Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a medical doctor specialized in Haematology. I still practice though I have given up my private practice, so now I have more time to spend with my two great nephews Jack and Luke. This was my first attempt at novel writing. I’ve written a medical book and I‘ve written many papers that have been published in medical journals. Also I’m a reviewer for various scientific journals. I am a regular contributor to an influential blog covering political satire.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms
I have always had a love for literature. Also I am an enthusiast for any type of DIY job. I am now spending plenty of time with my five year old nephew and amongst other things we enjoy ourselves with mutual story telling. These were the three reasons why I wrote the book. I wrote it for my nephew. He himself becomes a protagonist in the book. I thought that there was no better way to encourage a love of reading in such a young boy, than with an in-house, DIY novel.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing style is direct, probably a reflection of my medical note writing. I want readers to not only read the lines but also to read between the lines. That way the reading experience is more fulfilling and comprehensive. So, I aim to write entertaining tales rich in irony, which are also educational and thought provoking.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The books that have most influenced me are “Animal Farm” for its humourous political satire, CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien for their allegorical imaginative world building, and Francois Mauriac who is the best author for narrating internal conflict within a protagonist.
What are you working on now?
At the moment, I’m working on the promotion and marketing of “General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms”. It’s taken up all my time and will continue to do so in the coming months.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have to target the industry and the consumers. For the industry, editorial reviews and (if the book is good enough) entering it into book award competitions. These are the best ways to attract their attention. It’s costly and may very well be unproductive. For the consumers, amazon AMS advertising. Here at least you’re in the driving seat and you can control the cost effectiveness of the initiative.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s a very saturated business and it’s almost impossible to break through. There is an inherent bias against self-publishing and the statistics shows that only a handful succeed. Once you embark on a work, you have to do it for the love of writing, take pride in your effort and make it a cathartic experience by putting down your long pent- up creative ideas on paper. But at the same time, keep your feet on the ground. No matter how good and critically acclaimed the book is, the majority of books just won’t sell.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I found good advice from various web sites like Kindlepreneur, Reedsy Discovery and Dale Roberts. They have a soft spot for self-publishers and genuinely try to help out.
What are you reading now?
There’s much I’d like to read but I simply do not have the time. Once I retire though, I intend making up for lost time.
What’s next for you as a writer?
General Jack is the second of the Jack trilogy. In each, my nephew becomes a protagonist at different ages. The first book “The Joyous Adventures of Whizzojack” was written before “ General Jack” but it has got stuck with the illustrations and won’t be out for some time. It’s intended for middle grade readers. I’ll take the opportunity from the delay to polish up the manuscript further. I’ll tackle the third book of the trilogy in the years to come. It will be a collections of short historical fiction stories.
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?
After the Bible, AJ. Cronin’s The Stars look down, Sigrid Undset’s Kristin Lavransdatter, Marcia Davenport’s Valley of Decision, Ben Ames Williams’ House Divided
Author Websites and Profiles
David Bush Amazon Profile
David Bush’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile