Meet the Here Be Magic Authors - David Bridger

We're starting a new feature at Here Be Magic - periodic interviews with the Authors who create the magic. Our first interviewee is David Bridger, whose most recent book is Quarter Square (Wild Times Book 1)

Tell us a little about yourself:

I settled with my family and our two monstrous hounds in England's West Country after twenty years of ocean-based fun, during which I worked as a lifeguard, a sailor, an intelligence gatherer and an investigator. I write science fiction and fantasy novels, and my favourite way of doing nothing is a quiet afternoon sailing on the River Tamar while stormy characters stomp through my mind.

What prompted you to start writing?

I joined the Royal Navy straight from school and always knew I'd learn how to write novels when I retired from the sea. That happened earlier than I expected when I was badly hurt in my thirties, but faced with the prospect of spending a chunk of time recovering movement then mobility I saw no reason to change the plan. So while I was getting back on my feet over the next twelve years I also served an apprenticeship as a novelist.

What’s your writing process? Where do you write?

I'm self-disciplined and can be quite driven. I like to set goals and work to a deadline. I take the time to write a good first draft, which means it isn't a quick process but once I finish I know I won't be faced with an enormous editing task. I still work hard on the editing and polishing, but on the single occasion when I experimented with fast-drafting a novel the huge editing job it required afterwards made me feel like I was writing the thing twice. So there'll be no more of that. I can think about a story for weeks before sitting down to write it. I live with the characters and their situations inside my head until the story demands I write it. Then I sit at my Mac, in my study with only the waterfall in my aquarium disturbing the silence, and I get to work.

How do you celebrate when you finish a novel?

I often reward myself with a new dvd box set and watch it intensely over a few days. So far I've celebrated that way with Firefly, Deadwood, The Godfather, Smiley's People, the Star Trek movies and Twin Peaks series 1 & 2.

Do you do a lot of research for your books?

Yes. I've learned to do it more efficiently these days. When I started I immersed myself in research for months on end before writing the story, and although I enjoyed it immensely much of it proved unnecessary. Now I pause to research what I need when I need it.

Favorite Movie: Blade Runner

Favorite Flower: Tulip

Tea or coffee: Coffee

Boxers or Briefs: Boxers

Favorite time of the year: Summer

Favorite song: Carly Simon's Coming Around Again/Itsy Bitsy Spider at Martha's Vineyard in 1987 http://youtu.be/q9cidpLcPgA

Finish this sentence: “I believe in the Magic of .... every kind of Love”

What are you working on next?

Wild Times Books 2 & 3 and a co-authored cyberpunk crime thriller

Where can your Readers find you online?

www.davidbridger.com & https://twitter.com/#!/DavidBridger

Buy Link for Quarter Square:

http://ebooks.carinapress.com/4976783D-C90E-41F0-AE3C-F9C217034520/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=%7B5A73B0DD-E6EF-4998-A7BE-2C5F1247DA81%7D

What one question do you want to ask your Readers today?

If you could either do something great for the world or have a great love in your life, which would you choose, and why?