1. What is your name and where do you call home?
Hi there! I’m D. E. M. Emrys, but you can call me D. Home
for me is Chelmsford, Essex, in the not-so-sunny UK. Though, being a member of
the British Army, my working-week home is on a military base…at an undisclosed
location. Dun, dun, dun!
2. Do you have a pen name?
D. E. M. Emrys is in fact my pen name. I chose to publish
under a pen name because 1) my real name would kill search engines by the mass
amount of people in the world who share it, 2) due to the nature of my job, I
thought it best for security reasons, and 3) D. E. M. Emrys is special to me.
My father took his own life when I was sixteen, and left very little as a
legacy. To put something of him down in history, I adopted his middle (Emrys)
and first (David) names into my Author Persona. And so, D. E. M. Emrys was
born.
3. What is the name of your most recent book and if you
had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
‘It Began With Ashes’ – An epic start to a new fantasy
series. It’s about living on your feet or dying on your knees.
4. Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of
a series?
‘It Began With Ashes’ and its prequel ‘From Man to Man’
are both part of the wider ‘Wroge Elements’ series. I am currently writing the
sequel, titled ‘A Stirring of Dead Embers’.
5. What or who inspired you to start writing? And how
long have you been writing?
I was a late bloomer with reading. I didn’t start picking
up books (outside of school) until I was eleven years old. Even then I jumped
the gun, and started with Adult-reading-level books. Namely the heroic-fantasy
tales of David Gemmell and James Barclay. These got me into the genre.
From time to time, I’d find a book that I didn’t like the
end of, or in some cases a book that I wanted to continue. I’d pick-up where
the book finished off and continue the story. This eventually saw me start
writing my own works. The first time I started writing stories for myself?
Thirteen years old.
As I said earlier, when I was sixteen my father committed
suicide. Suddenly, the desire to write stories became the desire to write
books. I wanted something concrete, something to leave behind not only for me,
but him, too. When it came to publishing, I even chose to adopt parts of his
name to craft my pen name.
As far as further inspiration that’s down to work, family
and friends. I’m a serving soldier for the British Army, and my experiences as
part of the military have played a massive part in bringing the kinetic side of
my stories to life. Family and friends? That’s self-explanatory, I hope. Earlier,
I mentioned my writer’s doubt? That in itself was a wall to be taken down, and
all credit for that goes to my girlfriend. She inspires me to keep going, to
keep putting the pen to paper, but most importantly, share.
6. Do you gift books to readers for book reviews?
Of course! I’m Indie after all, so I write for the
pleasure of others!
7. How did you come up with the cover? Who designed the
cover of your book?
The cover for ‘From Man to Man’ was designed and created
by myself. I wanted something to reflect the gritty mood of the main character,
Draven, and a stark image that put the reader in the mindset of a dark and
violent persona.
‘It Began With Ashes’ was concepted by myself, but I
commissioned the very talented Rachelle Fryatt to produce the artwork. She’s
done a fantastic job, and I’m more than happy with the handsome cover to the
story.
8. Which is your favourite cover of all the books you
have written?
Easily ‘It Began With Ashes’.
9. Is there anything you would change about your book
covers?
Bar from having the budget to hire Rachelle to re-do
‘From Man to Man’? Nothing.
10. Do you have a playlist in mind for any of your
books?
I listen to pretty much anything, but I am something of a
sucker for listening to movie soundtracks when I am writing. For ‘From Man to
Man’ it’d have to be anything by Avenged Sevenfold, particularly the song
‘Gunslinger’. ‘It Began With Ashes’….Nickelback? I think the different tones of
their songs would mix well with the rollercoaster of emotions that the story
throws at you.
11. Did you listen to any particular songs whilst writing
your books?
Movie soundtracks. Big fav being the Pirates of the
Caribbean stuff.
12. Would you have different book covers for different
countries?
I think that I would. I mean, the artwork tastes across
the globe are so different that I’d love to cater to them all.
13. How did you come up with the title for your book?
‘From Man to Man’ – a play on words for how Draven turns
from being the man of his bloodied past, to the man he wants to be.
‘It Began With Ashes’ – I like the idea of great things
rising from the ashes (not just phoenixes!). And, with ‘It Began With Ashes’
being a story of how characters react when everything is at risk, ultimately,
how far will they go to protect all that they know? And if they can’t, what
will be left after they’ve lost it all.
14. Is there anything you would change about your book?
And why?
A question I ask myself almost every minute of the day?
The short answer…no. The long answer…still no. I believe that I’ve done all
that I can at this moment, and if I kept going back and editing then I’ll never
finish!
15. Do you have a book trailer? And what are your
thoughts on book trailers?
I haven’t yet, but it is something that I’m looking into.
16. Do you have a “Dreamcast” in mind for any of your
books?
I do! I won’t give too much away, as I’d rather readers
picture my characters as they want, but I’d definitely want Jason Statham to
play Draven.
17. What is your opinion of ARCs?
Fantastic promotional tool, and a reward for loyal fans!
18. Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hardcovers or
audiobooks?
I prefer hardcovers – nothing beats the feel of a well
loved hardback.
19. Are you a self-published / Indie author?
I’m an Indie author and proud of it!
20. Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so
what was it?
So many times! Particularly the works of David Gemmell.
My copy of ‘Legend’ is dog-earred and tatty, but it’ll last a few years yet!
21. Have you ever bought a specific edition of a book
because of it’s cover? (For example a UK, US or Canadian version)
Anniversary edition of ‘Legend’ by David Gemmell.
22. What is your opinion of novellas?
A story is a story. It’s not about how long it takes to
tell it, but what it entails.
23. Have you ever read a book just based on it’s cover?
Yes – and sometimes I’ve cursed myself for it, other
times I’ve found a rare gem.
24. Has the quality of the cover of a book ever put you
off of reading it?
Not so far.
25. What is your favourite film based on a book?
Who wouldn’t say Lord of the Rings?
26. What is your favourite book genre at the moment?
Fantasy, and I think that it will be.
27. What books have made it onto your wishlist recently?
And why?
Peter V Brett ‘The Daylight War’, as I’m a huge fan, and
Myke Cole’s ‘Control Point’ – why not, I’m a soldier and a fantasy fan so this
is a must for me!
28. What book are you reading at the moment? And in what
format?
John Gwynne ‘Malice’ in hardback. It’s fantastic! If you
like fantasy, check it up!
29. If you could invite any four celebrities (alive or
dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
David Gemmell (he may be a writer but he’s a celebrity to
me), Keith Lemon, Synyster Gates from Avenged Sevenfold, and the Hoff. I mean,
it’s a motley crew, but it’d be one hell of a dinner party!
30. Do you have any advice for other writers? And what’s
the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Writing has taught me a lot about myself. I pour myself
into my stories. They’re personal – thoughts, opinions, hopes, fears, dreams,
experiences. I apply myself to everything I write, in an effort to bring out
what I want to share with the reader. This doesn’t help with the doubts mind
you, as the fear of negative response isn’t just a critique, it’s something
more.
So to all the writers out there, I know you feel the
same. But don’t be afraid to share. Write for yourself, that’s most important,
but get out there and do it.
The best advice I’ve ever been given? Apart from don’t
eat yellow snow? ‘Just write’.
31. Do you have any hobbies that aren’t related to
reading & writing?
As part of my job I enjoy keeping fit and shooting, so
I’m a pretty active guy. I’m also a very amateur DIY’er seeing as I’ve just
bought a house, and I play the guitar.
31. Where can your readers follow you?
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/dememrys
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6556774.D_E_M_Emrys
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DEMEmrys
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dememrys
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dememrys/
Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!
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