Why did you write the book?
I did not set out to write a book, but it seemed to just develop as I went along. One thing that I quickly observed is that were a large number of different books covering different aspects of the Genesis of Man story. However to the best of my knowledge, there is no other book that links all of these subjects together in a proper time frame in the way that I have done. Many of these books are weighty in the extreme, making them a difficult and laborious read, so much so, that ones gets to the end, having forgotten half of it already! Genesis of Man then fills a definite niche, as the information is presented in a much more accessible form, which is much easier to relate to. Buying this book can save you pounds, as it will not be necessary to buy all these other more scholarly works.
How long did it take to complete?
The book took around five years to complete, form start to finish. It began in March 2001 when I was asked to write a thesis on a crystal related subject for the crystal therapy course that I was on. It was not until several months later that I realised it was developing into a book. I then wrote more or less full time for two year until I returned to full time work in 2003. I left in August 2005, and realising that time was of the essence, did a complete rewrite in less than five months, managing to complete the book by Christmas 2005.
Why did you decide to do a new and updated edition and how it is different to the original?
Initially I was intending to change only the cover. Soon after publication, I engaged the services of a publicist, who works on behalf of Richard's published authors to generate publicity. He showed the book to a number of people within the publishing industry all of whom said that they loved the book, but did not like the cover. However, since we were at that time in the process of moving house, I did have the opportunity to really begin to look at this until we had settled in. Spring seemed like the right time to be making such changes, with the new energies moving in, plus it is traditionally a time for regeneration and starting new projects.
I thought though that if I was to change the cover, then I might as well make some changes to the text at the same time, since with POD it is relatively easy and inexpensive to do this. More and new information does come to me all the time, particuarly with scientfic breakthroughs regarding mans origins in the form of, for example DNA studies. The new edition then features new and exciting information regarding this and many other things. In total there are around 12 added pages of text. The new edition is also printed in a slightly larger font size, making it easier to read, since many commented on the small font size of the original. I feel that the new cover will make a big difference to the way in which the book is perceived, as it has a much more scholarly feel and presentation, which is already beginning to reap rewards.
Who is the book primarily aimed at?
The book is aimed at students of life, philosophy, theology and social sciences, and all those who wish to broaden their knowledge of such subjects. Whilst it would be useful to have a basic grasp of the concepts of spirituality, this is not strictly necessary, as the introduction describes these in sufficient detail for the unitiated to grasp.
The book will particuarly appeal to those who have been taught, or rather learnt to question, realising that the information presented to them through both religion and the media is not necessarily the truth. People are no longer content to accept things at face value, questioning the information that is fed to them through such sources. Opinion polls show that 49 percent of British adults believe that the media and establishment are curtailing the release of information that does not fall within their own ideologies. Many of these finds fall between the cracks and vanish, being labelled as lunatic fringe. Yet today's lunatic fringe has the potential of becoming tomorrow's innovators. Many people thus are looking to find their own truth in order to help provide the answers to the questions they have. The startling discoveries made during the research for this book will challenge most people's perceptions as to what mankind's real role within the universe is, as well as providing answers to age old questions regarding the nature of God and our reason for being here.
How is this book different to others of a similar nature?
After carrying out extensive research, I can confidently conclude that this book is truly unique. Recent years have seen the publication of many books within the alternative history and ancient wisdom genres, reflecting the rapidly expanding market in these areas of publishing.
Other books of a similar nature have either scratched the surface or taken one subject to enormous depth, making it very difficult to maintain sufficient interest on the part of the reader. These in depth books are necessary, but due to their factual style of presentation come across as inaccessible to a large proportion of the reading populace. Genesis of Man is written in an easy to read style that will be accessible to all and will therefore appeal to a much wider audience. It tackles the subjects in sufficient depth to maintain the reader's interest, without weighing them down with unnecessary narrative.
The most outstanding feature of Genesis of Man is that it manages to link several topics, which on the surface could be seen as dissimilar, but are linked in ways previously unknown.
What tools did you use for research?
I used a variety of different sources, all detailed in the book, but primarily other people's books, as well as the internet, newspapers and television documentaries. Some of the information also came through readings given by various psychic friends and by attending events led by other authors and spiritual teachers, as well from information that spirit imparted direct to me in the form of intuition or sometimes meditations. Again these are all detailed in the book. It was then a matter of piecing the information together, a bit like a jigsaw puzzle.
What did you learn from the experience and how has it changed your life?
