David Conyers

Science Fiction Author

INTERVIEWS

Interviews with David Conyers.

Half a Page with... David Conyers

This interview originally appeared in Southern Write, Newsletter of the SA Writers’ Centre Inc, April 2007

 

David Conyers is an Australian author of science fiction and dark fiction, residing in Adelaide. His short stories are found in the numerous anthologies published in Australia and the United States. David is currently short-listed for the Aeon Award in Ireland and his co-authored novel The Spiraling Worm is scheduled for publication in the United States in late 2007.

 

Which books should be made into a movie and who would play the lead role?

 

The Day of the Triffids with Ewan McGregor in the lead, Neuromancer with Hugh Jackman, and At The Mountains of Madness with Naomi Watts (although in the book the main character was male, I don’t think it would matter that the gender was changed).

 

What authors have influenced you?

 

Some long time favorites are Martin Cruz Smith, Ian Fleming, Graham Greene, Len Deighton, Iain M Banks, Philip K Dick, Brian Aldiss, Douglas Adams, John Wyndham and Haruki Murakami. 

 

Any tips for aspiring writers?

 

Surround yourself only by positive and supportive writers, editors and publishers (get rid of the negative ones). Work out who you want to be as a writer in terms of not only your genre, but how much money you want to make, how much recognition you want, and how well known you are around the world. Then do everything you do in your writing career with this simple premise in mind. For example, I want to make at least a quarter million per annum as a science fiction novelist, produce one to two novels per year sold globally, and win all the top awards. So every action I take, I first ask myself, will this help me reach this goal. I’m not there yet, but I’m still focused!

 

Do you listen to anything while you write? What?

 

Any music without lyrics as they distract me, from Leftfield to Vangelis, Endorphin to Underworld, tribal fusions to African beats. I adjust the music I listen to depending on the scene I’m writing, and often make up play lists for the novels I’m working on. I find this technique really helps me to get into the scene.

 

What's your opinion of the SA literary scene?

 

I’ve moved to South Australia only recently so I’m still finding my way around. I’ve had some welcomed support from a few of the lead writers in the speculative fiction scene, and the team at SA Writers who have been a great help.

 

What are you currently reading?

 

I tend to read several books at once, so right now I’m reading Perdido Street Station by China Meiville, Geodescia Descent by Sean Williams, and Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross.

 

What started it all off?

 

I saw Star Wars as a young child and that left a lasting impression, and since then I’ve always known that I wanted to be a science fiction writer. I started writing seriously in 2001, published my first short story in 2003 and now I’m about to have my first novel published in the United States.

 

If you could win any prize, which one would it be?

 

Hugo or Nebula, science fiction’s top awards so either would make me a happy man.

 

What's your favorite writing fuel?

 

A good night’s sleep, or failing that, coffee.