Below is an interview with author David Anderson who is promoting his coming-of-age YA novel, The Drowners. Learn more about his process, his inspirations, and his own personal history below!
The Drowners plot summary
For Aaron, this world is an unfathomable puzzle. Haunted by disturbing dreams, he drifts through empty days, shielding himself behind sarcasm and cynical wit.
After being expelled, he sees an opportunity to rewrite his future at a new school. Connecting over a shared love for De Niro films with Robbie, an aspiring actor of Jamaican descent, he unexpectedly finds his companion piece, one person who truly understands him. Together, they navigate the chaotic waters of adolescence, from dramatic first dates to sociopathic bullies, iconic concerts, a dead body, and spaced-out streaking.
With adulthood fast approaching, the crushing weight of societal pressures and devastating revelations threaten to shatter their unique bond. Confronted by the ghosts of his past, Aaron must choose whether to blaze bright or fade away.
A funny and poignant meditation on the forces that shape us and the power of true friendship. Packed with those awkward moments we wish we could airbrush from our memories, The Drowners is an ode to that time in life when your tolerance for hypocrisy is zero and the possibilities are infinite.
The interview
Why do you write in the genres that you do?
I write everything from YA to psychological thrillers. I never think in terms of writing in a specific genre, rather I’m drawn to a concept and characters. Often genres tend to overlap. My YA might have an undertow of romance and a splash of mystery. And my thriller might be heavy on horror-of-personality, or dark satire.
Do you keep a notebook of ideas?
I do, but invariably, I scribble ideas on the closest thing possible. Candy wrappers, grocery receipts, water bills, my table is littered with fragments of ideas.
Somehow, I feel totally at ease amidst this glorious chaos. When I jot things down in my notebook, they tend to get swallowed up with all the other sentences on the page and forgotten about whereas, I frequently go through my pile of scraps in forensic detail to see if I’ve missed anything.
Do you have a muse?
Life. Reality is weirder and more terrible than any fiction.
Every morning, I find myself scrolling through the news, before being whisked off down some dark alley by the all-powerful algorithm. Some of the true-crime stories make Thomas Harris seem like Dr. Seuss. While I would never use any actual story, it often sparks an idea for a character or a scene in my head.
Are you more of a fan of plot-driven stories or character-driven stories?
That would depend on my mood. Sometimes, all I want is to get lost in the Byzantine plot of a mind-bending psychological thriller. That feeling of awe you get when, at the end, all the disparate pieces come together to form a whole picture.
Other times, I want characters that invite you into their lives. So real, you can smell the sweat on their shirts. So close, you can eavesdrop on their conversations. So human, you feel their every pain. Friends you didn’t know you needed, but are so glad you found.
Fill in the blank: “People will like your book if they like stories about…”
Life.
What are your thoughts on typewriters?
They look great in classic noir movies. I’m not unsentimental, but often change is for the better. I don’t buy into the whole “authentic writing experience” argument. If that were the case, I’d be dipping my quill into the inkwell.
Vinyl might sound better than digital, but nobody can tell me hammering down on stubborn, clanging keys beats letting your fingertips glide over a silent keyboard.
Would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?
Bookstore because I would get to talk to the customers instead of shushing them.
How do you name your characters?
Certain names I’m infatuated with. Sadie. DeShawn. So, they’ll frequently crop up when I’m naming secondary characters. With my leads, I tend to choose names with meanings associated with their character.
When writing non-fiction I never use real names. I have every right to tell the world my story, but not somebody else’s. Besides, truth and memory are subjective.
What I recall might differ markedly from another persons’ account of an event. Also, I have no way of knowing what another person was thinking, or why they did what they did. So, I change names and distinguishing features when writing my story.
If Hollywood bought the rights to your book, would you want it to be turned into a movie or series?
Movie, movie, movie. No question.
Who is your dream audiobook narrator?
Brian Cox.
Do you try to hit a certain page or word count with each writing session?
Ever since I found out Graham Greene wrote 500 words a day, and Ernest Hemingway wrote 800, that has been my guideline. I’m a slow writer, and a rough first draft can take anything up to eight months to write.
Do you have any writing rituals?
