It is my great pleasure to welcome the incredibly interesting David C. Dawson to my blog today with his debut novel, The Necessary Deaths. Check out the fascinating interview below and then go read his exceptional book!
The Necessary Deaths is now available at
Before we begin, read a little about David:
He is an author, but he's also an award-winning journalist and documentary maker, living near Oxford in the UK. He has travelled extensively, filming in nearly every continent of the world. He has lived in London, Geneva and San Francisco, but now prefers the tranquillity of the Oxfordshire countryside.
David is a Mathematics graduate from Southampton University in England. After graduating, he joined the BBC in London as a trainee journalist. He worked in radio newsrooms for several years before moving to television as a documentary director. During the growing AIDS crisis in the late eighties, he is proud to say that he directed the first demonstration of putting on a condom on British television.
After more than twenty years with the BBC, he left to go freelance. He has produced videos for several charities, including Ethiopiaid; which works to end poverty in Ethiopia, and Hestia; a London-based mental health charity. David has one son, who is also a successful filmmaker.
In his spare time, David tours Europe on his ageing Triumph motorbike and sings with the London Gay Men’s Chorus. He has sung with the Chorus at St Paul’s Cathedral, The Roundhouse and the Royal Festival Hall, but David is most proud of the time they sang at the House of Lords, campaigning for equal marriage to be legalized in the UK.
Tell us a little more about yourself? For instance, do you have to have a day
job as well as being a writer?
I’m still producing videos, although my son
is steadily taking that over from me, and I do some camera operating for him
sometimes; it’s great being directed by your son! My boyfriend is a sports
physio and masseuse, so that reduces the pressure of earning. Plus, we live
simply, it makes life more pleasurable and gives us space to enjoy what we
love.
When
you aren’t writing, is there any other creative activity you enjoy? Have you
ever written about it?
I sing bass with the London Gay Men’s
Chorus. They’re a great bunch of guys and they’ve been my strength and support
over the last few years. We’ve sung in all sorts of places including: at Sandi
Toksvig’s wedding to Debbie, at the West London Synagogue for World Aids Day,
in St Paul’s Cathedral for Age UK and outside the House of Lords when the House
debated the Equal Marriage Bill. Next year we’re off to New York and Chicago to
sing alongside the Gay Men’s Choruses there. No, I’ve not written about the
Chorus – yet. Look out for their appearance in a future mystery!
What
are you reading? Can you recommend something that you wished you'd written
yourself?
I’m re-reading Holding the Man by Timothy
Conigrave. I’d read it a few years ago, and when I saw they’d made a film
of the book, I worried they’d spoil it. Not at all. If you see the film, or
read the book, be ready to weep buckets!
I aspire to the beautiful prose style of Armistead Maupin. He just gets better and better. His more recent books surpass the early Tales of the City books. Those early books were great fun, but it’s clear that with maturity, comes reflection and insight.
In
that crucial inspiration stage of a new story which comes first? Plot, situation
or character?
Oh that’s a tricky one, because they’re
like Siamese triplets. They’re inseparable. I suppose for me the plot and core
characters are born pretty well simultaneously. That is, I know who’s going on
what journey and where they’re going to end up. Once I’ve fleshed out the
characters in my head and on paper, I invent situations for them to deal with,
on the journey through the book. Then the supplementary characters evolve, as
the plot evolves. Sometimes I’ll experience a situation with someone in real
life, then I’ll work out how to write it into a book.
Do
your characters arrive fully fledged and ready to fly or do they develop as you
work with them? Do you have a crisp mental picture of them or are they more a
thought and a feeling than an image?
I like to spend time on developing
histories for all my characters, I use pictures a lot for that, and names are
very important. Once I set those, I’ll go for a ride on my motorbike, or cycle
somewhere, and think about the character and about what has already happened to
them. It helps so much in creating their motivation for doing things, or
explaining why they react in a certain way to new situations. Once I’m writing
the story, I’ll add to that back-story as events unfold. I have a spreadsheet
full of character descriptions and images, to remind me when I forget what
colour their hair is!
Is
there any genre you would love to write, ditto one you would avoid like a
rattlesnake? What inspired you to write about The Necessary Deaths?
I’ve got an idea for a series in the
science-fiction/supernatural genre, which I’m developing at the moment. There
was a BBC drama series many years ago called “Out of the Unknown” which had a
huge influence on me. It took ordinary everyday circumstances, and then twisted
them slightly, creating daytime nightmares. I think they’re far spookier than
the usual night-time stuff.
I don’t think I’m cut out for historical drama/romance. My son’s the historian, not me! That said, I’ve been thinking about a thriller series set around The Chilterns during the Second World War. The Ministry of War had some very interesting places tucked away in this countryside, including what was called “Churchill’s Toyshop”, where boffins invented all sorts of amazing devices to defeat the enemy.
When
writing series, what measures do you take to keep track of those annoying
little details - eye colour, car type, name of ex-spouse's dog - that are so
easy to drop into text and so easy to forget about?
Yes, I have acute OCD on this! I have a
spreadsheet full of detail and photographs about every character, even the
minor ones. As soon as I write a new piece of description in the story, I add
it to the spreadsheet. Photographs of people also help me imagine their
back-stories, and how they might react to situations. One of my favourite tasks
is to spend an evening scouring the internet for photographs of gorgeous men
who might fit certain characters! It can be very distracting…
Put
together your ideal team of men/women ñ drawing from all and any walks of life,
fictional or non-fictional ñ who you would want to come to your rescue if
menaced by muggers/alligators/fundamentalists?
