The Author Interview Featuring David John Griffin

Welcome to the Author Interview. This time, it features the lovely David John Griffin, author of The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb.

If you’re an author who’d like to take part in the series, email me: debbie@myrandommusings.co.uk

Now over to David:

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

I live in a small town by the Thames in Kent with my wife Susan and two dogs called Bullseye and Jimbo.

As well as a writer, I’m also a graphic designer and I create iDevice apps in my spare time. I also compose electronic music.

I enjoy gardening when it doesn’t get on top of me. I’m coming up to retirement age but have no plans to retire.

2 Tell us a little bit about your books

I have three books published, all with Urbane publications.

The first one is called The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb. The novel is mainly gothic in genre, along with supernatural and magical realism elements. I wrote the first draft when I was at art college back in the 70’s. So it took almost 40 years for it to be finally professionally published.

The novel is set in an English village at the turn of the last century, populated by quirky characters. The story is full of mystery, suspense and intrigue.

Some reviews have included comments such as “I was put in mind of how Dickens may write with a dose of the psychedelic” and “Unpredictable, creepy – and often very funny”.

My second novel is called Infinite Rooms which is literary and psychological with magical realism motifs. It is quietly experimental in nature. I wrote the first draft of it in 1984 so again it took a long time to be professionally published.

The novel is mainly set in a modern-day English seaside town but also in an empty office building in a city.

It involves a young man called Donald Clement whose fragile mind is tortured by unrequited love. He believes that he is able to change his future by changing memories.

Some reviews have included: “Intelligently written” and “A masterpiece of literary surrealism”.

My third book is a novella with short stories, called Two Dogs at the One Dog Inn and Other Stories.

The novella is a magical realism/paranormal story, based on emails between two women who work for an animal rescue centre, interspersed with journal entries from a fictional science fiction writer.

The twelve short stories range from magical realism to sci-fi and are all strange and hopefully delightful reading.

Some reviews have included: “A wonderful book that will keep you flipping pages” and “A refreshing, quirky and enjoyable read”.

My fourth book, another novella, will be self-published in July or August 2018. It’s a science fiction adventure called Abbie and the Portal.

The description for it is: “Help me, I’m trapped”, the plea from a young woman named Abbie Concordia, written as a mysterious note found inside a Victorian book called “Caving in Faringham”.

Terry Bridge, a reporter for The Charington Echo, takes up the challenge to save her…from the past. A gripping science fiction adventure story that will captivate you from beginning to end.

3 Where do you find your inspiration for your books?

A lot of my ideas just pop into my head – I don’t know where from – though I’ve also gained inspiration from my dreams. I have sometimes pressed the Random button on Wikipedia and that can lead me to surprising places which gives inspiration to me. Stories via Google as well as newspaper stories have occasionally been useful too.

4 What, for you, is the best thing about being a writer?

The best thing about being a writer is that I’m my own boss. I can write where I want and when I want.

5 And the worst?

The danger of a lack of self-discipline. I try to write at least something on most days of the week but am often interrupted by a graphic design job or similar.

I have to reprimand myself sometimes for not writing when I should. I try not to wait for inspiration – I hope that happens once I’ve got stuck into my writing for the day.

6 If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?

Interesting question! I think my favourite super power would be the ability to visualize images in front of me into the air. Strange idea, I know.

7 Do you have any tips for anyone wanting to write their first book?

I would recommend that if you are going to delve right into writing without any planning, at least know how you’re going to start, a rough idea of the middle, and definitely know how the novel is going to finish.

Another tip – which I learnt from another author – would be to finish the day’s writing mid-sentence. This will help you start the next writing session.

Another tip: I would recommend writing your first draft from start to finish without going back to edit/amend/add anything. This all happens in your second and subsequent drafts.

8 Tell us one random fact about you

I play the bass guitar and have been in quite a few (well, about five) local bands. I only play the guitar now at jam sessions.

9 Who is your favourite author?

I don’t think I have a favourite – I like and admire so many – but to mention three of them would be Mervyn Peake, Angela Carter and Haruki Murakami.

10 And your favourite book(s)?

I still love Mervyn Peake’s The Gormenghast trilogy, as well as Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus, One by Colin Kapp, The Moustache by Emmanuel Carrere, Twilight Journey by LP Davies, and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Murakami.

11 What book are you reading right now?

I’m reading New Writings in SF-17, one of a series of 30 paperbacks published in the late 60’s and 70’s by Corgi. I intend to finish reading the whole series.

12 Where is your favourite place to write?

I have a writing desk in my shed at the bottom of the garden – I love to write there but only when the weather is warm.

Otherwise I write on the computer in a spare bedroom which we call the studio. This harks back to the day in the 90’s when I actually did have a small recording studio.

13 Do you prefer to write in silence or do you have a writing soundtrack?

I prefer silence to be honest, though I have very occasionally played an ambient sound effect such as wind, rain or sea to give me inspiration whilst writing.

14 What can we expect from you next?

I have written my third novel which is under consideration with a publisher at the moment. I’m busy writing my fourth novel though this is going slowly – it doesn’t get any easier the more books one writes…

15 Anything else you’d like to share with us?

Not that I can think of except to say thank you for the opportunity of this interview, it’s been really appreciated.

16 Where can we find you? (Links to your Amazon page and social media)

My website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my Amazon Author Page.