Interview With Author D.E. Jones
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an indie British author based in the north of England. Studying Creative Writing with the Open University unlocked something in me and since then, writing has become my biggest passion. I now spend every free minute working on stories, and I’ve written two books so far in my Now What? series, with the third and final instalment currently in the works. All of my work is fuelled by cups of tea and cheesy 80s playlists.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Survivors is Book 2 of the Now What? series. It was inspired by my love of British humour and my obsession with zombie stories set in the UK — particularly Charlie Higson’s The Enemy series for its high-stakes survival, and Shaun of the Dead for its razor-sharp comedy. Like most people my age, I’ve got a lot of nostalgia for my teen years, so I set out to write something like “Stand By Me with zombies”, that is funny, bleak, and character-driven.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if this habit is unique to me, but one thing I always find myself doing is reading my work aloud. It helps me spot awkward phrasing or errors — or at least I think it does! There’s something about hearing the rhythm of the words that helps me decide if a sentence really works, especially with dialogue.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My favourite author is Stephen King, which I know sounds a bit cliché, but for good reason. He’s written some incredible coming-of-age stories, like It and The Institute, and I’d say The Stand is my personal favourite. I thought about that one a lot while imagining my own dystopian, post-apocalyptic world. I’ve also taken inspiration from The Hunger Games and His Dark Materials — two of the best examples of YA fiction, in my opinion.
What are you working on now?
I’ve already written a rough draft of Book 3 in the Now What? trilogy, and I’m currently working through revisions. I’m also exploring audiobook options for the full series — possibly narrating them myself. Alongside that, I’ve started piecing together a short story collection, which I hope to release later this year.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not really into social media, to be honest. I’ve never quite figured out how to use Twitter (or X?) and TikTok or Reddit still feel like another world. So I focus on Facebook. I’ve got an author page that’s slowly building a following, and I try to post there daily — usually quotes from the books or the occasional bit of promotion if my book pops up somewhere online. It feels manageable and more personal, which suits me.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice would be simple: write. If you’ve got an idea, don’t wait — sit down with a cup of tea or coffee in a quiet room and get it down, whether that’s in a notebook or on your laptop. Don’t stress about grammar or punctuation too much in the beginning. You can fix all that later. Once you’ve edited and proofread it, put it out into the world. You’ll get some negative feedback (everyone does) but believe in what you’ve created and keep going.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I’ve ever heard actually came from Quentin Tarantino. He said something along the lines of, “I just make the movies I want to see.” That really stuck with me. It reminded me that the stories we tell don’t need to chase trends or approval, they should be the kind of stories we’d be excited to read ourselves. That mindset helped me finish my first book without second-guessing every page.
What are you reading now?
I’ve got a couple of books on the go at the moment. I’m nearly finished with The Shining by Stephen King, and I recently started The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. I also just finished Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. All three are very different, but brilliant in their own way.
What’s next for you as a writer?
First up, I need to finish Book 3. After that, I’d like to package all three into a complete collection (possibly with an exclusive short story or two as bonus content). Speaking of short stories, I’m also planning to write a few more and put together a collection. Longer term, I’d love to write a standalone novel and maybe start a brand new series — I’ve got a few ideas in mind, I just haven’t decided which one to run with yet.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
This is a tough question — I love it. I think I’d bring The Stand by Stephen King. It’s a beast of a novel and would definitely help pass the time. I’d also pack The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu — I got it as a Christmas gift and have been meaning to get stuck into it. And for my third pick, I’d go with Watchmen by Alan Moore. The artwork is incredible and I reckon the colourful panels would be a nice contrast to the endless sand and sun… plus I assume I’d be lounging around in torn clothing. That’s what stranded people wear, right?
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