Interview with Nik Davies
Published 2017-07-11.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I started with the first generation Nook. It was my gateway device and I still love them.
Describe your desk
Right now I have six notepads in various sizes, a manuscript, and two copyright registrations in an envelope. What the? I really need to put those away. My laptop is to my right, touchscreen desktop up high. Wacom Intuos Pen tab down low. Water bottle, eyeglass case, pencil. A dental flosser (you shouldn't neglect your gums). Discarded bracelets. This morning's coffee cup, still half full. An ancient photo booth picture of me and the hubs and two random bottles of nail polish, red and black. Geesh, I need to clean this desk!
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up between the boroughs of New York, Los Angeles County and the Berkshires of Massachusetts. It was a fun childhood but I don't feel that my travels impacted my writing at all. I have just always loved to write and create and I was lucky enough to do it wherever my family went.
When did you first start writing?
I've always told stories. Loved to make them up for anyone who listened. Started writing poetry and lyrics very young, perhaps eight? I had journals full of artwork and miscellaneous thoughts. I wonder if my Mum still has those?
What's the story behind your latest book?
Currently writing The Walk. Can't decide if the genre is Sci-Fi or Dystopian, perhaps a bit of both. My best stories begin with a dream, The walk was no different. I dreamed of a walker and a dog in the desert. The world feels empty and scorched. The companions think they are alone on the planet and leave the safety of their mountain to search for others. What they find, they may not live to regret it.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Smashwords. I've been writing my whole life, Smashwords made it easy to get my literature out to the masses with minimal costs and very little overhead. It's a win-win.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Geesh, everything. Having words fly from my mind, down to my fingers and onto paper. The creative process. Learning new skills and techniques. Having someone tell you how much they love your work. It's all good stuff!
What do your fans mean to you?
Each new fan becomes a family member. I'm so very grateful that they've taken the time to read my words. It's humbling and I just feel like they're part of me.
What are you working on next?
Just finished Clevers and working on The Walk. Very excited about both works. They flew out of me in mere months. For me, the good ones come quick. Hope you agree!
Who are your favorite authors?
I love and support Indie Authors. It's one of my freaky secrets that I read and positively review my peers. I firmly believe if you ain't got nothing good to say, don't say anything at all. Some of my favs right now: R.E. Carr, Albert Ruckholdt, John Locke, Amanda Hawking.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
College tuition. No seriously, we have three kids in college and three that have graduated and left their bills behind. Buy my books, please!
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I love the beach but I'm usually writing when I'm there. I love traveling but...writing. Love my family but I'm usually telling stories. Everything I do is better if I get a few minutes to write or if I'm dreaming up plot.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Smashwords or BookBub. Why go anywhere else?
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yup, about to publish it on Smashwords. What...What???
What is your writing process?
Write anywhere, anytime, anyhow. I have a voice recorder on my phone to capture ideas, notepads EVERYWHERE, especially at bedside. I usually just type. Sometimes I close my eyes and go. I don't worry about formatting or spelling or grammar initially, I just write. When it's fresh and raw, it's often the best. Later, I go back and clean up.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first story that had an impact on me probably wasn't the first story I read. I think the first story I read on my own was Dr. Suess, Green Eggs, and Ham. I didn't actually like that story. Something about green eggs freaked me out. It was A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle that did it for me. I read it over and over. That is what made me dream of writing fantasy. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt drove the nail in the coffin.
How do you approach cover design?
Me and me alone. Can't trust anyone with that, trust me, I've tried. I became a Photoshop semi-pro so I could do it myself. Love creating my own cover work. sometimes I create the cover first and it brings the story to life. Yep, I'm weird like that.
What do you read for pleasure?
Paranormal Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, anything free and Tolkien and King.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.
Books by This Author
Still Fif15teen
by Nik Davies
The sequel to Fif15een by Nik Davies
There is a way out of Fif15teen, and this time, Akeem will do anything to get the people he loves home. He’ll lie, he’ll cheat, and although he has done everything to avoid it, he will even kill. There are only two choices now. Find the person who knows the way out of Fif15teen and extract the secret, or risk everything, including his life, trying.