When I first began to write, I had no knowledge whatsoever of many of the subjects that the book contains, so I had to learn pretty much as I went along. It has then been a very steep learning curve. One of the biggest things though that I have had to face is my fear of rejection and public speaking. I have managed to deal with this though with the help of Journey work, a technique pioneered by Brandon Bays, and was very lucky to be offered the chance to act as a case study by several who were training in this technique. I still get nervous when doing talks and presentations, but the fear is now much more manageable.
For months after the initial publication, I struggled with several people who although they had said they wanted a copy, never seemed to come up with the money. One in particular, on realising that the book was now available, almost bolted and then came up with all manner of excuses as to why she had not bought one. I took this very personally, since these outwardly spiritual people did not seem to be walking their talk, but instead fobbing me with excuses and lies. It slowly dawned on me though that this was their stuff, and nothing to do with me. For reasons best known to them, they felt that they could not be honest enough to say that they were not interested. As soon as I realised this, I was able to release it and concentrate my energies on those who really were interested.
Do you think the inclusion of channelled and esoteric material will put people off, if you wish to be taken seriously as a writer should you not write from a more scholarly angle?
Judging from the feedback so far, it does not seem to have put people off. There are some who believe that information that comes from such sources is not valid, but in most cases this stems from a misunderstanding as to the nature of channelling itself. This in turn is usually borne from preconceived notions of the media and religious/educational establishments. I cannot though spend my life worrying about what other think and have to be true to myself and stand up for what I, as a writer feel and believe to be my truth. The inclusion of this material does not in my opinion make the book any less credible, in fact, far from it, as rather than presenting the narrow view of the scientific establishment, it is able to give interpretations which otherwise would not be possible, presenting a more realistic view, which some readers can more easily relate to.
What is your favourite part of the book?
Definitely the final part, which concentrates on Gnosticism and the origins of the Christian faith, as I feel it is my best writing, and is also very thought provoking and challenging. It was also the most difficult and challenging part to write, and the last part to be completed. I also like the opening chapter, Bones of Contention, since this is a good example of how the scientific and the esoteric can work so well together, when presented in the right way.
Why did you choose to self publish?
I chose to self publish for a variety of different reasons, but mostly because I did not feel I had the time to wait for the book to be picked up by a traditional publisher, who would have taken a minimum of 2 years to get the book in print, once the contract had been signed. If I had the time and the patience to wait, then I have no doubt that it would have eventually been picked up, but having spent 5 years writing and researching, I got to the point where I just wanted to get on with things.
What would you say to other authors considering this route?
The best advice I could give would be to research the market thoroughly and understand the publishing industry and how it works, so there are no hidden surprises and you know what you want and need before you even start to approach publishers. Make a list of important questions, and do not be fobbed off or taken in by fancy suits and sales patter - what matters is do you get on with this person, and does the company they represent have a solid reputation. Can they deliver on their promises and do they offer value for money? What are the hidden costs? Remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Also trust your intuition and let it work for you - there were several websites I looked at which did not 'feel right', for reasons that seemed unclear. I have since discovered that one of these was in serious financial difficulties and being sued by a number of disgruntled authors who seem unlikely to get their money back.
With all POD companies, no matter how much they might say that they can help with marketing and publicity, the truth is that unless you have the resources to hire a publicist, then you are pretty much on your own. The most important questions are therefore what is their distribution, what are their print costs and what are their royalties. Therefore go for the best deal you can get with the company that best fits your own ideals and objectives, and make sure you understand your own obligations to them. Read the contract thoroughly and do not sign anything until you are 101 percent happy! Also go for one that offers a non exclusive contract that does lock you in for a set number of years, that way, should you be approached by a traditional publisher, you are free to take them up on their offer.
Many self publishing books tell you that the first few weeks of your books life are crucial. Yet, as POD books are never out of print, they actually have a longer shelf life. I would therefore advise self published authors to go for steady, long term sales rather than a short spurt of growth. A website is the most essential tool that you can have, since the majority of your sales will be via this route. Your own site will open up sales in all different countries without you necessarily having to do a thing, apart from make regular updates. Properly designed, with articles on a variety of different subjects, your site will soon get on the search engines, and people will find it and buy the book. Internet forums can also be useful as a means of letting people know that you out there, but remember that many of them may also have rules against advertising.
What will your next book be about?
A new and updated edition of this book was launched in May 2007, largely in response to the need to change the cover. At the moment I have several ideas brewing for other possible books, mostly religious themed, but I prefer not to discuss these publicly until I have more definite ideas.
