David G. Welsh is one of the authors featuring in the September giveaway. David has written Legend Unborn.
1. Do you have a Pen name?
My pen name is David.G Welsh. Home is currently Los Angeles.
2. What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 words, what would you say.
My latest book is called ‘Legend Unborn.’ It is the first of four in the Key of Souls series. Now, to sum it up in 20 words? I’d go for something like, ‘An edgy and fun fantasy adventure with unique characters, splashes of humor in a world on the brink of darkness.’
3. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
I’m currently hard at work on part two of the Key of Souls series. I hope to have the first draft finished at the end of this year. However, I’m also working on a short-story anthology. Many of these are stories I have written over the past twenty years and I’m reworking them. Its quite funny but you can tell some of them are old by reading about the technology in them.
4. What or who inspired you to start writing and how long have you been writing?
When I was in primary school (many, MANY moons ago), our teachers would always encourage us to write stories and I just loved making stuff up. So, in some form or other, I’ve been writing for the past thirty years or so. Gulp!
5. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?
Absolutely! I love having reviewers read and critique my work. Please feel free to contact me any time!
6. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the cover of your book?
I wanted the cover to try and give the reader a sense of the adventure that happens in the book. The cover itself also has a number of ‘hidden’ stories that work with the story itself.
As for the design, I worked with an amazingly talented friend of mine, Alistair Baxter, who was SO patient with me. He’d send me some outlines and I’d scribble furiously on them, adjusting stuff and colors and he would come back with something that always blew my mind. I’m still amazed how he came up with what he did based on my inane and crazy scribbles.
7. How did you come up with the title for your book?
I felt the title had to reflect something that truly represented a ‘beginning’ while at the same time, I wanted it to resonate with the reader as they were reading. When they get through the book, the title acts as a reflection on what is happening and what is to come.
In regards to the series’ name, ‘Key of Souls’, this is a mixture of the characters and something important within the book. I can’t give too much away here J
8. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or audiobooks?
I’ve only just got into e-books since I wrote my book. But I have yet to actually get one. I do some reading on my iPad, but the screen is pretty useless once you try reading in the sun. However, I must admit to loving the physical book. I love the smell of a new book, the feel of it in my hand and I must have close to a thousand books. But, each one is in perfect condition! It’s a rule of mine that if you borrow a book, you take absolute care and attention of it.
I must admit to not being too keen on audiobooks as, and this is purely from my perspective, hearing someone read it takes the sense of adventure away from me. I can’t just stop and ponder something when I want, or re-read a passage because it was awesome. It also feels a lot less personal to me.
I’m not crazy, I promise! I just love books! J
9. Are you self-published/ indie author?
Indeed I am and proud of it too! After I self-published I came across so many other Indy authors and realized there is SO MUCH talent out there that its both scary and amazing!
10. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
To be honest, there are far too many! Let me think, Lord of the Rings for sure, Good Omens, pretty much every Iain Banks book with the culture, Strangers by Dean koontz and, oh man, far too many others! If I enjoy a book, I love it and when I re-read it, I’ll come across things I missed before and be awed once again.
Sheesh, am I easy to please or what! J
11. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
At the moment I’m reading ‘The Evolutionary Void’ by Peter F. Hamilton. It’s the paperback format.
12. Do you have any advice for writers? And what’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Ok, advice, wow. My one advice is to always, and I mean always, with NO excuse, carry a notebook with you. When you start writing you’ll start coming up with ideas at every opportunity and if you don’t have a way to jot them down, you’ll drive yourself crazy!
But another piece of advice is for those who are thinking of writing. If you want to write, go ahead and do it! Don’t just say, ‘Oh man, its great you’ve written a book, I wish I could.’ There is absolutely nothing stopping you, go ahead and do it. Write the book!
As for the best advice I’ve been given, it would have to be to write as often as you can. Even if it’s just writing a simple piece of dialog, or creating a completely random set-piece about something, write it down. The more you practice, the more you get better at it and learn to see problems before they occur.
13. Where can your readers follow you?
Loads of places! J
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/worksofdgwelsh
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Key-of-Souls/215166881837221
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/D_GWelsh
Goodreads: Author name – David Welsh
Key of Souls page: http://www.keyofsouls.com
Thanyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!
Nice interview, Rachel well done. And it was nice to learn what David is up to next.
ReplyDeleteI love the phrase 'brink of darkness'! I am with you on books--love everything about them. Hopefully we're not both crazy :)
ReplyDeleteGreat advice about carrying a notebook! I know some writers who take theirs into the shower...
Thanks for the comment Jenny. And yes, a notepad is SO important! :)
ReplyDelete