Who is Timothy Bateson?
In short, I’m (as of this post) a 49-year-old Englishman living in Alaska who happens to write urban fantasy short stories. And I’m what I call a Book Dragon, meaning I’m passionate about books, reading, and discovering the heart of the story.
I figured I’d make my first post here a very quick Q&A and give you some idea of who I am and what you can expect from me. So, without further ado…
1. Why is an Englishman living in Alaska?
There are several reasons. I met Sandi (my wife) online through a mutual friend and stayed in touch. She was living in Alaska, I was living in England, and we were in contact frequently over a couple of years.
After a while, we became very close and talked about everything from books and movies to relationships. And it was as I was coming out of a relationship that Sandi hit me with the two words that changed my life: “I’M AVAILABLE!”.
I visited Alaska in October 2004, and things went so well that I returned in April 2005. I left everything behind, moved to Alaska, and married Sandi. We’ve often talked about moving out of Alaska, but various events and financial matters have kept us from doing so. But we keep planning and hoping to achieve this goal.
2. What kind of stories do you write?
So far, I’ve written several short stories, many set in Shadows Over Seattle. This world is an urban fantasy version of the city, so there is a mix of the familiar and fantastic about the setting. Each story tells a tale of just one or two characters on a personal level, and many of those stories are interconnected in ways you’ll have to discover for yourself.
I’ve always loved reading the story through the eyes of the characters, so most of my work is written the same way. You will hear the character’s thoughts, feel their emotions, despair at their pain, and revel in their achievements.
3. What are you working on now?
More recently, I’ve picked up the novel I first outlined in 2006 and reworked it into something I can finish writing. This project originally started as an offshoot of a story Sandi was writing but soon took on a life of its own, spawning the short story collection as I explored the characters and the world.
Now it’s time to finish what I started and build on what I’ve learned about being a writer and what the story is really about. And don’t worry about that story Sandi was writing; you’ll be seeing that, too.
4. Do you have any hobbies?
When I’m not writing, I can be found
working on my website
designing t-shirts and other items with book-related themes
taking whatever opportunities present themselves to handle birds of prey
building models from wood or metal kits
listening to blues, soul, rock & roll
or simply sitting back to read a good fantasy, urban fantasy, sci-fi, or non-fiction book
So why am I on Substack, and why now?
Since I first saw one of my short stories in print (back in 2014), I’ve made every effort to connect with readers, fellow authors, and others in the book industry. I’ve been lucky to have made some great friends, participated in local book signings, ran a book review blog, and even helped run online book events.
Recently, I really started thinking about how I connected with people and realized it was very haphazard. Spurred by changes in social media and the realization of how few posts I see from friends and family, let alone people I follow, I started looking for alternatives.
And that’s when I found Substack!
That was when I discovered there was actually somewhere I could connect with people again! And possibly make some money to help finance my writing and publishing expenses. So, here I am, diving in feet first!
Who am I hoping to connect with?
It’s really simple. I’m looking for those readers I call my fellow “Book Dragons.” As a reader, you probably fall into one (or more) of a small handful of groups:
You love reading urban fantasy stories in general
Reading those stories from the perspective of the characters excites you
You’re ready to pick up stories where the world isn’t black and white but shades of grey
You know that even apparent villains have their reasons for doing things
You enjoy talking about stories, share those that really made you feel something, and maybe even want to discover some inside secrets from the author.
As a writer, you’re interested in connecting with other writers in the genre and maybe even collaborating on releases and promotions. I’m always looking for new books from exciting authors, and I know I’m not alone. Let’s help each other!
How often can you expect posts? And what will be in them?
I aim to do at least one post each month within the first week. Free subscribers can expect the following:
Quick updates on where I am with various projects so you can keep up with what’s happening.
AI artwork that I’ve been working on. It might be a character from one of my stories or an experiment I’m happy to share.
When I have a new item(s) in my store, I’ll share them too (and offer the occasional discount).
I will also work hard to recommend stories from fellow urban fantasy authors.
Paid subscribers will currently get the following:
Subscriber-only posts
Access to the full archive of posts
My thanks for having faith in me
The ability to comment on posts and be part of the community
But I am also considering several ways to show how much I appreciate you. These might include:
Sneak peeks of unedited writing from the month
Special discounts on store items or books
So, welcome aboard, fellow Book Dragons!
If you’ve read this far, thank you! Time is precious, and I appreciate you taking the time to read this far. I hope to get to know each and every one of you and will be replying to comments and messages as much as I can.
Remember to subscribe so you never miss a post, and feel free to share it with your friends.
Before we part ways for this post…Here’s a taste of some of the AI art I’ve been creating.
This is one of many pictures I produced while trying to figure out the wolf form for Richard Parsons, the shapeshifter who started my journey as a writer.