Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m brand new at this. Entangled Earth is my first novel. I’ve always been an avid reader, but never took the next step.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Entangled Earth. It’s an apocalyptic tale based on an slightly odd concept that is easy to imagine but it turns out it’s quite hard to describe succinctly, particularly without giving away a big reveal in the first third of the book. The book flowed from the initial concept of a parallel world that was invisible to us that all of a sudden started physically affecting our world.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Other than writing the end first then working backwards, I don’t think I do. My mum always used to complain that my short stories I wrote for school would end with either everyone just dying or waking up from a dream. Since then the ending has been a big focus. We’ll see what my mum makes of the Entangled Earth ending when she gets to it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always been a Stephen King fan, but I think for Entangled Earth my major influence was John Wyndham.
What are you working on now?
I’m around 60000 words into my second novel, Under three skies. It’s a (mostly) future set scifi thriller. Once you get past the slightly wild physics Entangled Earth is a relatively simple adventure story about getting from one place to another, but Under three skies is more ambitious.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m very much still figuring that out!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. Nothing happens if you don’t get words down on paper (or into your computer).
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just keep writing. Don’t stop. There’s no such thing as writers block, just a lack of ideas and they will come by getting words down on the page.
What are you reading now?
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer, the second book in the Southern Reach Trilogy.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next task is to jump back in to writing Under three skies. It’s been on the back-burner for a few months. I’m not following my own advice, but life got in the way!
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?
The Stand and the Pewter F. Hamilton Commonwealth saga.
Author Websites and Profiles
David Lea Amazon Profile
David Lea’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account