly held on to their way of life and traditions, which includes electing their own king. Patsy Dan Rogers is the current reigning monarch, world-renowed artist and musician and all round good guy who welcomes all visitors to his island; either by meeting them at the pier or in the pub at night. Tory may be small, but is host to some of Ireland’s most famous legends, including Balor of the Evil Eye (leader of a legendary band of sea pirates known as the Formorians) whose fort lay at the eastern side of the island, dominated by dramatic soaring cliffs. Despite the bad weather, the island has an alluring beauty about it, which has made it a haven for painters. And when the sun does come out, you will never know a more beautiful place in the whole world.

8. Wexford. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-southeast.html)

            Wexford is situated in the southeast and is also the sunniest place in Ireland. The county town is a lovely little place overlooking the mouth of the River Slaney and characterised by narrow streets and old buildings. Even for Ireland, Wexford has an unbelievable amount of pubs and one of the liveliest music scenes I’ve ever known. The people are so friendly, and the waterfront is a great place to spend the afternoon. I often took walks along the coast to the golden sand dunes of Curracloe Beach, where the opening scenes from Saving Private Ryan were filmed. I’ve lived here on and off over the years and just love the place.

9. Glendalough. (http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-southeast.html#wicklow)

            The Wicklow Mountains are known as the Gardens of Ireland, and deep in the valley of the Wicklow Gap lies the two gorgeous lakes of Glendalough (the meeting of two lakes). I first came here with my girlfriend during the Christmas week of 2001. It was pouring with rain for the two days we were there, yet the place was still stunningly beautiful. We hiked up over the hills surrounding the lake and watched as the afternoon mist cast soft shadowy light across the water. I returned to the region again in 2004 to research Mysterious World: Ireland, this time in the summer. In the heart of the Wicklow Mountains you can definitely see why the country is nicknamed, the Emerald Isle.

10. The Hill of Tara, and Boyne Valley in County Meath.

(http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-tara.html)

(http://www.ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk/Ireland/ireland-meath.html)

            In ancient times the Hill of Tara was the capital and royal seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Much of central Ireland is relatively flat, so this low hill commanded a panoramic view for miles around. It’s one of the most historically rich places in Ireland and also a peaceful place, which is why a group of locals are currently fighting to stop government plans to build a motorway through the region. Rich in folklore and tradition, this hill of covered with Iron Age hillforts and raths and if it could talk would have one heck of a story to tell. A good time to visit is on the Summer Solstice day when a festival takes place re-enacting all the ancient Pagan ceremonies. From the hill you can see rolling green countryside for miles.

 Despite being a popular tourist destination, it’s still possible to get away from the crowds and find a romantic spot on a hillside, rath or under the fairy tree. The famous megalithic complex of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth are nearby, as is the Hill of Slane where Saint Patrick is said to have explained holy trinity to the Pagan King Laoghaire with the use of a Shamrock, which thus became one of Ireland’s national symbols. The church on the Hill of Slane is visible from Tara. Many of Ireland’s most famous legends have their origins at Tara. This hill is a magical place and I always stop here when I’m in the region.

Norm:

Can you tell us how you found representation for your books? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?

Ian:

At first I tried the traditional route, pitching publishers of travel books with a synopsis and sample chapters of my book, but despite coming close a couple of times, it never got anywhere. I grew tired of being a voice among millions of other would-be writers, and also realised just how difficult it is to get a travel book published.

The fact that I came close twice told me that rejection wasn’t because the book was not good, but it all comes down to saleability. Naturally publishers need to sell enough books to make a profit, which is difficult given the amount of competition out there. So when I came across the idea of self-publishing I decided to take this route. I read all about it and discovered that many famous authors began by self-publishing. But most importantly it meant that at least my books could be read by people if they wanted to. So I studied up and did all the work myself, from editing, proof reading, layout and cover design. I had help from friends also. Then all I needed was the money to have the books printed. Selling the book was difficult, and involved creative ways of selling like throwing lots of copies in the back of a campervan and travelling around Ireland selling at festivals and walking into bookshops with a smile and book in hand, and also radio stations and newspapers. I actually found that this elicited more interest than emails and letters.

Having books out there also made magazines and newspapers take me more seriously and I began writing for them. This and my website helped build up a profile which definitely helped when I contacted Doug Elwell and we discussed Mysterious World: Ireland. And this led on to my first commission by another publisher and my first release in the USA.

Norm:

As there does not seem to be any authoritative standards that exist for guidebook authors or publishers, how do you know that a guidebook is up to par? How do you check out the authorial competence?

Ian:

I suppose the only way is by using the book. If you take the guide with you to the country you will soon see if it up to par. Of course it’s difficult to keep any guidebook up to date because things change so quickly, and it can often take time from research to actual publication. I was lucky enough to have already travelled in Ireland for many years before starting Mysterious World: Ireland. But even then I had to travel around again extensively to research everything. The research was done in 2004, but it still took another two years for the book to be published, as Doug had to do extensive armchair research into Irish folklore for the first two sections.

