An Interview with Dominic Wong

This month, I interview marketing consultant, author, and Bournemouth Writing Festival Director, Dominic Wong.

Bournemouth Writing Festival 2026 (Solid Imagery)

1. How long have you been a marketing consultant and freelancer for the visitor

attractions and travel and tourism industry? What led you into this career?

My first foray into the theme park industry was at Thorpe Park, where I helped launch the rollercoaster Stealth. Then I moved into different attractions, including Madame Tussauds and then being the first marketing director at the Harry Potter Studio Tour, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and then Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. Then, when I moved to Bournemouth, I set up a couple of marketing agencies which supported theme parks, museums and visitor attractions with their marketing strategies and education programmes. A few of my education programmes have won school trip awards. I’ve also launched a few products into the market, such as a Princess Diana photography exhibition and The Snowman afternoon tea bus tour of London.

What I love about this industry is that its core purpose is to make people smile and to create memories. An awful lot of the marketing is to create reasons-to-visit NOW events and activities. Unlike fast moving consumer goods (like baked beans or toothpaste) which can sit on shelves for months, attractions (like airplane seats), are gone forever if you don’t sell them today. That’s what makes it exciting.

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2. What inspired you to start writing books? Was it something you always wanted to

do?

Like most writers, I enjoyed writing at school, then other things got in the way. I always wanted to write but never found the headspace. I was travelling a lot to LA and, after a while the novelty of flying and the movies wore ff, so I used the 12 hour flight times to write. And when Covid hit, I had even more time.

3. Why romantic thrillers?

My first book is a romantic thriller but I don’t particularly write in one genre (so agents won't like it!). I write books with a twist and then fit the genre to that. For example, my third book (not released yet) is a comedy caper about a bank robber with amnesia.

4. Your debut novel, The Opposite Sides of a Coin, was published in 2021. What was the inspiration behind this particular story?

I came up with the twist and worked backwards from there. I really struggled with the female character for a long time, and then I watched a film called Beast. The Jessie Buckley character was exactly the character I wanted so after I saw that film, everything slipped into place and wrote 80k words in seven days! The words just spilled out!

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5. Perhaps an impossible question, but who is your favourite character from your

own books, and why?

I really liked both of the main characters, but I felt the male character had more to give – especially in his story arc to redemption. So, I wrote the standalone sequel with him as the protagonist.

6. How would you describe your writing style in just three words?

Fast paced, believable, to the point.

7. Your website states that you dabble in rhyming poetry. Please could you tell me a

little about your poetic work?

I’m not very good so dabbling is the right word. My grandfather was a master rhymer, and so is my mother. So, comedic poetry has been a small vein through my life. I love Roald Dahl’s Ryming Stew, so whenever I write poetry, I always make it rhyme, and try to inject a bit of humour.

Bournemouth Writing Festival 2026 (Solid Imagery)

8. What is the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about being an author?

There are SO many other writers in the same boat – asking the same questions, doing the hard work and enjoying writing.

9. How did you become the director of Bournemouth Writing Festival?

It was after writing my first book and finding lots of other writers and authors in the area – all asking the same questions and having the same struggles (all alone behind their laptop) – where I thought if we can bring them together and learn/support each other, what a cool thing that might be.

Bournemouth Writing Festival 2026 (Solid Imagery)

10. What is your favourite aspect of the writing festival?/What do you hope writers

will gain from attending?

Without doubt the community aspect of it. We do a lot of work in the community to inspire all writers to write regardless of their age, background or ability. We all view the world differently so to get those thoughts out of your head and into the world is a wonderful thing. We work with the homeless, those with learning difficulties, people with dementia and Young Carers, as well as children. So the hope is that not only do we hear those stories but also give opportunity and a chance to encourage people to express themselves through writing.

Bournemouth Writing Festival 2026 (Solid Imagery)

11. What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

Write for joy, not to be published. If you get published, that’s a bonus.

12. In your opinion, what makes a good book?

Believable characters and dialogue. I read so many books where characters just won't say those things. If you are writing dialogue, read it out loud (or even better, ask someone else to).

13. Which book (or poem) would you say has had a lasting impact on you?

My grandfather’s poem for my mum’s wedding. Funny, touching and very clever.

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Thank you to Dominic Wong for this interview.

Learn more about Dominic and his writing here.