David H. Burton, author of six books, says fantasy and science fiction are his greatest vices. His most popular novel, Broken, a self-published title, is a paranormal romance about a woman who realizes three days before her twenty-fourth birthday that she may be living under a faery curse in which the eldest child in each generation will die in their twenty-fifth year. She has just three days to determine if this and the arrival of two great and competing loves are truth or mere imagination.
Recently, we sat down with David to get the inside look into this self-published author’s Writing Life.
Kobo: When did you first discover a love for writing?
DHB: I discovered my love of writing as a child. I loved writing and telling stories. I just never really thought to pursue it after high school. It wasn’t until about ten years ago that I decided to write again, and to try to take it to another level.
Kobo: Why do you write?
DHB: I don’t know why I write. I can only say that I must. It’s a part of me. Call it therapeutic, call it a hobby, call it what you like, but it’s very much a part of who I am. And I write because I have to.
Kobo: What was the first book/story you ever wrote?
DHB: As a child, I wrote a murder mystery in a school competition. A friend of mine edited my book and I edited hers. We both won!
Kobo: What was your inspiration for Broken?
DHB: Broken is a paranormal romance that started off as a strange phenomenon in my family history. My great-grandfather died in WWI at the age of 24. He was a lead stoker in the Royal Navy and left behind a pregnant widow. My grandfather died in WWII. He, too, was 24 when he died, and was also a lead stoker in the Royal Navy. And just like my great-grandfather, he left behind a pregnant widow. She was pregnant with my father. My imagination got carried away and Broken: A Paranormal Romance was born.
Kobo: How would you summarize your book in one sentence?
DHB: Three days, two men, and a faery curse.
Kobo: How many drafts do you go through?
DHB: I stop counting at two!
Kobo: What was the best piece of advice you ever received as a writer?
DHB: Two things: First, this is a business. If you’re going to publish, treat it as such. Be professional and package your book accordingly. Second, this is a subjective business – there will be readers that will hate your work. It’s fine. We all don’t love the same books. And there will be readers that gush over your work. Don’t take any of it personally because it’s not.
Kobo: How important are beta readers to a self-published author?
DHB: Extremely!!! I have beta readers that each catch completely different errors. I can’t say enough wonderful things about my lovely beta readers!!
Kobo: What is one writer’s resource that you can’t live without?
DHB: Self-Editing For Fiction Writers by Browne and King – this is a must for every writer.
Check out all of David’s books at Kobo today!
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