Exclusive Interview with
Tim Parsons

When did you start writing?
I started writing back in 2017 when I came home from a night shift and realised there was nothing for children educating upon the ambulance service.


What makes writing your passion?
I am very passionate to share my many frontline ambulance experiences as chaplain to children so that they can be educated upon the works of the ambulance service, such as the fireman Sam series. I am driven to succeed after being told as a teenager that I would never be a success. I have also just written episode three which is due out in January 2020 based upon bullying and my passion behind this next episode is in loving memory of my Dad who passed away in August 2019.


How long have you been writing?
I started to write the books in 2017 and began writing while in the back of an ambulance in between patients and on breaks (which is rare).


What was the feeling when you published your first book?
I was feeling proud that a finished product was in place and that the vision I had was worth the effort.


What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
The real Paramedic Chris inspired me as his daughter has been battling with cancer since a very young age and written a book herself based upon her health experiences, this really inspired me to write the Paramedic Chris books.


What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
The cost of marketing and no end of people wanting to charge a fee to get the books out there.


How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I tend to write down my immediate thoughts then go over them again at a future date.


We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
I keep going as I number one now want to succeed in memory of my Dad and also want to help others as a result of my books, for example if enough books sold, I would use a percentage of profits to support others in communties, especially mental health.


If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Don’t let bullies stop you.


Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
Not often as I prefer to make up my own mind.


What is the feeling when you get a good review?
Is a feeling of pride and joy.


Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Yes, all of the Paramedic Chris stories are based upon real calls which I have attended.


Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
I would like to think I am like the Paramedic Chris character as he is kind and compassionate.


What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
Totally, the cover is what is the first attraction to the book and when marketing is essential.


Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
Yes, mainly via social media.


How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
Again, a sense of pride but at the same time embarrassment as I tend to shy away from things.


Who is your favorite author? Why?
David Walliams as my children love his books.


What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
Would love to be like David Walliams and JK Rowling as they have been very successful, JK Rowling especially as she was a single mother and overcame a lot of barriers.


Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
No, just learn from them, for example the next book on bullying has less words and more pictures.


If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
David Walliams and JK Rowling.


What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
Is another form of bullying and if you have nothing good to say, stay quiet. Is usually jealousy which makes people do things like bad reviews.


What would you say to your readers?
Embrace life, carry on, don’t let others put you down and as I sign all my books, KEEP SAFE.


Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
Married to Caroline, we have three children, William aged nine, Daniel aged four and Joshua six months. We live in Kent.


What is your day job if you have one?
Computer engineer and voluntary chaplain to ambulance service.


What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Playing board games with the family, football (Leeds fan), reading and writing books, computers, playing my guitar, meals out, church and being with family and friends.


Did you have a happy childhood?
Yes, grew up in Norwich as a Baptist minister’s son. Only part of childhood I struggled with was being bullied at school.


Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
Going to a patient on Christmas day suffering from loneliness and being a help, inspired me to write book two.


Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
Yes, have lots of future episodes planned should the first three become successful.


What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
Education upon our emergency services and getting kids interested in reading rather than screens.


If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
Better health (have chrohns disease) Family to be happy Love to be amongst everybody.


What is your favorite music?
Christian contemporary worship and classical music.


Share a secret with us 🙂
I once reversed my brothers spark plugs when his car broke down as I heard the breakdown people he was with would charge if no fault found! Very naughty of me.
