Author Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Website: David Prever
Author's Blog: David Prever - The Blog
Twitter: @DPrever
E-Mail: david@openbookdigital.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
Facebook: Check Out Facebook
Pinterest: Check Out Pinterest
Author Description:
David Prever is a multi-award winning British broadcaster and a freelance journalist.
He lives in Hertfordshire, England, with his wife and two children. The Blood Banker is his debut novel.
SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author
First things first. Let’s start with what’s next. Do you have another book on the horizon? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease?
The manuscript was due with my agent at the end of September, but I'm getting close. A tease: When Jessica Chadwick – socialite and goddaughter to Princess Alice, the Queen’s sister – falls from her horse during her morning ride, doctors break the devastating news that a scan has revealed a tumour in her brain. It’s inoperable. At most, she has six months to live.
Her only options: wait for the agony of a long, slow death or take her own life. But there is another way. With the help of a friend she hires a hit man. Her one condition: she doesn’t want to know where or when the hit will take place.
But when Jessica tries to cancel the contract, she finds her killer has other plans. An email arrives, blank except for a date: her time of death. The clock is counting down to death. Can she find her executioner, or will he make his move first?
You have a good following on twitter. How important have your social media relationships been? Do you see a carry over to your writing success?
So much is made of social media, yet it's really just old fashioned networking by another name. It also takes time, both in building followers and then maintaining those relationships. Just like the 'real' world. It does work for me, although I do think it's important to think carefully about before you decide to post. I have a tendency to get worked up about domestic UK politics which is not that interesting for international readers, and it can polarise your readership too. I'm not suggesting you censor personal opinions, but I don't want to put off a potential new reader just because I've taken a position on some government policy or other. Especially when I might take another view an hour later. As in all things, engage brain before opening mouth (or hitting the keyboard)
Do you do book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?
I do it all, whenever I can. All my info. is on my site at www.davidprever.com
You have a great cover on your debut novel. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?
I design the covers myself, through my company www.OpenBookDigital.com
I formed the business after writing 'The Blood Banker.' I was looking for a digital agency that could offer a mix of cover and web design, plus video trails and some consultancy too. We've got a great team and it's a simple proposition:
'We give you back the time to write - helping you sell more books.'
What writer support groups do you belong to? Do they help with the writing, marketing and the publishing process?
I don't belong to any groups, but do have a great editor. I couldn't manage without her.
Do you belong to any reading groups? Do they help you with feedback about your novels, provide reviews and increase sales? How can readers find you there?
Not yet, but I'd be delighted to join any groups that are happy to have me. Invitations are always welcome!
What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?
Writers hate the idea of giving away their work for free, which is understandable. I was no exception. But if you want to build a readership there's no other way, and no downside as far as I'm concerned. It's all about getting people to read your book. If you're lucky they might write a nice review. Better still, they might tell someone else about it, and their friends too. And if you're really lucky they'll return the gesture and pay for your second, third and fourth books. It's no different to the supermarket promotions for free crackers where the man in the silly costume says try this, dip into the guacamole and tell me what you think. Before you know it you're chatting to the person behind you and you've both bought a family size packet. it's just a twist on old fashioned loss leader marketing. (rather like that old fashioned networking)
Living in England creates a unique selling and marketing situation. Where is your biggest audience? Does marketing online help in this situation?
Honestly, I don't think it makes that much difference.Writers have to think in terms of a global readership. With online and e-sales your next reader could be anywhere.
What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews, use social media or do you rely on your reading audience to supply them?
I would never use professional reviews. I might gently remind readers - via social media - to post a review once they've finished the book. There's only one way to get a good review, and that's by writing a good book.
You live in the media world being a broadcaster, a freelance journalist and a novelist. Does changing hats create any problems? Any tricks you can share with us? Which one do you enjoy doing the most? Does moving from one to the other, give you a change of pace?
I present a daily news and talk show for the BBC in Oxford, and work for other stations too. The upside is meeting fascinating people who feed into endless character and plot ideas. I love the buzz of live broadcasting, the immediacy of the medium, holding politicians and policy makers to account etc. Changing pace can be challenging and there are sadly no tricks, except to try and write something every day. The downside is lack of time. Life is constant search for balance in all things.
Author's Book List
The Blood Banker
"Prever really knows how to grip and hold you from the very first line. Fabulously vivid storytelling." Peter James
"An impressive debut novel, it's the gripping pace and action sequences that keep you reading. A difficult book to put down." James Becker - international best selling author of 'The First Apostle'
Former #1 in Political Fiction, #4 in Political thrillers
#5 in all books - Thrillers, and #3 in the Kindle Thrillers Chart.
Featured title on http://bestsellingcrimethrillers.com
The body of a French banker lies under a train on the London Underground: the first of three of three ‘banking suicides.’ A tragic result of the economic downturn.
Former tabloid reporter, turned blogger, Danny Lightfoot needs a story. And something about the tube death doesn’t add up… When a second banker takes his life, then a third, he’s certain of wrongdoing.
In a race to reveal the truth, Lightfoot uncovers a laundered money trail that leads, via Hong Kong and the world’s largest online criminal cartel, to the heart of British government: Number Ten Downing Street – and a man who will stop at nothing to achieve the power he craves.
But with a hired killer watching his every move, can Lightfoot banish his demons and face down the evil that threatens his life?
Order the Book From: Amazon
Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
Publisher of ebooks, writing industry blogger and the sponsor of the following blogs:
HBS eBook Author’s Corner
HBS Mystery Reader’s Circle
Check out the index of other Spotlight authors. Spotlight Index.
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