Q&A with Paul Rand – Author Interview

Join us for an exclusive Q&A with Paul Rand, where we dive into the inspirations, challenges, and creative process behind his compelling works, including Joe with an E and Them and Us. Discover what drives his storytelling, his thoughts on the writing journey, and what’s next for him. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his books, this interview offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a talented author!

About The Author

Tell us more about you

My favourite colour is green, I like playing board games – Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan are two of my favourites – and if possible, I always have to have the green playing pieces in a game. Otherwise, I’ll get confused and start moving someone else’s pieces!

What are the three items you’d take on a deserted island?

My Kobo, which I’d load up with as many good novels as I could, as soon as I knew I’d be stranded on the island. Is that cheating?

As much tea as I could carry (preferably loose-leaf).

My woolly hat, because even if it’s a tropical island, my head would probably get cold at night.

Who is your biggest role model?

My daughter, who is currently in the final year of her Engineering degree. She’s very competent, level-headed (most of the time) and passionate about issues of justice, inclusion and the environment.

What is your favourite book and who is your favourite author?

Can I have several? My favourite books of recent times have been The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ross, How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, and The Future by Naomi Alderman.

Favourite author? I’m not sure I have one because I don’t like to get stuck on one author, but I’d like to read more Naomi Alderman, having read The Future and The Power.

Do you prefer e-books, physical books or audiobooks?

I prefer e-books for their convenience, particularly when going on holiday, and because I can borrow them from the library without needing to find a time to go when it’s open.

Is writing your full-time profession or a hobby?

Sadly not. I’d love to spend my days writing. My degree was in Electronic Engineering and I worked in engineering for thirteen years before retraining as a secondary school Maths teacher. In recent years I’ve taught part-time, to give me time for other things – teaching a mix of Maths and Business. But that’s all changing in April 2025 when I am leaving teaching and will be working for a charity which provides support services for other charities and churches.

What social media platform do you like and use the most?

I’m into TikTok and Threads mostly at the moment but am also on Facebook and Instagram.

My social channels are:

Your Writing Process

How do you go about starting a new novel?

Jump right in. I’m not a planner, but as I work out where the story’s going to end up, I then decide I find myself building a spreadsheet of what’s going to happen when and how everything fits into the time over which the book is set. 

Where do you like to write?

I’ll write anywhere. I even once wrote a paragraph or two in between school parents’ evening appointments (at a particularly quiet parents’ evening). At home, I’ll tend to sit to write on the sofa in our living room. I do want to get more disciplined at setting aside time to write.

What do you like most about writing?

Getting to know my characters and seeing where they take me. I also enjoy experimenting with different narrative styles – first person, third person, past tense, present tense, chapters written in the form of a scientific logbook, or a courtroom transcript. In the new book I’m working on at the moment, I’m having a go at writing chapters from the point of view of a five-year-old and other chapters as if they are a blog.

What do you find stops you from writing more?

Since being published, the thing that gets in the way most is trying to promote the books I’ve already written, mostly on social media. It feels like trying to win readers one by one. Also, as a teacher, marking gets in the way; and I’m quite involved in my local Methodist Church, which takes up a fair amount of time.

What genres do you like to write and why?

So far, my focus has been dystopian fiction, but creating dystopian worlds which feel very similar to our own. So I think I could switch to contemporary fiction reasonably easily. A while ago I wrote a few chapters of a contemporary novel set in a school, which I might pick up again at some point.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring writers?

Find other writers to share and compare notes with – ideally some sort of critique group, whether that’s an in-person writing group or an online forum. I think my writing has come on a lot simply from reading other people’s work in progress, seeing the feedback they’ve been given by others, and having a go at critiquing their work myself. It’s not just about getting feedback from others on your own writing.

Showcase your books!

How many books have you written and if more than one, what’s your favourite?

I’ve written two books and am in the early stages of writing a third. The two I’ve already written and published are both part of the same story – it’s a duology – so in terms of favourites, it’s hard to choose between them. Joe with an E will always have a special place because it’s my debut novel and the first thing I ever tried to write in novel form. But then I love the way I’ve been able to go deeper with Them and Us.

How long did Joe With An E take to write?

I always find that a tricky question to answer and in fact, I did a TikTok video about this. I started in April 2019 and had completed the first draft by January 2020. That first draft was not a million miles off the final published version in structure or content, but the writing needed lots of refining. I spent several years pitching to agents, editing, then pitching again, before finally signing with Beaten Track Publishing – a small indie publisher – who published it in June 2024.

So just over five years from first words to publication, but in that time I also wrote the first draft of the sequel (Them and Us), did various other bits and pieces of writing, worked part time as a teacher and volunteered as treasurer for my church.

Lastly, what is your favourite thing about being an author?

Knowing that people have read and enjoyed my books, and even better, when my books have also made people think and question their outlook on life.

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