Interview with Neil Davies

Published 2013-09-11.
Describe your desk
A mess! Other than my computer and my printer it's an unorganized pile of paper (scribbled notes, printed pieces of research for whatever I'm writing at the time, unopened bills!), books, DVDs etc. My iPhone sits off to one side just in case someone decides to ring me... Not sure it's conducive to hard work but it's very much me.
When did you first start writing?
I've been writing stories for as long as I can remember. I know I used to write stories when I was at Primary School (aged 10 and before) because I remember the teacher getting me to read them out to the class. I also remember sitting down in the garden shed at home with my first typewriter, tapping away. It's something I've always done, but I didn't make any real serious attempt to get published until around 2003/2004! And only then through the encouragement and pushing of my wife. I never had much self confidence in my writing.
What's the story behind your latest book?
The Ant Man is a short story and began life as a desire to write something along the lines of the old black and white b-movies I love (all those monster movies, science gone wrong etc.) and also the pulp fiction I enjoy reading. The basic idea about the ants came from my wife - she's often a great source of story ideas.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The greatest joy is somewhere between finishing a story (whatever length) and getting good feedback from readers. Sometimes the process can be a struggle, but I love seeing the finished product, knowing that I wrote it, and there are few things more satisfying than knowing someone has read your work and enjoyed it.
What do your fans mean to you?
I can't believe I have "fans" as such - I think that's something reserved for more famous and more successful authors. I like to think I have some faithful readers who will at least give a chance to whatever I write next and that's the most I can hope for. To see that someone has taken the time to read my work and has enjoyed it enough to actually write a review is one of the most amazing feelings I know. It's incredibly uplifting to get a good review. Makes me feel that what I do may have some worth after all.
What are you working on next?
I'm currently nearing the end of a science fiction adventure novella called The Lion On Androcles. The original story of this was written many years ago by my brother (Colin P Davies, a published science fiction writer) and was one I remember reading and enjoying. However, it was never published and became one of those stories in a box in the attic. Recently I asked him if he would allow me to have a go at rewriting it, which he agreed to. It's been great fun working on it, remembering it from all those years ago, and I hope I've done the story justice. It's fast and full of action and, hopefully, a fun read.
Who are your favorite authors?
Long list and always evolving but here goes, in no particular order: H Rider Haggard, Richard Laymon, Graham Masterton, Frank Herbert, Steve Gerlach, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Guy N Smith, H G Wells, Jules Verne, Sapper, Capt. W E Johns, Arthur C Clarke, Brian Keene, Terry Pratchett, Arthur Conan Doyle, Sax Rohmer, Stephen Baxter, Iain M Banks, Dean Koontz, T M Wright... I'm sure I've forgotten a few!
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Reading, listening to music and thinking about writing. Believe me, it causes some tension at home! :)
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Other than those by authors I'm looking for, it's a lot of browsing, reading blurbs, following recommendations on Facebook etc., and very often what has a free offer on download at the time. I think offers are a great and cost effective way to try out new authors and you can often be pleasantly surprised.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Not really... I remember reading a vampire story to my class at school (that would have been an early one) and not long ago I found a spoof Star Trek story I'd typed on my first typewriter in the attic, but I don't remember much about those early stories - I think I wrote a lot of childish slapstick comedy for some reason. My classmates and my teacher seemed to enjoy them.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I don't remember the first one I read, although I do remember reading the Enid Blyton Secret Seven stories very early on, but I do remember the first book I ever bought for myself. It was Islands In The Sky by Arthur C Clarke and was the beginning of my love affair with Clarke's books. It also started me on the road of reading Science Fiction and, eventually, writing it. I'm not totally certain where the horror stories came in, but I do remember reading the Fontana Ghost Stories and, later, the Pan Horror Stories. The first book I bought from the "adult" section of the bookshop (as opposed to the kids section) was The Last Starship From Earth by John Boyd, and I hid it in my bedside drawer because it had a sex scene in it and I was embarrassed my parents might find it! Innocent times :)
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