Interview: David Moody

Okay People!!! Here it is, the highly anticipated author interview!!!

*Special thanks to the incredible David Moody, for taking his time and effort!!!*

David Moody was born in 1970 and grew up in Birmingham on a diet of trashy horror and pulp science fiction books and movies. He worked as a bank manager and as operations manager for a number of financial institutions before giving up the day job to write about the end of the world for a living. He has written a number of horror novels, including AUTUMN, which has been downloaded more than half a million times since publication in 2001 and has spawned a series of sequels and a movie starring Dexter Fletcher and David Carradine. Film rights to HATER have been bought by Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth) and Mark Johnson (producer of the Chronicles of Narnia films). Moody lives outside Birmingham (UK) with his wife and a houseful of daughters and stepdaughters, which may explain his pre-occupation with Armageddon.

DAVID MOODY self published Hater online in 2006, and without an agent, succeeded in selling film rights to Guillermo del Toro (director, Hellboy 1 & 2, Pan's Labyrinth and the upcoming Hobbit series) and Mark Johnson (producer, The Chronicles of Narnia). With the official publication of Hater, David is poised to make a significant mark as a writer of "farther out" fiction of all varieties.

1. What was your inspiration for the Autumn series?

Like a lot of people, I sometimes find myself thinking what I’d do if everyone else on the planet suddenly disappeared. That’s where the initial inspiration for Autumn came from – I imagined myself alone in the world and that everyone else was gone (like leaves falling off the trees – that’s where the title originally came from). But that idea on its own didn’t make for a very exciting story! I’ve always been a fan of horror movies, and zombies have always been my personal favourite monster. I took the opportunity to combine my empty world story with the living dead, and the Autumn series was the result.


2. Are you currently working on a book? If so, could you give a sentence on what it's about?

My books were originally self-published, but they were acquired by a large US publisher in 2008 (which is why they’re so hard to get at the moment). I’ve spent much of the last two years working with an editor to get the books ready for republication, and the first Autumn book will be released in September 2010. I’ve just finished the first sequel to Hater (Dog Blood – due out in June 2010) and I’m about to start writing the final book in the series.


3. How do you get past writer's block?

Personally, I don’t think writer’s block exists. I think it’s a state of mind you work yourself into, but there’s no single known cause and no known cure. I have a very simple rule when I’m writing – if it’s not working and the words aren’t flowing, then I stop! There’s no point beating yourself up and staring at a blank screen or a blank piece of paper. I think you have to be prepared for inspiration to strike at any moment, and when it does you should make a note of what you’re thinking or send yourself an email... something like that. Then, when you sit down to write again, you should be ready to go! I know it’s not always that simple, but that’s what I do!


4. How did you get into writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing and I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. When I left school I wanted to make films but I didn’t have any training or any cash and I ended up working in a bank! I had all these great ideas for movies, and no way of showing them to anyone so instead of writing screenplays, I started writing novels.


5. Do you have a favorite author? Did they inspire you to write?

My favourite authors are some of the classic British authors of science-fiction: H G Wells, John Wyndham (who wrote ‘The Day of the Triffids’ amongst others) and Nigel Kneale (who created ‘Quatermass’). Each of these authors produced books which really helped shape my formative years. ‘Triffids’ in particular, completely terrified me as a child and I remember reading it thinking ‘I want to tell stories like this!’


6. If you hadn't become an author, what would you have liked to have become?

As I mentioned earlier, I always wanted (and I still do want) to make films. But if I had to have a job outside of publishing and entertainment, I’d have liked to have been a forester or something like that – working outside in the open, not in some dingy little office!


7. What do you enjoy to do in your free time (besides writing)?

I have a big family and I work at home so I often end up doing the washing and cooking etc. My writing is really busy at the moment so free time is very limited. When I do get chance, my passions are: running (anything up to half-marathon distance), watching movies (mostly horror and science-fiction of course!) and live music. I spend more than I can afford on concert tickets!


8. If you have any advice to young and hopeful writers, what would it be?

Firstly, never give up. If you have a story to tell, keep telling it until someone listens. I’ve been doing this seriously for 15 years now and although I’ve enjoyed some level of success for much of that time, it’s only the last couple of years since it’s really started paying off. Secondly, plan your work (I like to have the full story of a book mapped out in my head before I start writing), try to make yourself write at least a page a day, and keep going until you reach the end of the story – you can go back and edit etc. once you’re done. Finally, although it’s often hard to take, you should receive criticism willingly and listen to it. There’s no such thing as negative feedback – all feedback, whether good or bad, is useful and can help you grow as a writer.


9. What do you enjoy most about writing?

There are so many things... the freedom to create whole new worlds, lives and scenarios and to have total control over them... the fact that part of the job is feeding your brain and getting inspiration – be that watching movies, reading books or just thinking (it’s the only job I’ve ever had that I’ve been able to do lying in the bath!). I think the best part about writing though, is having an impact on other people. That might sound like a cliché but it’s true. For me, there’s no bigger buzz than when someone really enjoys your book and wants to tell you about it!


10. Is there a reason many of you novels can be categorized with the "apocalypse"?

I know what you mean – I guess I think about the end of the world too much! The reason is because I’m interested in people and how they react and interact with each other. Presenting my characters with a global catastrophe is a great way of looking at human nature without the barriers and restrictions which surround us in our daily lives. It brings out people’s true characters and emotions, and perhaps makes people realise what’s really important in their lives. I think we go through our lives and take many things for granted – everything could change tomorrow!


11. Do you have a personal preference to any of your books?

I can honestly say I don’t have a favourite – they all mean a lot to me, usually for different reasons. If your asking which is my favourite story, I’d have to call it a tie between Autumn: Purification (the third book in the Autumn series) and Dog Blood (the first Hater sequel). The great thing about writing a series is that once the first book is done, much of the set-up and characterization is complete so you can concentrate more on the story. And, strange as it might sound, you get to know your characters better and you start connecting with them.

I think we all owe David Moody a big round of applause!!!

Check back soon for our next author interview

Hayz & Carzz

The Book Galaxi