ABOUT MY GARB

Oh, you're not here about the garb? Well, in that case…

James McLeod has been an avid fantasy fan since childhood, and writes tales for adults who love magick and mystery.

His first novel, "The Torril City Mysterion: A Pinch of Peril" was released in 2021, and over the years he has contributed short stories to various magazines and sites including Literary Heist and Debut!

Having lived in Canada, Sweden, and Germany, McLeod now resides in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia with his husband, Moritz, and a fiery assortment of hot sauces. His YouTube channel (@Jimzip) has over 4,300 subscribers, and he enjoys a good game of D&D. Oh, and of course, he loves Vegemite.

Come find James on Twitter and say howdy.

FAQs

I get asked these questions a lot. Here are my answers.

DO YOU USE AI TO WRITE?
No. I do not and will not use AI generated content in my stories. AI is a fantastic tool and a revolutionary technology, and while I do use it in my current design process for artworks and advertising material, my writing is 100% human-made. I believe that storytelling is one of the most important features of human culture — an art form that must come from the heart and mind of the author. So you can rest assured that when you read any of my works, it's coming from me, not a machine. (Including this content!)

ARE YOU SIGNED?
Like many creatives, I enjoy having full control over my projects and despite the downsides (there are a few), I decided years ago to self-publish my works. I therefore set up Wondercrab Books, an imprint under which I publish my novels and short stories. In other words, I do all the writing, design, and marketing myself, which certainly keeps me busy! But I love it, and I think my works are stronger for it.

DO YOU DESIGN YOUR OWN BOOK COVERS?
I'm a designer by trade, having worked 20 years in various companies and as a freelancer. I design all my own book covers, promotional material, and website graphics myself.

WHO IS YOUR EDITOR?
I've been very fortunate to find a wonderful editor in Stace Dumoski, who has worked with me on all my published works. She's fantastic! If you're after an editor with a real eye for detail and a relentless desire for quality, go get in touch.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A NOVEL?
Whereas it seems like some authors pump books out every other month, I'm pretty slow. I take my time when crafting stories because I want to be proud of everything I publish. My first novel took about three years from initial concept to publication, and my second novel has taken five. In the future I hope to release books more frequently but, as anyone who writes will know, books take as long as they want — not as long as the author wants them to take!