Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your  age?

Hey, Fiona, very grateful to be here. I haven’t done author interviews in a while. My name is David Kummer. I actually just graduated high school, so I’m 18 for now. A little bit longer, at least.

Fiona: Where are you from?

I grew up in Madison, Indiana, and I’m going to college just a few miles away at Hanover. There’s a lot of cool things about the town, so come visit anytime you’re in Southern Indiana! That goes for anyone. Not just Fiona.

Fiona: A little about yourself (ie, your education, family life, etc.).

Like I said, I just graduated high school. I’m planning to become an English teacher after college. Also, I have a ton of siblings. I’ll let you guess how many. It’s more than 7. That takes up a lot of time, but I find ways to get the writing in. And the author interviews, of course.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

I just released my first book in almost a year. It’s called Home: A Dystopian Journey, and I wrote it right after my grandpa died and while I was getting through the last year of high school. It’s a bit… unconventional. And you probably won’t forget the ending anytime soon.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

I stared writing because I love to tell stories, basically. Since then, it’s become more important to me. Without writing, I probably wouldn’t be in a very good place, nor would I be as happy as I am. It can really be a pain sometimes, but writing has gotten me through a lot, personally and emotionally.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I guess I decided I was a writer just after my second book, She: A Horror Novel. That was the book that really felt like an author wrote it. I’ve redone it since then, fixed some glaring mistakes. I don’t like it as much as I did, but it does feel like that book introduced me into the writing community at large and made me a real author.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

Well, my hometown is a little creepy at night. I took some of the places that I found most interesting –street lamp outside my window, stone bridge downtown– and transformed those into the horror novel She, and the sequel She Watches. Those are the most normal books I’ve written, but even they have their twists and turns.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

I kind of went through a one-word title phase. I think Stephen King’s It is to blame. The book centers around a creepy old lady, so, naturally, I called the book She.

 

My most recent book, Home, is also a one-word title but for a different version. I wrote the book during a time of searching, and so are the characters. They’re trying to find Home, a location. I was searching for Home, an idea.

 Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

 Writing dark books, and very deep books, is super cool because I get to explore ideas and aspects of life that other genres don’t. On the other hand, I have a really hard time with endings. I hate giving a solid ending, because life almost never has them. At the same time, readers need closure. I’m still trying to balance that.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

 Home is special because I really took a lot of the events that I went through and turned them into a story. The book is dystopian, so you won’t find too many familiar places. But I think the emotions, feelings, and struggles of the characters are relatable to anybody who has stepped outside of their house in the last few years. It took a lot of work to plan and to write, but I’m pleased with the result, and especially with the undertone.

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

I don’t have to do very much travel, since most of the books are set in places similar to my hometown. I do occasionally go around on Google Earth to get a feel of other places. That’s actually a really cool tool for anybody to use. You see some weird stuff on there too.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

All of the covers were designed by me, with the exception of Until We Burn. Dark Wish Designs took care of that, and it’s absolutely incredible! Home is probably my favorite cover that I designed myself.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

 I think the message in Home is that you don’t always end up where you want to go, but sometimes that’s a good thing. All of us are going through some kind of wilderness journey. Most of the time, we all want to reach the end. But the end isn’t what’s important. It’s the middle, the memories, and the people we travel with.

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

New authors that I’m always impressed by are Jordon Greene, author of A Mark On My Soul, and Theresa Jacobs, who wrote Sudden Death and actually was interviewed by you not long ago! My favorite author of all time is Mark Edwards, but the best book I’ve ever read is The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. So there you go! Four new authors to check out.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

 My girlfriend has always been very supportive, and I have a group of around 8 people who buy every book that I publish. They really are the best. Even my sales dip (very low), it’s nice to know at least 8 people appreciate the work that I’m doing and the meaning behind it.

 Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

 Writing probably will never be my career, and I’m trying to come to grips with that fact. I’m focusing on making worthy pieces and meaningful art, rather than commercial success. That’s difficult, but I’m trying to get there.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Home is still new, so I don’t hate it yet, but I would probably wish that I had more time to put it together. I could have added a couple of chapters, and fleshed out the story more. I love how it is right now, but a few thousand words would’ve done some good.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

This recent book taught me a lot about myself and how important it is to remember small moments. Everything can fade away really quickly if you forget to hold on.

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Oh man. Tough question. The lead character is kind of quirky, sad, and slowly falling in love with a doomed girl. So… can I just say Harrison Ford? I know, I know. It doesn’t work. But he’s my favorite actor, and he’s the best actor. YOLO

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

I would say that it’s important to focus on the meaning behind your writing, and to make it something important to yourself. Most of all, keep writing!

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Leave reviews please 🙂 Authors really appreciate them, and I’ll usually give out freebies to people who have left reviews. I’m even hosting a giveaway right now for a 5-book box set!

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Currently, I’m reading two different books by Agatha Christie

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

My first vivid reading memory is of Harry Potter. I don’t know which book exactly.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

Simple, sweet moments are my favorite. They produce a kind of laugh/cry mixture from me.

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

I’d really like to meet a famous author and get their advice. Mark Edwards would be really cool. He’s so consistently awesome.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I play basketball a lot, and I just started an attempt at tennis. So we’ll see how that goes! I think I just miss Wii Sports, honestly.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

List real quick in no order: Chuck, The Office, Psych.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?

I’m on a mint crave right now. Also, Subway. I love dark gray and red colors, especially mixed. Music, I listen to tons of indie bands. Arcade Fire, The Killers, and twentyonepilots are the best three.

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

I probably listen to a ton of music, don’t sleep very much, and watch Planet of the Apes twice a week.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

I really hate this idea, because I’m always in fear of what would happen to my unfinished books. If I’m honest, I’d just spend the 24 hours with my loved ones, rewatching my favorite movies, and eating ice cream for the entire time.

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone?

“Sometimes, just listen.”

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

 Definitely! Check out https://davidkummer.com/  for all the latest giveaways, information, and releases. And absolutely subscribe to my newsletter. Those people get TONS of free stuff

Home– https://www.amazon.com/Home-Dystopian-David-Duane-Kummer-ebook/dp/B07VPMJXTR

Until We Burn– https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CXL1RSC

My Abigail– https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BCYKY8U

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