Ask the Author: Daniel James
Answered Questions (6)
Daniel James
The mystery of where my hair went would be a gripping police procedural.
But not very sexy, therefore, I'd say either the mystery of the heart I found in the middle of the street one very drunken Halloween night (I know it was most likely a student prank or something, but it's always fun to jazz it up), or the mystery of who the creepy watcher was who one night, when I was a young boy, I found standing stock still across the street, bathed in shadow, and staring fixedly at my house as I bid goodnight to a friend at the front door. The watcher didn't move, didn't react, just stood across the street like a statue. That kind of freaked the both of us out, so much so that my friend asked me to wait at the door until he was outside his house two doors down.
Who was he? What was he? I guess I'll never know, but he made a lasting impression.
But not very sexy, therefore, I'd say either the mystery of the heart I found in the middle of the street one very drunken Halloween night (I know it was most likely a student prank or something, but it's always fun to jazz it up), or the mystery of who the creepy watcher was who one night, when I was a young boy, I found standing stock still across the street, bathed in shadow, and staring fixedly at my house as I bid goodnight to a friend at the front door. The watcher didn't move, didn't react, just stood across the street like a statue. That kind of freaked the both of us out, so much so that my friend asked me to wait at the door until he was outside his house two doors down.
Who was he? What was he? I guess I'll never know, but he made a lasting impression.
Daniel James
I could feel another episode coming on, that dark presence creeping up behind me, ready to assume control. Before I blacked out I caught my reflection in the mirror, seeing my other self, professional and confident in his green surgical scrubs and scalpel in hand saying, 'Don't worry, I have steady hands.'
Daniel James
I recently finished a novel called Fable, which involves a group of bullied teenagers trying to survive a run-in with the high-school criminal element. Oh, and a synthetic drug-induced creature which could be the victims' strongest ally or worst nightmare. So I'll try and get that out soon.
And I am currently working on the first draft of a novel called Hourglass, which is a story about the supernatural Hourglass agency and their fight to protect the dead realm Erebus from outside forces wishing to plunder souls and mystical powers for their own gain.
And I am currently working on the first draft of a novel called Hourglass, which is a story about the supernatural Hourglass agency and their fight to protect the dead realm Erebus from outside forces wishing to plunder souls and mystical powers for their own gain.
Daniel James
I still am an aspiring writer, so anything I say should be taken with a heavy dose of salt. Hypertension, coming through.
Daniel James
Cry, whinge and screen phone calls until I reclaim my tattered self-worth up from the floor. That's probably not very helpful, so...just stop stressing, try to get out of your own way, and start typing something! If it's a barely glimpsed idea or a vague interest you're toying with, just have a crack at writing a few rough pages and it might begin to take some basic shape. And if it sucks, don't worry, just keep churning the old grey matter until something bobs to the surface.
Daniel James
There are many things that can reward in different ways: watching your story develop as you whittle away at the edges, becoming a piece of work you're proud of; working your way through a dull shift at your "proper job" when a moment of inspiration hits you for a story or plot/character development; or a major joy is when after several days of thought racking despair you figure out how to unkink a knot in the story.
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