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Here are a few question that I have asked David's
opinion on, hopefully as fans, this section will interest you. If you
have questions you would like to ask him please send them so I can get
his response and post them on here. Before
becoming a full time writer and published author, did you think that's
what you'd become? or were you expecting a different career path?
I really seemed to
stumble into writing. I've always had an overactive imagination, and for
as long as I can remember I've constantly been writing stories in my
head. When I left school I wanted to get into film, but at the time it
was impossible. We're talking the pre-Internet, pre-camcorder era when
it was difficult for people to make films without experience and
funding. As I had no relevant qualifications or experience, I decided to
take a different route. As creative writing had always been one of my
stronger subjects at school, I started writing novels based on the film
ideas I'd had. I set myself some basic rules to make sure I finished
what I'd started (write at least a page a day, don't start revising
until each draft was finished etc.), and by the end of the first six
months I'd written 'Straight to You'. At that stage I was working in a
bank (I was a manager in an operations centre, looking after loads of
staff and getting lots of inspiration!), and I hoped that eventually I'd
be able to make a living from writing.
Most of your books are set in a post apocalyptic or collapsing world,
what and/or who has been your inspiration?
You wouldn't think it
from my books, but I'm actually an optimist! I do have grave concerns
over the way the world is going and how society seems to be heading on a
downward spiral on a number of different levels. I like to write about
the 'worst case scenario' and try to imagine what might happen if and
when the sh*t really hits the fan. I think it's strange how, as
individuals, we all exist inside the little bubble which is our world
and our lives, and we're often completely oblivious to lots that might
be happening around us. Writing about the end of the world gives me a
great opportunity to put ordinary people into extraordinary situations
and to try and imagine how they would (or wouldn't) cope. As far as
inspirations go, I think I'm tagging onto the coat-tails of many, many
authors and film-makers who've tackled similar subjects. My major
literary influences are John Wyndham and H G Wells, and from the world
of film David Cronenberg, John Carpenter and, of course, George Romero.
Nice easy question now (or is it???), which is the favourite book that
you've written? and do you have a favourite character?
Not an easy question at
all! I think it would have to be a tie for favourite book between Autumn
and Hater, because they've been the two books which have had the most
positive effect on my career - Autumn because it really put my name on
the map, and Hater because of the way it pushed me into the mainstream
and allowed me to write full-time. Although many people really don't
like him, my favourite character is Danny McCoyne from the Hater series.
He was based on me at a particularly difficult time in my life when I
was stuck in a small house, overrun with kids, doing a job I couldn't
stand. Unlike Danny, though, I did something about it (which didn't
involve killing!). I also like the flawed characters in the Autumn
series, particularly Carl Henshawe and Phil Croft, the chain-smoking
doctor. Carl makes a very important realisation early in the Autumn
series, and that's that it might not always be a good idea to survive.
That's a difficult concept for him to grasp, and I think it makes him a
very strong character and yet also very vulnerable at the same time
One of your books has been made into a film, and a second has had the
rights optioned, could you see yourself writing screenplays? or would
you prefer to carry on with novels?
As I said earlier, I
always wanted to make films and, if anything, that desire is even
stronger now. I'm planning to write a couple of screenplays over the
next six months and see what happens with them, but I'll continue to
write novels too. Being able to watch Autumn on the big screen and
seeing the DVD on the shelves seems to have ignited the fire again!
Many years ago when you were still struggling to become a recognised
Author, you embraced the internet and its ability to spread the word
giving away many copies of 'Autumn' (which is where I first became aware
of your work). Do you still embrace this medium?
I guess the only downside
with now being traditionally published is that the immediacy of the
Internet is no longer such a driving factor for me. I miss it, but it's
something I've had to learn to live without because being with a
mainstream publishing house has opened a whole load of doors to me which
would otherwise have been shut. I'm hoping that now I'm more
established, I'll be able to go back and take full advantage of the
Internet again. I have HUGE plans for expanding the Autumn universe
online, which I'll announce as soon as I can. I'd like to get into
podcasting too, but I'm cursed with a Brummie accent!
What's next for David Moody? are there any other avenues or subjects
you'd like to write about?
I've got more ideas than
I've got time for! Right now I'm concentrating on revising the Autumn
series for the re-release of the books over the next couple of years,
and I want to go back and revisit some of my other early books too
(Trust and Straight to You). I find that I need to sit on an idea for
anything up to a year before I'm ready to write, so whilst I do have
more planned, it's too early to talk about anything just yet!
Thank you very much David for allowing me to interrogate you!!! |
