6 Books with David Towsey

David Towsey is a graduate of the Creative Writing programmes at Bath Spa University and Aberystwyth University. Born in Dorset, he now lives in Cardiff with his girlfriend and their growing board game collection. Together, they write under the pseudonym of D.K. Fields.

Today he tells us about his Six Books:

1. What book are you currently reading?

Right now I’m reading The Gamekeeper by Barry Hines, who also wrote A Kestrel for a Knave that was filmed as Kes. The Gamekeeper is a pretty detailed and vivid account of life as a gamekeeper on an English country estate. I’m toying with the idea of setting a book on such an estate, so I’ve picked up a few reference texts – both fiction and non-fiction – to get a feel for it. Hines really captures the working relationship between people and animals, which at times can seem coldly functional (even cruel) but at other points feels so caring and sensitive. I’m also learning a lot about the breeding and maintaining of pheasants, which is something I never thought I’d say…







2. What upcoming book are you really excited about?

This is perhaps a cheeky answer, but I’m really excited for people to read Shauna Lawless’ debut novel, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men. I got a chance to read an advance copy, and absolutely loved the mix of Irish mythology, history, fantasy, and political intrigue. It’s the first in a trilogy, so I can’t wait for the next one!












3. Is there a book you’re currently itching to re-read?

Oh, that’s a great question. In interviews and events for Equinox, I’ve been mentioning Jeff Vandermeer’s The Southern Reach trilogy as an inspiration, and it’s been a while since I read those fantastic books. The trilogy tells such a beguiling story. I remember when I first read it, I felt like I was trying to catch smoke in my hands – just when I thought I had a grip on it, something in the story would shift and the whole thing slipped through my fingers. A lesser writer might make that a frustrating reading experience, but I think Vandermeer handles it masterfully. I’d love to re-read it this summer!




4 A book that you love and wish that you yourself had written.

Yikes, it’s hard to pick just one book – there are so many novels I love and wish I’d written. But if pushed to choose only one, it would have to be Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend. Not only is it a brilliant story, with such a great ending – something I think is one of the most challenging parts of writing a novel – it’s been hugely influential in the SF/F and horror genres. I can only dream of one of my texts having such a long-lasting legacy.










5. What’s one book, which you read as a child or a young adult, that has had a lasting influence on your writing?

I came quite late to reading as a kid. The book that really hooked me was, like so many children, The Hobbit. It opened up the world of fantasy for me, and I then read most of the mainstream titles around in the 90s and 00s. I think of all those genre staples I devoured as a kid, Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb probably had the biggest influence on my writing. Until I read that book, I’d mainly experienced high fantasy or sword and sorcery – usually through big series like The Wheel of Time, or David Gemmell’s many works. But reading Assassin’s Apprentice was the first time I felt the emotions of the main character were just as important as the worldbuilding, the magic, and all the action.

      

6. And speaking of that, what’s your latest book, and why is it awesome?

 My latest book, Equinox, is a dark fantasy novel all about a witch hunt. The big twist in this world is that every physical body has two people in it – one that lives during the day, the other during the night. This, understandably, changes a lot about how people behave, how they manage their lives and relationships, and how they keep their secrets. Special Inspector Christophor Morden is sent to a remote village to find a witch. As his investigation uncovers the darker elements of this close community, his day-brother, Alexsander, falls in love with one of the prime suspects. Like the awesome cover for the book (thanks to Head of Zeus for that), there’s more than meets the eye to this world full of doubles and dualities.

Thank you, David!

POSTED BY: Paul Weimer. Ubiquitous in Shadow, but I’m just this guy, you know? @princejvstin