THE INTERVIEW
What is your name, where were you born and where do you
live now?
My Name is D.W. Carver, I was born in East London,
England and now live about ten miles from the hospital I was born in.
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you
want to be?
Always wanted to be a writer.
When did you first consider yourself as a
"writer"?
When I started getting paid for it. It was part of my
salaried job.
Did it take a long time to get your first book published?
It never did get published. I’m still hoping.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to
summarise it in less than 20 words what would you say?
‘Quest’. The story of a young man burying his gried in a
search for his uncle’s killer.
Who is your publisher? or do you self publish?
I publish with Musa, FrontPorch and Damnation
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from
the original idea to finishing writing it?
It varies hugely – years to a few months.
Which of your books were easier/harder to write than the
others?
‘Desperation’ came easily.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a
different genre?
I write mostly cross genre Mystery/thrillers. It will
probably be more of the same.
Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a
series?
‘Desperation’ was always open to a sequel and I’m working
on that.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
Whatever I start to write usually turns out
Mystery/thriller
Do you have a favourite out of the books you have
written? If so why is it your favourite?
At the moment ‘Desperation’. I like the characters a lot.
Do you have a favourite character from your books? and
why are they your favourite?
Sarah from my ‘Jill Garvin’ series is probably my
favourite. She ages from sixteen to twenty-four over the series. She is
probably the daughter I never had.
If you had to choose to be one of your characters in your
book/books which would you be? and why?
Creel from the Jill Garvin series – handsome, rich,
dangerous….should I go on?
How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired
you to write?
Since I first learned how. I used to tell myself stores
to get to sleep. Once I learnt to write I put them on paper.
Where do you get your book plot ideas from?
Life – any situation can be turned into a novel if your
mind works that way.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie
You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I sit in the garden and think about the story in the
broadest sense then sit at the computer and type.
Do you have anybody read your books and give you reviews
before you officially release them? ie. Your partner, children, friends,
reviewers you know?
My publishers are all very committed editors.
Would you ever ask a reviewer to change their review if
it was not all positive about your book/books?
Not unless it was vindictive or clearly wrong. I have
worked as a mental health community counsellor in London and sometimes overlook
the fact that my everyday experiences can shock people unfamiliar with that
kind of work.
How do you come up with the Title and Cover Designs for
your bookbooks?Who designed the Cover of your books?
The titles usually come to me as I’m writing. My
publishers generate the covers and I say what I like until we come to an
agreement.
How do you come up with characters names and place names
in your books?
Some are real place names. The characters names often
change. I might change three or four just so I don’t ‘fall into’ the book and
miss obvious problems – something that can happen when you immerse yourself in
this sort of work.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy
girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
My characters are usually on a journey of change but I
start with a general idea based on their back-story.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book, before you actually
begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and see where it takes the
story?
Mostly I flow.
What do you think makes a book a really good/bestseller ?
Chance, publicity.
Have you ever based characters on people you know or
based events on things that have happened to you?
I sometimes have a real person in mind when I develop a
character but they always change as the story develops.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your
books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story
is..")
Crap happens.
Is there a certain Author that influenced you in writing?
Kurt Vonnegut
Do you think ebooks will ever totally replace printed
books?
Not in my lifetime.
Do you think children at schools these days are
encouraged enough to read? and/or do Imaginative writing?
It’s been a long time since my children were at school.
However a public library I have used for a very long time recently had a
makeover and now has a lot less books and sports a café to fit into this modern
world….go figure.
Did you have a favourite author as a child?
Enid Blyton….not someone much liked these days.
I too loved Enid Blyton and read lots of her books when I was younger, as did my daughter when she was young I think there's much more choice for childrens books these days and at a teen level Enid Blyton is sadly not relevant to our children anymore.
Is there a book you know you will never read? Or one you
tried to read but just couldn't finish?
Most of the books I pick up at the library go back
unfinished, especially the ones that sport the writer’s name above the title.
Is there anything in your book/books you would change now
if you could and what would it be?
Publishing is quite faddy and as they say one doesn’t
tend to ‘finish’ a story, one ‘abandons’ it.
What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Be ready for a lot of rejections.
Where can readers follow you?
Your Website?
http://www.dwcarver.com
PURCHASE LINKS
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