Every journalist thinks they have at least one book in them. In the case of former Western News editor/reporter Jim Anderson, he’s had two – and counting.
Anderson, who retired in 2006 after more than 30 years in Western’s Department of Communications and Public Affairs, released his second novel, The Scorpion, this summer. Picking up a year after the ending of Deadline – which sold more than 30,000 copies worldwide since its 2010 release – Anderson’s latest novel brings more news, murder, action, suspense, romance and terrorists. It’s the second of a planned Daily Express trilogy.
“When I retired, the first year I did very little, I just enjoyed it,” Anderson said. “But after that, I wanted to keep my mind active and my writing skills going, so I told myself I was going try and write a thriller.”
About eight months later, Anderson had his first book in the can. That was the easy part. Next, he had to convince publishers they had a hit on their hands. But after dozens of rejection letters, Anderson still felt he had a story worth sharing and ventured into the world of self-publishing.
“I didn’t get anywhere with the traditional publishers,” said Anderson, noting famous books such as J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series was passed on by publishers a dozen times. “Times are definitely changing when you look at the markets for self-publishing.”
Anderson can attest to yet another “sign of the times” in the world of books sales. Of his more than 30,000 sales of Deadline, e-books outsold paperbacks 10-to-1.
“It’s definitely cheaper and more convenient for people to simply download your book,” Anderson said, noting his sales have included Canada, United States, Germany, France, Australia and Britain, the latter accounting for more than 10,000 of his books sales. “I’ve done really well in the U.K., I don’t know why. I didn’t do a lot of promotion over there.”
At one point, Anderson found himself at No. 11 on the U.K. Kindle bestseller list, just behind Stephen King’s latest novel. “I really wanted to beat that Stephen King, but it just didn’t happen,” he joked.
Anderson sold his first story to a magazine at age 16. A few years later he would write his first James Bond-like spy novel, which he admits wasn’t the best. It was never published.
Soon after, Anderson would venture into the world of journalism, where he would spend his career.
“I did a bit of writing over the years, but then again when you’re writing all day at work … I kind of put it on the backburner,” he said. “I always told myself ‘one of these days when I retire.’”
Flash-forward and Anderson kept his promise. While not making a living or striking it rich, writing provides him joy in creating characters, only to lead them into a variety of dicey situations. He writes – usually in the fall and winter months – in the morning for about three hours “when I’m at my sharpest. I’m an early-riser anyway and in the afternoon I’m ready for a nap,” Anderson joked.
Ready to pen his third entry of the Daily Express trilogy later this fall, Anderson’s future plans include something a bit different – a young-adult thriller for his grandchildren.
“Life’s pretty good,” he said. “When writing stops being fun, that’s when I’ll stop.”