Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I fell in love with the fantasy genre before I even know it was a genre. Video games and novels inspired me to create my own world. I sketched, I daydreamed, and I playacted scenes using LEGO minifigs. Then I started chronicling those battles in written form. Eventually, I decided I wanted other people to enjoy my stories too, so I took the plunge and drafted my first novel.
To date, I have written seven books.
A couple of years ago, my wife and I self-published a children’s chapter book called “The Pajamazon Amazon vs The Goofers Twofers.”
In March, I published three fantasy novels that comprise The Renegade Chronicles: “Rebels and Fools,” “Heroes and Liars,” and “Martyrs and Monsters.” I wrote another fantasy novel called “Magic’s Daughter,” which has not been published yet.
I’ve also been working on a science fiction series called The Soul Sleep Cycle. The first two books (“If Souls Can Sleep” and “If Sin Dwells Deep”) are under editorial consideration at a publishing house, and I just started the first draft of Book 3.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“If Dreams Can Die” not only follows the “formula” of the prior titles in The Soul Sleep Cycle (“If Souls Can Sleep” and “If Sin Dwells Deep”), but also directly ties into the themes of hope, mortality, and eternity that are woven throughout the series. I also like how the title brings a sense of finality to the ending of this saga.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not to my knowledge. I schedule my writing time and stick that agenda rigidly. I generally have music playing in the background, but I’m not prone to distraction. Then again, perhaps such discipline is unusual in an age of beckoning inboxes, cat videos, and Candy Crush.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The authors of the fantasy novels I read while a teenager really motivated me to take a stab at the written word as well as world building. They include Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, not only because of their contributions to the DragonLance saga, but also for the Death Gate Cycle, and R.A. Salvatore, primarily for his DemonWars series. Tad Williams, Neil Gaiman, George R.R. Martin, and J.R.R. Tolkien also have impacted me as a reader and writer.
Beyond fantasy, I try to draw from non-genre literature, such as the works of William Faulkner.
What are you working on now?
I just started the first draft of “If Dreams Can Die.” My goal is to finish by the end of 2016.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That remains to be seen. The Renegade Chronicles have been out for only three months, and I’m still refining my marketing plan—participating in author interviews, submitting guest blogs here and there, and engaging in other networking opportunities.
The best place to learn about my fiction is http://david-michael-williams.com.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I include writing tips on my website, mostly lessons I’ve learned along the way.
One thing I will say is I’m glad print-on-demand publishing wasn’t available when I was in my early twenties. Self-publishing almost makes it too easy to put one’s work out there, and I’ve seen plenty of examples of writers publishing before they are ready; I’m afraid I would have been among them.
I know if I had published The Renegade Chronicles before 2016, the series would have been an inferior product, and I wouldn’t have had a clue about marketing. So my advice to new writers is to wait until you’re prepared to treat your fiction like a business before self-publishing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
– “If you can quit, then quit. If you can’t, you’re a writer.” —R.A. Salvatore, author
– “Treat your writing like a job. Write on a schedule.” —Margaret Weis, author
– “In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail.” —Gaius Cassius Longinus, Roman senator
What are you reading now?
I’ve recently enjoyed a resurgent interest in graphic novels, from Robert Kirkman’s “Invincible” and Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman” to older Marvel compilations, such as “Squadron Supreme” and “Doctor Strange.” Right now, I’m reading “Avengers” comics from the early 1980s.
What’s next for you as a writer?
First and foremost, I want to continue to publish my novels, whether through a traditional publishing house or through One Million Words, my indie publishing company. I have a lot of ideas, so here’s to hoping I’ll find readers who appreciate my stories and will support my dream of getting paid to do what I love.
In addition to novels, I’d love to write for a video game or a graphic novel. My wife says I should produce a pun-a-day calendar. At this point, everything is on the table.
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 Count of Monte Cristo” (Alexandre Dumas)
2. “The Sound and the Fury” (William Faulkner)
3. The Bible (various authors)
Author Websites and Profiles
David Michael Williams Website
David Michael Williams Amazon Profile
David Michael Williams Author Profile on Smashwords
David Michael Williams’s Social Media Links
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