22 ratings | 19 reviews | avg rating:4.05

Roy’s Year In Books

Roy’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Roy’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Roy’s 2025 Year in Books

Roy Hunt’s Followers (7)

Roy’s Bookshelves

to-read (0)
currently-reading (3)
read (23)
medusa-by-torkil-damhaug (0)
yes (1)

Roy’s Friends (4)

Lissa Oliver

460 books | 32 friends

Conor Kostick

196 books | 7 friends

Gabriel Woods

92 books | 42 friends

Kate

155 books | 25 friends

Roy Hunt

Goodreads Author

Member Since

August 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomroy_hunt

edit data

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Roy Hunt questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

I saw in a recent literary publication a very interesting article by you on useful grammar books. Punctuation can alter the entire meaning of a sentence if incorrectly used! But would you agree, reading as many good books as possible is the best way to learn to write well?

Roy Hunt Hi Lissa Oliver, apologies for only answering your question now. I'm not a skilled multitasker and often get stuck on one particular project to the ex…moreHi Lissa Oliver, apologies for only answering your question now. I'm not a skilled multitasker and often get stuck on one particular project to the expense of others. A question and subject for another day.
I love this question, it sets the synapses of my brain firing up!!
The thing is, it depends how you read. You can sit beside a driver your whole life and never learn to drive, you can read books your whole life and still miss the wiring underneath: the plot, the Point of View (POV), the research, the grammar, the edits.
Here's a confession. Until I started writing myself, I never knew how much I was taking for granted and how little I knew of the craft of writing. One example, I still often can't figure out in my head whether effect or affect is the correct usage. I know writers who have no problem with this; I know it's me, like a 'dead cell' as my father used to say about his problem remembering names (although he had a phenomenal memory with phone numbers that were important to him). So I often resort to 'impact', or change the sentence. But here's the thing: at least now I'm aware of the problem, whereas before, I didn't even know that I didn't know. Despite the fact that I must have come across that word thousands of times in good books over the years.
A few years ago I started a small notebook for this problem. My problem words are 'being' or 'been' (have that under control now, thanks to my notebook idea) 'was' or 'were' and the biggest one: 'affect' or 'effect'. I now write sentences from books that use these words into my notebook, and I make a note of the book and page number.
So yes, you're right, reading as many good books as possible is the best way to go. It's essential. To write, you should want to read anyway. But, if you're a writer, or you want to write, slow down and read with focus. Its amazing when you do how many mistakes (small typos) you'll find even in mainstream, traditionally published books (Those that have been proofed at great expense). But also study the areas you are weak on and see how the professionals do it.
As regards grammar, one quick note to those who get a headache just thinking about it. Get 'Eats, shoots@ leaves' by Lynne Truss and 'the accidental apostrophe' by Caroline Taggart. Nothing beats a little humour to get you going.
Thank you for the question, Lissa.(less)

flag

2 likes · like
1 comment

Hi, Roy, I'm always interested in how others write, so may I ask, do you edit as you go, or produce a first draft that you then return to and edit? I'm an edit-as-I-go person, which means very slow production, but when I'm finished, I'm finished!

Roy Hunt I know what you mean, Lissa. I love reading how other authors work. No, Lissa, I don't have your skills and discipline, I'm afraid. I try (oh so hard)…moreI know what you mean, Lissa. I love reading how other authors work. No, Lissa, I don't have your skills and discipline, I'm afraid. I try (oh so hard) to do all the research first. I managed it to a large extent in my second book. My education (late in life, an adult distance student) helps me here. I have an mlitt so I'm used to research. But the one I'm working on now, I stopped researching half way through and just started writing in longhand onto a yellow legal pad. And then I will go back once I have a clearer idea exactly where this particular story is going. I'm definitely not an edit-as-you-go person. Imagine a building site with the blocks, timber, plumbing strewn all over the site. I have to go back (once all the stuff is delivered) and try and sort it all out. The writer Jackie Collins gave me this idea. She said she sat down and just let the characters go their way. And it's amazing, it does work. Another writer described it as driving in fog, only when you go a few feet forward, will the next stage come into view. It takes a major force of will for me to sit down each day and write 1,000 words.(less)

flag

2 likes · like
1 comment

See all 17 answers from Roy Hunt…

Combine Editions
Roy Hunt’s books

Average rating: 3.86 · 28 ratings · 18 reviews · 9 distinct works • Similar authors

