Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is David, a name I gave to myself because I’m Chinese and my parents only gave me a Chinese name. I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and attended the same international school from grades one to twelve. As you can imagine, this created a language dichotomy in my brain; I only spoke English at school, and Cantonese (Chinese) at home. English won the battle for my mind, and so here I am, writing and reading in English. I’m ashamed to say I can’t write any Chinese besides my name.
I’ve always had an interest in writing, but never considered myself a writer (I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I’m an author). My mother was an avid storyteller, lulling me to sleep most nights with bedtime stories that were told over and over again. So I grew up loving stories. But it wasn’t until high school, where my English teacher praised my writing, that I realized my literary potential. Despite the revelation, I never managed to complete a short story until my university years. “When Hope Calls” is my firstborn in the sense that it is the first story I have persevered with for more than five pages (I usually get bored after three pages and abandon the story).
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut book is “When Hope Calls”, based on a true story about a group of humanitarian workers who try to rescue a kidnapped girl. A a year ago, I read a book written by my mentor, Matt Friedman, titled “Where Were You?” In it, he mentions the story of a kidnapped girl who managed to call an NGO with her cellphone. But there was no elaboration, no details, which drove me mad with curiosity. I had to know what happened. So I emailed him, and he encouraged me to dramatize the story, and I did (with a gargantuan amount of help from him).
Honestly, I never imagined I would ever write a book, let alone one on human trafficking. It is such a depressing topic, and the stories are rarely happy. But writing is the ability I was given, and I know in my heart of hearts that, if I don’t use my abilities for a cause bigger than myself, I would be wasting them completely.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As a millennial, I’ve acquired the habit of writing on my iPhone. I’m not sure if that’s unusual, but it certainly helps me develop my stories 24/7; whenever the ideas come, I just write them down.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Besides the Bible (I’m a Christian), I would say Les Miserables. It was the first book I ever read that had so many plot twists and intriguing characters; it was most definitely the first “mind-blown” moment of my life. There are so many life-changing themes packed into the story of Jean Valjean that I believe speaks to every single person from every walk of life. I still have no idea how Victor Hugo managed to create such a masterpiece.
My writing style is interesting in that I assimilate the syntax of the author that I happen to be reading when I write, which is fun in terms of self-exploration, but difficult in terms of consistency. I would say that the greatest influence on my writing has been Charles Dickens because he is just so masterful at creating memorable and realistic characters. I’m trying to learn how to show a character’s personality rather than tell it in words, something Dickens and C. S. Lewis did with such ease.
What are you working on now?
Currently in the final editing and proofreading stages of my next novella about a broken family in which the father had an affair, followed by the son. It’s not an easy read, for sure, but an issue that I wanted to address. I guess I have a knack for writing depressing stories!
Working on a short story at the same time to lift my spirits from the quagmire of such serious issues. I guess I can’t really say that, because it’s about a man who receives a body bag as a gift, and how he tries to find uses for it.
Also, I’ve got 11 novels in the pipeline. It’s going to take a while.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still a complete amateur at the indie publishing game, but the website that has helped the most so far is the Librarything Giveaway; I got about 30 new subscribers from it. Awesomegang is pretty awesome too.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As Hugh Howey (bestselling author of “WOOL”) says, read and write. A lot. Then repeat. Don’t worry about book length, or cover design, or publishing, or marketing…just write. If there’s a story in you, then only you can tell it with your voice. Don’t doubt yourself; there is no time to waste.
Oh, and also don’t forget to celebrate the small victories. If you managed to write 100 words today, have a drink – you deserve it. Soon, those small victories will accumulate into larger ones. I’m still celebrating 1000 words a day while many authors easily manage 3000-4000.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best way to market is to write more novels. It’s not about the ads, or the SEO, or any other mysterious marketing strategy. Just keep on writing. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
What are you reading now?
“WOOL” by Howey, “Story Genius” by Cron. And a bunch of mystery short stories to prepare me for my foray into novelettes and novellas. I consider reading an investment and education, not a pleasure.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Read more – much more. Write longer novels, interspersed with short stories and novellas for fun and practice. Words, words everywhere. My goal is to hit 2000 words a day, every day.
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?
1. The Bible
2. “How to Survive on a Deserted Island” by Tim O’Shei
3. “The Collected Works of C.S. Lewis” by C. S. Lewis
4. “When Hope Calls” by David Lui. To remind myself that I’ll die as an author, even if I don’t publish another book before my (untimely, lonely) death.
Author Websites and Profiles
David Lui Website
David Lui Amazon Profile
David Lui’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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