About M H David

 

A little introduction.

Hi! My name is Mike H. David, and I am an independent suspense/mystery/thriller author.  I grew up in rural southern Indiana, and I'm still here.  I wish that I could say that writing is my full-time occupation, but unfortunately, I haven’t reached that level just yet—maybe someday.  I have been a building contractor for the past twenty-five years.  I'd spent a lot of my day swinging a hammer and wondering if I will have time to sit down a write my stories  when the work day is finished.  Finally, about a year ago, I was offered an opportunity to change careers and I jumped at the chance.  I'm still not a full time writer, but my new occupation allows me more time to write, and less time to worry about a building project.

 

When did your love of books begin?

 

I’ve been reading all sort of things since I was a child.  In my teens, most of my reading was in comic books.  I admired the way a creative team (writer, artist, colorist, etc.) could collaborate on a project to put together an exciting story in one little magazine.  I guess I really began reading “grown up” books around the time I graduated high school.  I fell in love with books from authors like Greg Iles, Karin Slaughter, and Harlan Coben—these authors pretty well set the stage for the kind of books I wanted to write.

 

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

 

I’ve been making up stories and writing them down since I was in grade school.  I actually have a large box of short stories and weird one-off things I’ve put together but will probably never see the light of day again.  I think my real desire for writing and publishing my stories came around the age of eighteen.  I had this idea for a story that I felt extra passionate about, so I decided to take my time in writing it down.  It’s still a work in progress even today, but that one story bloomed into a drive to create.  Now, everything that I write, I do it with the intention of people to reading it.

 

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

 

I’m not trying to brag at all here, but I do usually find the process to be pretty simple.  You just write.  Okay, maybe it’s not that easy.  I mean, first you must find the time that allows peace and quiet for you to focus, then you have to actually have a story, and create characters and personalities.  It’s real work, but it’s enjoyable work.  I’ve had days where I can sit down and tap out 5-10 thousand words and just feel like I could keep going if there were only a few more hours in the day, but I’ve also woke up with all the intentions to write and instead find myself banging my head on my desk trying to shake the words out.  For me, right now anyway (while I still have ideas), I’ll say that writing is easy enough.  The hard part is the publishing and promoting.  If I could ever get a handle of what works flawlessly, this whole writing thing might take off!

 

What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

 

Go for it!  Start writing your story, and don’t quit until the story is finished.  Don’t be afraid to take a break from it and start a new story—sometimes you just need to find your voice.  The level of joy that I get from creating stories is kind of hard to describe, but if you experience that same joy when writing, it’s all worth it, right?  There are going to be some people that won’t support you, or even worse, they may tear you down—but don’t let them get to you.  Keep in mind, even the best authors in the world have a few one star reviews.  It’s impossible to please everyone.  Also, it is a slow process.  Be patient.  If you write it and put it out there, eventually you will find your readers. 

  

What do you love about the writing/reading community?

 

The support.  When I first started on this journey about a year ago, I really went into it thinking that every author I ran across online was going to look at me like I was some sort of competition—as if any attention or book sales I gained was a reader I was taking from them.  I did not expect other writers to be my greatest supporters.  Boy, was I surprised!  I found people that were more than willing to read what I was writing, give me helpful pointers, (not just critiques) and then when it was time to hit the publish button, everyone was incredibly supportive in helping me spread the word about my book.  The writing/reading communities have really rekindled my hope in humanity.

 

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

 

Read my book!  No, really, I just hope you enjoy my stories.  I hope they make you think and light a flame of imagination within you.  I write the kind of stories I would enjoy reading, and if you enjoy them also, chances are you and I would get along.  Most of all, THANK YOU for your support!  It means so much for you to put forward your hard-earned money to read something I created.  Finally, yeah, Read my book!