In the run up to publication I had to phone around and email all the places we had listed to make sure they were still active, and while most were, there were still a couple that had either closed or changed hands. Still, even if a guidebook has some errors in listing, you can still judge whether or not the author knows what he is talking about when you visit the places listed. A badly written guide with inaccurate content will soon earn a bad reputation and users will not recommend it to others, and also not buy any of the author’s other guides. Personally I look for insight in a travel book, not just listings of places to stay and eat.

These are just the sidelines. I want to know about a place, its history, culture and the author’s personal experiences there. I want to feel inspired to visit a place by the writing. Many guidebooks are leaning towards simple database listings, while others like Rough Guide and Bradt Travel Guides still manage to maintain an equal balance between information and insight. This is why in Mysterious World: Ireland we stuck to a first person narrative where all the information is weaved into the story and propped up with juicy bits from my travels, like meetings with local people who helped me find many of the monuments that lay in remote fields. Two old farmers took me across their field in a tractor to find an ancient sacred well. These moments are what travel is all about, and makes reading about a place far more exciting. But of course we didn’t skimp on the travel info, which is aligned down the side of each page and easy to refer to.

Norm:

How have you used the Internet to boost your writing career?

Ian:

To be honest I couldn’t imagine ever having done this without the Internet. It’s just such an amazing resource. In fact, I have never met my co-author Doug Elwell, who lives in Wheaton, Illinois. We first made contact through the Internet in 2003, and have spoken briefly on the phone twice. At the time I was moving between England and Ireland and now live in Slovenia with my girlfriend.

Everything has been done via email and the Internet. I even travelled for 6 months in New Zealand and was still able to work with Doug on the preparation of the book via the Internet. We would FTP files back and forth to each other for correcting and proofing. This would never have been possible 20 years ago.

When I published my first book, the first thing I did was to set up my own websites, and then began emailing everyone the link. I am constantly surfing the net to find radio stations and publications and any kind of resource to help promote them.

The Internet is the best place because what you write, be it articles or interviews like this, they stay there for years to come. With a radio interview you have a small window of promotion, which can easily be forgotten by listeners half an hour after you’ve been on. Newspapers or magazines only last until the next edition. But with the internet you can record your radio interviews, and scan your articles and publish them on your website for anyone to listen to or read at anytime. There are many e-zine websites out there that won’t pay you, but will publish your old articles for free and give you a tagline and link to your website, which is also good exposure. I recently began writing reviews for other people’s books which have been posted on all sorts of sites with my tagline, and I’ve even created my own book review blog (http://ians-book-reviews.blogspot.com). The possibilities that the Internet brings for self-promotion are endless. I would go so far as to say that the majority of my work has come about through the Internet.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?

Ian:

I think the biggest challenge was keeping my old campervan running for the duration of the journey. There was a massive hole in the exhaust manifold which I kept sealing up. But it managed to cling to the last threads of life and finally coughed its last toxic fume when I was safely back home in England. 

Seriously though, I suppose the hardest thing was finding many of the more remote monuments, many of which lie in distant fields and aren’t signposted. Much of Ireland’s heritage is under serious threat of rotting away uncared for. In County Westmeath there is a place called the Hill of Uisneach, on which lies the Ail na Mireann (Stone of the Divisions).

This is a pivotal place in Irish history because it was here that an ancient race known as the Fir Bolg first divided Ireland up into its five provinces (four remain now). The stone is broken into five pieces to illustrate this. It’s also believed that when the Milesians (Celts) arrived and went to war with the Tuatha de Danann, then rulers of Ireland, their Queen Ériu was defeated here by Amergin. With her dying breath she asked Amergin to honour her by naming the land after her. Amergin agreed and thus Ireland got its name. Ériu became Eire in modern Gaelic, which ultimately became Ireland. Queen Ériu is believed to be buried under this stone. Despite lying next to a stretch of country road, the tourist board placed a single plaque on a fence on the opposite side of the road stating the name of the hill and listing a few things like: pagan fires lit here, Saint Patrick spent the night, but nothing about the Fir Bolg, the queen or the stone. The sign also leads you to believe that the hill on the opposite side is in fact the Hill of Uisneach. I spent an hour wandering the wrong hill before emerging on a lookout and seeing the stone on the opposite side. There were other hard to find locations also, but sheer perseverance and help from local people helped me to overcome these.

Norm:

What does travel mean to you?

Ian:

Travel for me is all about life. It’s an experience to be a stranger in a strange place and gain insight into a life other than your own. Whilst travelling I’ve met so many people, be they locals or other travellers, who have affected my life in some way. I hope that I have also affected theirs. It’s become a bit of a cliché, but travel really does broaden the mind. Things like travelling Mexico for four months and spending time on a tiny Bolivian island on Lake Titicaca talking with the Indians and watching them go about their daily life were life altering experiences for me. Upon return from Mexico I found it hard to fit in. I felt ashamed that we live such extravagant and wasteful lifestyles while others were scraping the barrel just to feed their children.