	Dark Waters: We Owe Our Existence to Bacteria. So What Happens When We Abuse Them? What Happens When We Make Them Angry? 3.96 avg rating — 25 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Worse Things Than Dying--A Fr John Winter Novel: How human do you want to remain? really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fu Manchu and Company: A Folio with Remarks by the Artist. liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sláinte! The Strawberry Beds Job: Eight men, one hut and no money. it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The something Hunt;: A Sherlockian portfolio of 10 prints 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Weapons : firearms, edged cannon : identification, preservation, bibliography, glossary 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mutation: Pollution is killing us; some of the solutions will too. A laboratory-monster thriller by Roy Hunt (Goodreads Author), Virtual Voice (Narrator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Slainte! The Athlone Job (Slainte! The Athlone Job. Book 2 in the Slainte! series) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fantasy Advertiser / February, 1951 / Roy Hunt cover. Vintage science fiction and fantasy fanzine. Arthur C. Clarke's "Space Travel in Fact and Fiction", first installment by Roy A. Squires (editor), Arthur C. Clarke, Stanton A. Coblentz 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Roy Hunt…

2 posts
Roy Hunt's Blog

'Next' versus 'The Godfather'.

Another way to write the above title would be 'Character or Issue driven fiction: which do you prefer?' As a reader which do you prefer to read, or want to write, as an author/writer?
It took me a while to work this out; it took me a while to even spot the difference. When I say 'a while', think decades. The problem was, I stopped reading novels for almost twenty years.
It was the late Michael Cric Read more of this blog post »

1 like · Like • 2 comments • flag

Published on June 12, 2018 12:59

View all 2 posts »

Roy is Currently Reading

Roy Hunt is currently reading

Anvil (The Iron Between Book 3)

by Micheál Cladáin (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 30, 2025 05:54AM

Roy Hunt is currently reading

The Music of Swords (The Dying Days of Draiocht Book 1)

by John De Burca

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Sep 22, 2025 02:43PM

Roy Hunt is currently reading

Noble House (Asian Saga, #5)

by James Clavell

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Apr 13, 2023 02:33PM

rss
Roy’s Recent Updates

Roy Hunt rated a book it was amazing Iron (The Iron Between Book 2) by Micheál Cladáin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 23, 2025 02:50PM · 1 like · like
Roy Hunt is currently reading Anvil (The Iron Between Book 3) by Micheál Cladáin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 30, 2025 05:54AM · like
Roy Hunt rated a book it was amazing Hammer by Micheál Cladáin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I just finished 'Hammer: the Iron Between, Book 1' by Micheal Cladain. This is part of my effort to read more books by living Irish authors. And it is worth it. No wonder the Americans love us. If these authors were script writers or novelists twenty ...more
Oct 30, 2025 05:06AM · 2 likes · like · see review
Roy Hunt is starting Hammer Hammer by Micheál Cladáin (Goodreads Author) progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 30, 2025 05:05AM · like · see status
Roy Hunt is currently reading Hammer by Micheál Cladáin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 23, 2025 03:00PM · like
Roy Hunt is currently reading The Music of Swords (The Dying Days of Draiocht Book 1) by John De Burca	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 22, 2025 02:43PM · like
Roy Hunt rated a book really liked it The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne by Brian Moore	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 22, 2024 04:02PM · like

More of Roy's books…

Roy’s Quotes

“Writers are the most pathetic souls when it comes to expressing their personal feelings. Their personalities are as complex as the characters they have weaved. And in a curious way, without them really knowing it, writers are the sum total of the characters they created in their heads or in their writings. Yes, My Dear Tania; writers are capable of reflecting their characters, even though most of them are determined to be just like your ordinary guy next door.”
― Janvier Chouteu-Chando