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An Interview With David Burrows

Tell us a bit about yourself. What would you like us to know about you?

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya as my dad was an architect doing 3 years training. I lived in Poulton-le-Fylde and attended Arnold School Blackpool and from there moved to Liverpool. I attained a PhD in physics at the University. Next I moved to Edinburgh where I worked on airborne radar. I also joined the TA as an infantry Captain in 2/52 Lowland battalion, which was great fun. More recently I moved to Maidstone where I now work as a research scientist. I am now in a re-enactment society, in Regia Anglorum, which is again great fun. Writing is my main hobby and my current project is a fantasy trilogy The Prophecy of the Kings.

What are you doing now? (Career? Married? Single? Children? Pets?)

I am married to Gail and we have two boys, Andrew and Stuart. Parenting is far harder than writing!

What is your favourite food?

Curry.

What is your favourite colour?

Red, no blue (for the Monty Python fans)

What is your favourite sound?

The waves on a beach.

Who is your favourite person?

My wife of course. Then Elle MacPherson.

What is your favourite place?

Canterbury or Cambridge

What is your favourite memory?

Visiting Buckingham Palace with my dad and meeting Prince Phillip.

What is your favourite article of clothing?

Underwear, wouldn't be seen dead without it.

What is your favourite word?

Windowsill

What is your favourite writers' quote and why?

All that is gold does not glitter, nor all those who wander are lost, the old that is strong does not whither, deep roots are not touched by the frost...

Tolkien

What is your most favourite quality about yourself?

Sense of humour

What is the least favourite quality about yourself?

Sense of humour - it gets me into trouble.

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

San Francisco, I left my wallet there

What inspires you to write and why?

The sense of the unknown. That's why I like the Saxon period. I can imagine folk sitting about a fire telling stories about goblins and faeries.

What is your favourite book and why?

Lord of the Rings

What is your favourite genre and why?

Fantasy

List your three favourite authors (any genre) and why?

Tolkien obviously, Ian Irvine and Bernard Cornwell.

Tolkien as he inspired me and was the first good fantasy writer, Ian as his writing is really good and you just want to read more. Bernard as I like historical fiction and he is the best.

What do you think makes a writer successful?

A really good story line

Whta is it that makes you successful as a writer?

The ending of the novel. So many endings are weak.

What are your goals as a writer?

To entertain folk.

What is the best tip you can give to fellow writers?

Persevere.

What do you hope to provide your readers with through your writing?

The story line is well thought out. I got stuck a few times but patiently waited. Inspiration, when it came, was worth waiting for and I think this makes the story more credible.

List your three favourite online writer-resource sites and why (include URLS).

writersmanual.com/
www.lovereading.co.uk/
prophecyofthekings.com/

If you have published a book, tell us about your publishing success (title, publishing date and company, where it is available to purcahse).

The Prophecy of the Kings Trilogy

Amazon and type in "prophecy of the kings"
www.amazon.co.uk/s/r ... %3Daps&;field-keywords=%22prophecy+of+the+kings%22

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

4 years and then a further 6 years of editing!!

What would you do differently if you could repeat the same publishing experience?

Nothing

What have you learned about the publishing world?

It's a very difficult market, but fun

This is your chance to 'Talk Back' to your readers. What would you like to say to them?

The tale is dark and sinister, set in a world periodically ravaged by demon attacks. The people are very superstitious and garlands and wards protect their family homes, and yet, at the time of the tale, attacks are rare and there is peace. In a previous war, the people were saved by the Eldric and their sorcerers, however, many years ago the entire race mysteriously disappeared from the land, leaving the people defenceless against a future threat they chose largely to ignore, rather than confronting their fear.

One of the main characters is Kaplyn, a minor prince, bored with the tedium of court. He seeks an adventure to make his brothers envious. However, he gets more than he bargained for when he meets Vastra a sorcerer, recklessly ambitious and driven by greed for power. He harbours a secret, which he is prepared to kill to protect. He seeks an Eldric talisman and recruits Kaplyn and another man Lars to help him. Book one tells of their journey through a perilous land where there are clear signs, for those who know how to look, that demons are once again seeking souls.

They follow the trail left by the Eldric, unaware they are starting a series of events that will rock the foundations not only of their world but of two others, those occupied by demons and dragons. Their journey takes them through a nightmare tower, and deep into the bowels of the earth, to a cavern haunted by the dead where betrayal could damn them all. A collision of powers occurs, so vast that it rips apart the fabric between the worlds, allowing the shade of a dead emperor to cross the divide, becoming Kaplyn’s shaol (guardian spirit), taking him to the very brink of despair.

War threatens. Krell tribes amass and in the air grakyn gather. Religious zeal drives Priests of Ryoch, omnipotent warriors fill their ranks. Their shaols are awoken, kindling a sixth sense that gives them awesome fighting skills. Death knights are recruited into Trosgarth’s ranks and sorcerers learn to summon demons.

The beat of war sounds louder across the expanse of time. War is inevitable but who will stand against the growing danger for the allies are divided, refusing to believe the growing threat.

A reader (Nina Hutchings) wrote: I loved these books! David has created characters that are totally believable. The story line was well conceived and kept me gripped throughout. Fantasy writing at its very best.

What's the one thing that you want them to know about your writing?

It's a different story. There's loads of new concepts, Narlassar Sorcery, Akrane Wizards, Kara-stones etc. It's deliberately a little dark and the main character has a realy hard time of it. I really do think it's a good read and hope others enjoy it as much as I did in writing it.

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