In Mexico a family invited myself and an American family I was travelling with into their home, fed us and entertained us and not only let the child stay over the night with their children, but gave him money to go buy sweets and play video games. We had only met them on the beach the day before. Yet these people really struggled to make a living. The father would go out every day on his bike and sell food made by his wife to tourists.

This kind of generosity by people who essentially have so much less than you is very humbling, and it’s hard to return home and listen to all your friends complain that they don’t have any money or are not getting paid enough. Even in the more affluent countries like Ireland I’ve experienced immense kindness and people willing to go out of their way to help. I stopped to ask a man who was sitting on his wall repairing the guttering on his roof directions to a nearby holy well. He thought for a moment, then climbed down off the wall, dusted off his hands and said, “I’ll take yer there meself.” And off we went trudging across the field. Upon return he invited me into his house where his wife made me tea and sandwiches and we chatted for ages. It’s moments like these that you remember when you think back on your travels.

Norm:

What has been your overall experience as a published author?

Ian:

I suppose tough is the best word to describe it. Although it has been fun and immensely rewarding, especially when readers write and tell me how much they loved my book. I’m particularly happy when people say they are inspired to go to a country after reading my book, which is ultimately what I want to do with my writing. But it’s difficult being a published author, and even more so being a self published author.

Some book reviewers shun self-published books without even giving them a look. Self publishing is still frowned upon in some circles. But the way I look upon it is that Lonely Planet is essentially a self-published series of books. The owners put together their first title in a backstreet apartment somewhere in southeast Asia, and now they are the largest independent publisher of travel books. Does anyone frown upon them for being self published? I suppose many may think that once you are published you’ve made it, but that’s only the beginning. It’s a jungle out there with so many other authors and publishers selling their books. It’s hard to get noticed among the crowds and can often be very disheartening.

There were times when I doubted myself and thought that maybe I just wasn’t cut out to be a writer, but then I would get an email from a reader, some I’d met and some I hadn’t, and they would tell me how fun, witty and inspiring my book was, and this would help me to believe in myself again. At a travel show I met an old lady whose husband had bought my book at the show the year before, and said how much he had loved it. She then bought my new one. I think it’s interesting that so many people put emphasis on the opinion of so-called professionals, like large publishers or book reviewers for major publications, but ultimately it’s the readers who matter. They are the ones who read your books, and they are the best judge in my opinion. I publish all reviews on my website, including all reader’s reviews and now when I’m feeling a bit down about things, I go to this page and read what others have said and it makes me feel better. Unlike other books who print excerpts of professional reviews in their next editions, I’ve used reader’s reviews also in mine. (http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk/travelwriting/reviews.html)

Norm:

Do you feel that writers, regardless of genre owe something to readers, if not, why not, if so, why and what would that be?

Ian:

Of course! Your readers are your customers, and like anyone selling a product the customer is the one who pays your wages. Like I said before, the reader is the most important reviewer of your books, if they don’t like it you have to ask yourself why. Of course not everyone is going to like your book, but it’s important to think about why they didn’t like it. Although most of my readers rave about my books, some haven’t. I ignore people who just say that it’s rubbish, because that isn’t helpful. But I do listen to anyone who offers a reason why they didn’t like it and take their criticism on board. With regards to a guidebook, if someone writes to you with information on a great new place to stay, or that something in your listing is now out of date, you owe it to them to write back and say thank you.

Norm:

What are your upcoming projects and is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Ian:

Mysterious World will be a series of travel guides and the next title will be on New Zealand. We are still busy with the launch of our debut title, but once that is established we will begin work on the next. For myself I plan to bring a new travelogue book out about my past travels, probably later this year or early next year. Currently I have the book about my four month journey through Mexico out in e-book format and am thinking of bringing it out in paperback. Or I may publish a manuscript I have on my travels in North America. We’ll see.

For this year I will concentrate of promoting Mysterious World: Ireland. Also, I recently made my first two books available in e-book format. The main reason I did this was to be able to include photos. When I first published my paperbacks one of the biggest comments I got was that there were no photos. To produce a book with photos inside is extremely expensive (we know this from Mysterious World: Ireland) and I simply didn’t have the budget for it.

But the great thing about e-books is that it doesn’t cost anymore to put photos in, and the only thing that increases is the file size. Now that most people have high speed internet connections large downloads are not a problem. So I released both To the End of the World and Back (A South American Adventure) and Hot Footing Around the Emerald Isle in Adobe PDF format and included over 100 full colour photographs from these journeys. With the Ireland book I also added a second part containing 18 new short stories inspired by my travels around the country to promote the book, and also an article about a 280 mile hike I undertook from Wexford to Donegal in aid of asthma. (http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk/travelwriting/walkforasthma.html).

To celebrate these releases I’m offering a free e-book with the purchase of either of the paperbacks, or two e-books for the price of one, if bought through my publishing website:  http://www.schmetterlingproductions.co.uk/booksellers.html

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

You’re welcome