ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dane
Cobain is a writer, poet and musician from a place you've probably never heard
of, somewhere in England. When he's not writing books, he's reading and
reviewing them on his book blog - SocialBookshelves.com - or working at his day
job in social media marketing. Find him at Facebook.com/DaneCobainMusic or
follow @DaneCobain on Twitter.
INTERVIEW
Tell us about the book you want to talk about today.
I’m the author of a supernatural
thriller called No Rest for the Wicked, which follows what happens when an
elderly priest called Father Montgomery begins to investigate rumours of
mysterious, evil Angels.
Give
us an insight into your main character.
Father
Montgomery is an elderly priest with a secret past, which he’s trying to atone
for by protecting his parishioners. He’s a complex figure, but he’s
fundamentally a good person, and he’s a lot of fun to befriend along the way.
What
genre are your books?
It
depends, really – I write in a number of different genres and formats,
including poetry and non-fiction. But they do have a unifying theme in that
they’re pretty dark, and that my personality comes across in them.
Did you self-publish or publish traditionally and why?
My books are published by a company
called Booktrope, which uses a hybrid publishing model. Basically, you still submit
your work like you do with a traditional publisher, but if you get accepted,
you form your own team of marketers, editors, proofreaders and cover designers
to produce a professional quality book. It’s a great system, and I’m glad to be
there.
What do you consider the most important part of a good story?
I think the very best stories combine
great characters with a fantastic plot, and we get hooked because of the way in
which they interact with the world around them.
How long have you been writing?
I first started writing seriously when I
was sixteen, and I haven’t stopped since – so about ten years!
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I think I’m a bit of both, but I do like
to plot things out where I can so that I have something to work from – it makes
the actual writing process a lot easier, if nothing else.
What is your writing process?
I have a weird process called ‘The
System’, which basically involves listening to music and switching activity
every time that the song changes. It’s a bit weird, but it helps me to get
things done.
What part of the writing process is the hardest for you?
I think that it’s probably the editing,
because that takes a lot of time and concentration, and because it doesn’t
always feel rewarding. But it’s necessary!
What advice would you give an author just starting out?
Practice as much as you can, and get
very good at maximizing your time – you need to make every second count, and
you need to put a lot of those seconds in.
What tips can you give on how to get through writers block?
I’ve always found that switching to a
different medium or genre has helped to shake off writers’ block, but I think
it depends – I spend so much time writing that I can usually just switch in on
or off, and so I don’t tend to get it.
What kind of music do you like to listen to while you write?
I have pretty eclectic tastes, so
everything from indie folk and sixties rock ‘n’ roll to underground hip-hop and
dubstep. I usually just put everything on random and see what comes up.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
If I’m not writing, I’m usually either
working or socializing with friends – writers don’t get much free time!
Who is your favorite author?
There are a lot of them to choose from,
really – I’d say that Charles Bukowski, Graham Greene and Terry Pratchett are
three of my favourites, though.
What is your favorite book?
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman – that
whole series was incredible, but Northern Lights was the best and I could
re-read it again and again and again.
Who is your favorite character from a book?
That’s a difficult one! I quite like
complex characters, and so I think Snape was a great character because of that.
But my favourite of all time would probably be someone like Sam Vimes from
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels, because he’s awesome.
Who is your
favorite character from your own book(s)?
I’d probably go for Father Montgomery from No Rest
for the Wicked – he’s another complex character with an interesting past, and
so he was interesting to write about.
Read anything good lately?
I’m actually currently reading God Bless
You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut, and it’s fantastic. I’ve never read any
Vonnegut before and so far, I’m very impressed – looking forward to reading
more of his work!
Have you had anything else published?
I self-published a number of projects in
the past, but none of them are currently available. Some of them may be
reworked in the future, though.
What's your next project?
I’m working on a number of different
projects at the moment, but the next big one is Eyes Like Lighthouses When the
Boats Come Home, my collection of poetry. In fact, the cover reveal is due on
Friday (29th January), so keep your eyes peeled for that. I’m
excited about it!
Is there anything else you’d like to
add?
I think that’s about it – I’d just like
to say thanks for having me! J
No Rest For The Wicked
BLURB
When the Angels attack,
there’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED.
Father Montgomery, an
elderly priest with a secret past, begins to investigate after his parishioners
come under attack, and with the help of Jones, a young businessman with an
estranged child, Montgomery begins to track down the origin of the Angels.
The Angels are naked and
androgynous. They speak in a dreadful harmony with no clear leader. These
aren’t biblical cherubs tasked with the protection of the righteous – these are
deadly creatures of light that have the power to completely eradicate.
When Jones himself is
attacked, Father Montgomery knows he has to act fast. He speaks to the Angels
and organises a final showdown where he’s asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.
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