Interview // Nicholas Harvey, Author of Twelve Mile Bank

*Make sure to listen to an excerpt below our interview!*

Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing? 

Not at all! I wrote the book with no idea of genre, publishing, marketing, none of it. I wrote TMB because I wanted to write it. Everything else has happened after I decided I’d like to write another book.

How did you select your narrator?

I listened to what felt like a million ACX samples and narrowed it down to two narrators. They had to be female (as AJ Bailey is female) and had to be English (same). I contacted Kim and immediately felt a connection. She provided a sample from the book, but I’d already chosen her before I listened, it just confirmed my choice.

Were there any real-life inspirations behind your writing? 

How much do I give away??! AJ is a mixture of people I’ve met over time, especially through diving, but the main influence is my wife, Cheryl. I used one of my grandfathers and one of my grandmothers as inspiration and one of the German characters is named after a wonderful German friend.

Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you? 

Occasional. I actually love listening to books while driving long distances but when we toured for 6 months last year in the RV we now call home, it was too noisy to hear a book properly! To me the narrator is key. If their delivery of the story and the characters is engaging, then I get drawn in and don’t want to hit pause. Kim did that for me which is why she’s narrating my series.

Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format? 

Arthur, AJ’s grandfather telling her his story about the submarine. Kim had Arthur on the first try and I had a hard time reviewing the recordings because I just wanted to hear her tell the story!

If this title were being made into a TV series or movie, who would you cast to play the primary roles?

I think Claire Foy would make a pretty good AJ.

How did you celebrate after finishing this novel?

I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment quite unlike any other before. Cheryl gave me a big hug and we shared a glass of wine. It was a wonderful evening.

What gets you out of a writing slump? What about a reading slump?

So far – he says clutching at anything wooden – I haven’t experienced a severe slump. Most scene or plot problems get resolved on a long bike ride or a run. I find both clear my mind and open doors.

In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series? 

I wrote a stand-alone novel… and then it became book one of a series because I liked my character so much! Each has their place and I enjoy reading both. It’s great to get intimate with a good character(s) and follow their journey but a great novel alone is powerful too. As an Indie author building a brand, writing a series makes more sense as you’re gathering more readers into the fold all the time and if they like your first book they’re aboard for the ride through the series.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on book seven in the series which will come out in late October and as soon as we get Twelve Mile Bank audiobook rolling Kim will start on book two in the series, Gardens of the Queen.

Raised in England, working in America and heading for Grand Cayman. That encapsulates Nicholas Harvey’s career that’s been dominated by motorsports from an early age as a driver, then race engineer, to senior manager at the top level of motor racing in the States. Poised in the background has been a second career in writing that flourished into his debut novel, Twelve Mile Bank, the first of the AJ Bailey adventure series which combines a passion for diving, an obsession with military history, and a love of the Cayman Islands.

Nick and his wife Cheryl can be found touring the world in search of adventure on motorcycles, mountains, and dive boats.

Social media links above with synopsis.

Kim is an accomplished and award-winning actress and director with West End/Broadway theatre credits. Kim has narrated over 35 audiobooks and counting. She is also an in-demand voice over talent in the commercial and corporate arena and owns her own class A recording studio in Nashville. Kim is from the UK but has lived in NYC, L.A., and now Nashville TN. She continues to work in Theatre, Film, and TV as an actress and a director alongside narrating audiobooks and commercial voice overs.

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