Tim Rayborn
Tim Rayborn is an acclaimed and prolific writer of books on many different subjects. He has written nearly fifty books and thirty magazine articles about music, the arts, history, the strange and unusual, mythology, how-to books, business, and several other topics. He undoubtedly will write more. He lived in England for nearly seven years and has a PhD from the University of Leeds, which he likes to pretend means that he knows what he’s talking about.
He’s also an internationally acclaimed musician who plays dozens of unusual instruments that quite a few people of have never heard of and frequently can’t pronounce. These include medieval instrument reconstructions and folk instruments from Northern Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East. He has appeared on over forty recordings, and his musical wanderings and tours have taken him across the US, all over Europe, to Canada and Australia, and to such romantic locations as Marrakech, Istanbul, Renaissance chateaux, medieval churches, and high school gymnasiums.
Time can be found at:
Website: timrayborn.com
Instagram: rayborn.esoterica
Facebook: facebook.com/TimRaybornMusicandWriting
Tell me what inspired you to write your book?
I’ve written books in many genres, mostly non-fiction, but more recently, I’ve written a series of four comic urban fantasy novels, “Qwyrk Tales”, set in Northern England. The final book, Faytte, will be published on October 24. These books were in part inspired by my years of living there and my love for British history and folklore. Whether or not any of the characters are based on real-life people is an open question…
What came first the character or the world?
The world already existed… sort of. The main character came soon after. She just barged into my mind one day and I had no choice but to pay attention.
How hard was it to get your first book published?
My agent loved it and ultimately wanted to publish it at her new, up-and-coming publisher, Armin Lear, so getting published was the easy part.
How long did it take to write?
I had ideas for the first of the four books going all the way back to about 2008, but I didn’t get serious about writing it until 2015-16. After that, the ideas flowed, and all four books came along surprisingly easily.
Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?
Instrumental music mainly, but it changes a lot. Classical music, especially early music (medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque), but sometimes English and French 20th-century music (Vaughan Williams, Ravel, and many others). Also jazz, especially contemporary Nordic jazz, which is often wonderfully mellow and satisfying.
How many publishers turned you down?
For this particular book? Probably only two or three. And I’ve had rejections for my non-fiction books, as well.
What kind of reactions have you had to your book?
The reviews and reactions to “Qwyrk Tales” have been very positive, as people appreciate the sarcastic dialogue, fun situations, and sometimes Monty Pythonesque humor (humour?).
What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?
Peter S. Beagle, author of the beloved book, The Last Unicorn, wrote a blurb for the first book in the series, Qwyrk: “Charming and funny, the characters are delightful. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.” That was a pretty big morale boost, I can assure you!
What can you tell us about your next book?
I’m always working on new projects and I have two new non-fiction books coming out in November from Cider Mill Press, an imprint of Harper Collins Focus: The Scary Book of Christmas Lore, which looks at dark folktales about winter and the holidays; and Northern Mythology, a new look at the Norse myths, as well as Finnish myths, and the beliefs of the Sámi. Both make perfect holiday reading!
Do you take notice of online reviews?
Some years ago, I had a nasty, one-star review on Goodreads, by a reviewer who I’m fairly sure completely missed the point of the book in question. In fact, I’m not completely sure they even read the right book! After that, I stopped paying attention to them.
Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?
I write in so many genres already that this isn’t really even a question!
What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?
I’ve always been writing, but I was also in graduate study for many years and have worked as a professional musician since the 1990s. I also work as a ghost writer for various clients (businesses and individuals).
Which genres do you read yourself?
History, myth, the arts, fantasy, paranormal, psychology… many of the genres I also like writing.
What is your biggest motivator?
For writing? Always wanting to learn new things and seeing what I can come up with on any given day.
What will always distract you?
Very little, honestly. Usually myself. I’ll need to take a break and I might extend that into something longer than it should be. But I most definitely don’t write every day (unless I have a looming deadline), and I really don’t encourage others to do it, either.
How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?
I had a good amount of input for the Qwyrk Tales covers, but very little for most of my non-fiction works. The editor might send me an image of the proposed cover for my reaction, and I can offer suggestions for small changes, but once they’ve settled on a cover, that’s pretty much it.
Were you a big reader as a child?
Oh yeah! All kinds of things.
Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?
I live within reasonable driving distance of Powell’s Books in Portland, which is less a shop, and more of a megastore!
Do you have any rituals when writing?
I like to have tea or coffee with me when I sit down, but otherwise, not really.
How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?
Five to seven, on average. That might be low for some people!
What is your current or latest read?
The Early Anglo-Saxon Kings by Tony Sullivan. An in-depth look at a little-known subject and perfect for my inner history nerd.
Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?
I’m working on a new fantasy series, and have plans for some really interesting new non-fiction projects over the next couple of years.
Any events in the near future?
No in-person events, sorry to say.
and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?
Well, again, I write in many genres, mainly because I can’t just focus on one! But I’ve loved history, folklore, and fantastical stories since I was very young, so that undoubtedly influences my current choices quite a bit.