George Clooney can come to my rescue! Every
time. He’s been a hero of mine ever since he rescued the boy from the storm
drain in episode seven, season 2 of ER. In fact, I’m such a big fan, he’s a major
character in a short story of mine that DreamspinnerPress is publishing in its Love Wins
Anthology this December, the proceeds to benefit the victims of the Orlando shooting.
But you want a team? Well, I think Dame Maggie Smith would stand up to any mugger, any day! She and George would make a fabulous team. In fact, I wonder why they haven’t be paired on screen already!
But you want a team? Well, I think Dame Maggie Smith would stand up to any mugger, any day! She and George would make a fabulous team. In fact, I wonder why they haven’t be paired on screen already!
What
are you working on at the moment? Can you discuss it or do you prefer to keep it
a secret until it's finished.
The Dominic Delingpole Mysteries will
unfold over five books. I’ve plotted the overarching story, and I’m just
finishing the second book in the series. I’m also working up the World War Two
science fiction tale in the background, it’s quite a juggling act I can tell
you!
Thank you for joining me today, David. It was awesome having you here today and I look forward to have you here again. Everyone, go read The Necessary Deaths! It's an awesome book!
The Necessary Deaths is now available at
EXCERPT:
“Mrs. Gregory,”
said Dominic. “I would be very happy to have you as a client, but I’m not sure
in what way I can act for you.”
Samantha smiled. “And neither am I just at the moment.
Let’s call you a professional friend. I have no one else who I can turn to, and
your legal mind will help me to see things a little more clearly. As you can
tell, I’m a little emotional just now.” She turned away to wipe a tear from the
corner of her eye. Then she looked at him steadily.
“Simon and I are very close. Ever since Richard, his
father, died in a climbing accident, we have been a very tight family unit. I’d
like to think Simon and I can tell each other everything.”
Dominic wondered if she was keeping up a brave front,
or whether she really believed Simon told her everything. Her comments clearly
contradicted what Simon’s housemate Jay had said an hour ago. Dominic decided
that, as she was his client, he owed her the duty of honesty, and he should
tell her about what he had learned in the last few hours.
“Samantha, I’m
afraid I believe Simon may not have confided everything in you in recent times.
I went to see John this morning before coming here. He told me about their
relationship and how Simon was not yet ready to tell you.”
Samantha smiled.
“Dominic, I’m his mother. Do you think that I didn’t
know?” She sighed. “I knew he was finding it difficult to tell me, and I was
waiting for him to pick the right time. I didn’t want to rush him.” She paused.
“But yes, you’re right, and I am wrong. Simon hasn’t confided everything to me;
I merely know and am waiting for him to tell me. John is a lovely boy, and I
was just pleased to know that Simon is happy.”
Samantha narrowed her eyes slightly as she asked, “But
why do you think that means he must have kept other secrets from me? Surely you
of all people must know how difficult it is to come out?”
Dominic blushed briefly. “Everyone’s circumstances are
different, of course, and for young people it really is much easier....”
“Oh nonsense! Can I just say that I think it’s a bit
rich for you to judge Simon when you’re so secretive about yourself? We spent
nearly three hours in the car together last night, and I still don’t know whether
or not you have a boyfriend!”
This
time Dominic’s face turned crimson.
“Samantha, could we just get back to—”
“Well, do you?”
Dominic sighed. “I think it’s my turn to acknowledge
that I am wrong. Yes, I do have a partner, and no, I am not very open about it.
In this day and age, it probably is unnecessary for me to be quite so discreet.
But after a while, it gets to be almost a habit.”
Samantha giggled. “Oh, Dominic, how delightfully
bashful you are! I imagine that it’s rare you have a conversation like this
with your clients.”
Dominic smiled. “Samantha, I can tell you truthfully
that I have never had a conversation like this with my clients. You must meet
Jonathan some time. I think you two would get on like a house on fire.”
A young journalism student lies unconscious in a hospital bed in Brighton, England. His life hangs in the balance after a drug overdose. But was it attempted suicide or attempted murder? The student’s mother persuades British lawyer Dominic Delingpole to investigate, and Dominic enlists the aid of his outspoken opera singer partner, Jonathan McFadden.
The student’s boyfriend discovers compromising photographs hidden in his lover’s room. The photographs not only feature senior politicians and business chiefs, but the young journalist himself. Is he being blackmailed, or is he the blackmailer?
As Dominic and Jonathan investigate further, their lives are threatened and three people are murdered. They uncover a conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels of government and powerful corporations. The people behind it are ruthless, and no one can be trusted. The bond between Dominic and Jonathan deepens as they struggle not only for answers, but for their very survival.
About David C. Dawson
The student’s boyfriend discovers compromising photographs hidden in his lover’s room. The photographs not only feature senior politicians and business chiefs, but the young journalist himself. Is he being blackmailed, or is he the blackmailer?
As Dominic and Jonathan investigate further, their lives are threatened and three people are murdered. They uncover a conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels of government and powerful corporations. The people behind it are ruthless, and no one can be trusted. The bond between Dominic and Jonathan deepens as they struggle not only for answers, but for their very survival.
The Necessary Deaths is now available at
About David C. Dawson
David is a Mathematics graduate from
After more than twenty years with the BBC, he left to go freelance. He has produced videos for several charities, including Ethiopiaid, which works to end poverty in
David has one son, who is also a successful filmmaker.
In his spare time, David tours
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