David Lundgren was born in “a
pokey town in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia)” and spent the first 18 years of his
life there. He grew up in an environment “that seemed to combine the best
elements of both an American and English heritage with a hybrid African
lifestyle.” Lundgren is also a musician, which gave him the creative spark to
create the Melforger series. He spends his time in San Francisco “teaching,
enjoying frequent – and often frustrating – games of tennis, trying to learn
the blues on piano, attacking Sudoku puzzles with relish, and attempting to
make some headway with the ever-increasing pile of books that is waiting
patiently at my bedside, developing its own gravity.”
His latest book is the
fantasy/science fiction, Rhapsody.
For More Information
- Visit David Lundgren’s website.
- Connect with David on Facebook.
- More books by
David Lundgren.
- Contact
David.
Can you tell us a bit about
yourself?
I suppose, as a start, I’d have
to describe myself as a bit of an international nomad. I was born in Zimbabwe
and then lived in South Africa, the Caribbean, the States, the UK, and then
returned to the States three years ago. (No flies on me!) I was lucky enough to
grow up in Africa where the vast and daunting wilderness was on your doorstep,
the sun was always shining and giving you an excuse to spend time outside, and
– lacking TV back then – was surrounded by a huge collection of books in which
I submerged myself. An avid sports enthusiast, wannabe cook, Sudoku addict,
keen hiker, and general life-junkie, I love to get out of my comfort zone and
collect new wacky experiences whenever and wherever I can.
When did you begin writing?
Although I logged my travels
through the use of highly embellished chronicles that I sent home to my family
once I left Zimbabwe, the ‘real’ writing was the start of The Melforger
Chronicles, something that had been forming as an idea in my imagination
for as long as I can remember. Piecing it together over the previous decade in
fits and procrastinating starts, I truly delved into writing with focus and
seriousness while living in England some five years ago.
Do you write during the day, at
night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?
For planning and idea-building, I
know that the moments where ideas pop into your head and sudden sub-plots bloom
are rare, and they can happen at any time – usually when I’m not prepared to
take down feverish notes and capture the genius before it fades (ahem).
However, for the writing itself, the best time for me to find that groove where
it all clicks is without a doubt at night-time. For whatever reason, my brain
only finds the balance and focus needed once the sun has set. I’ve long since
stopped trying to fight it – that’s just how it is, so I embrace it.
What is this book about?
Rhapsody is the final book in The
Melforger Chronicles trilogy. It follows the progress of Raf, a sixteen
year old boy, as he confronts a diseased and terrifying villain who is the
cause of a corrupting darkness that is killing the world (so nothing very
serious, then). The stakes are particularly high for Raf’s forest home as the
villagers live hundreds of yards up on natural platforms that are dying and
collapsing underneath them. Of course, being fantasy, there is a kind of magic
involved in the story – a unique, original and enthralling kind (hopefully) –
of which Raf is a potent wielder: a melforger. However, he’s only barely
started on the hazardous journey through the desert to get to this villain
before he finds himself yanked off course to face dangers and challenges that
push him to his limits.
What inspired you to write
it?
I grew up feeding my imagination
on the worlds of Tolkien and Jordan and Eddings and Pratchett. With the rich
experience of growing up in the wilds of Africa and being emersed in music
since the day I was born – and obviously along with a hunger to create my own
stories – I think it was inevitable that I’d try to tie it all together in a
ripping yarn!
Who is your biggest supporter?
It’s hard not to say the obvious
‘family’ response here – my parents and relatives have been a solid rock of
support. But the unswerving pressure to really dig into it came from my partner
who has proved to be a loving, bullying lass who sometimes seems to know me
better than I know myself.
Are you a member of a critique
group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?
I put together a group of
colleagues all over the world (7 of them, to be exact) who work as my guinea
pigs, each giving me feedback on different aspects of the drafts, from flow and
pace to character journeys to fantasy formulas. They all know to be brutally
honest and, once I’d got over the shock of being told some harsh truths, it’s
the most useful thing I could have set up.
Who is your favorite author?
That’s so hard to answer! Authors
that had a big influence on me would have to include Tolkien, Eddings,
Pratchett, Jordan, Martin, Adams… to name just a few! If I had to say what my
favourite book was overall, it’d probably be The Power Of One by Bryce
Courtenay – a seriously inspiring book set in apartheid South Africa.
Where can readers purchase a copy
of your book?
Amazon – either Kindle or
paperback. The link for the trilogy is:
Do you have a website and/or blog
where readers can find out more?
Please visit the website, www.melforger.com, where you’ll find, among
other things, some of the trilogy’s maps, links to reviews, as well as a
picture of me with a one-armed monkey called Hercules on my shoulder
(naturally).
What is the best investment you
have made in promoting your book?
I went in to local schools and
offered to take creative writing workshops and also chat to aspiring student
writers. Getting to know the students, letting them get to know you – that’s a
great way to create a link and a reason to buy into you and to read your books.
I recently found out that the first book of the trilogy, Melforger, has
been taken on as a class reader in a prestigious girls’ school – talk about a
flattering and awesome promotion!
What is one piece of advice you
would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?
There’s no silver bullet. You
have to do anything and everything you can to rise above the millions of other
competing authors – do different things, or do things differently. Build up a
loyal audience, grow a thick skin, don’t let the set-backs hold you down, and
keep learning and evolving as you write.
What is up next for you?
Although I had plans to put my
hand to writing more of a sci-fi story next, I found myself suddenly putting
together a new fantasy with some great ideas I had in my recent travels and
I’ve now dived deep into the planning of that. When you get a rush of
creativity about something, you’ve just got to go with it!
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