Not since I quit smoking. Probably, an exasperated sigh the moment I sit on the chair and contemplate what lies ahead (I’m not sure whether you could classify that as a ritual, or a reaction).
What are your passions/obsessions outside of writing?
I’m a movie-a-night celluloid addict. Or, I’ll be found binging on my favourite TV series. Shameless. Succession. Veep. The White Lotus. And, my go-to comedy, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. We’re living in a golden age of television, and I’m never as happy as when I’m strung out on the next sixty-hour treat.
Outside of an equally unhealthy, lifelong obsession with Manchester United, my main passion in life would be running. Or, taking long, solitary walks.
Have you made any public appearances to promote your book?
No.
Who would you most want to read your book, living or dead?
Suede’s lead-singer, Brett Anderson. Although, I’d be terrified of his reaction. If he slated my writing, how would I be able to listen to those albums that defined my youth? Having a total stranger eviscerate my work would sting for a few minutes. But to be blasted by a hero would leave scars.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of greatest/inspirational authors?
Bret Easton Ellis is the dark master of biting satire and black humour.
When it comes to dialogue, nobody can hold a candle to George V. Higgins.
Care to inhabit the mind of a disturbed killer? Delve into the shadow-drenched world of Patricia Highsmith’s imagination.
And, finally, the Godfather of crime-fiction, and the patron saint of desperate low-lifes, the legendary Elmore Leonard.
If I were stranded on a desert island with just the back catalogues of these four to keep me company, I would want for no more. Are they the greatest writers ever? Probably, not. But I could read and re-read their work and never get bored.
Have you ever mentored another writer with their writing?
No, because writing comes from within. There are no rules. No one size fits all guidelines. The only advice I have ever given anyone is to write and rewrite until you arrive at the best possible version of your book.
Is there an idea that a non-writer has pitched to you that you have written or considered writing?
No, however, an old friend told me how he’d taken his partner out for a romantic meal, only to find themselves seated by an open window. Outside, on the street, with Bose amp cranked up to the max, an earnest busker plied their trade. His ability to whisper sweet nothings to his girlfriend hampered, my pal’s nerves wore thinner by the second.
At the time I was writing a psychological thriller, and as I listened to my friend tell me about the meal from Hell, I kept picturing my lead character in the situation. His reactions. His fuse about to blow. So, I asked my friend would he mind if I used the story in my book. He was tickled pink by the idea.
What is the most unique way that an idea for a piece of writing has come to you?
Once, I had a wake-up-in-a-cold-sweat nightmare which, upon analysis, fit perfectly with what a lead character was going through in a story I was working on. Mostly, I get my inspiration late at night, or when I’m on a long walk.
Are you a big reader? Do you own a large collection of books, or are you more of a borrower?
I average about a book a week. With the exception of about 80 physical copies, my entire library is on file.
Have you ever gone away to work on a piece of writing? If not, where would you go if you could?
No. I prefer the routine familiarity of my living room. Though I admit, I’m attracted to the romantic notion of a remote cottage in the French, or Italian countryside. But then, how would I convince myself to sit in front of a blank screen, instead of exploring the beautiful rustic world outside the door?
What is an annoying thing that a non-writer has assumed about writers or the act of writing?
That it is easy. Your fingers pirouette over the keyboard, and all these lovely words appear on the screen without the slightest effort on your part. As though, you have an entire book pre-written in your brain, and all you have to do is transcribe it to the page. “And here’s one I made earlier.”
People equate strenuous work with physical effort. I run five miles most days. It’s tiring. But it’s a breeze compared to a six or seven-hour writing session. Some nights, after finishing, I’m so exhausted I literally crash into walls walking from the living room to the bedroom.
How do you measure the success of your writing career?
My aim when I begin any new project is to create something I can be proud of. To write the kind of book I would like to read myself. When I finally reach that point, then I consider it a success.
In terms of goals, I doubt there is a writer out there that doesn’t want to write a best-seller, and I’m no different. That being said, I would prefer critical success to commercial success. For me, success can be measured by the respect one gains from readers and peers.
Author Links
Links will open in a new tab.
Pin it!
Hi Laura,
Thank you for giving me the chance to discuss what inspires me as a writer, and for the opportunity to talk about my new novel. It was a privilege answering your thought-provoking questions.