Firstly a very Happy New Year to each and everyone of you. I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas with all your family and loved ones. Mine was awesome, my lovely family all bought me writing related gifts to make me feel that little more professional lol.
We start the new year with one of our featured monthly Blogs, the Writer Of The Month.
I'm very pleased to be kickstarting this series off with writer and designer, David.C.Cassidy. I first met David on Twitter and have thoroughly enjoyed our online Tweets. On a professional level, David will be designing the covers for my short stories, Silicone Kisses and The Little Man On Top Of The Wardrobe, he'll also be designing the short story collection's cover.
So without further ado, grab a cuppa, pull up your chair and meet David.C.Cassidy....
Who is David C. Cassidy?
David C. Cassidy is the twisted mind behind several horror and thriller novels, The Dark, Velvet Rain, and Fosgate’s Game. An author, photographer, and graphic designer—and a half-decent juggler—he spends his writing life creating dark and touching stories where Bad Things Happen To Good People. Raised by wolves, he grew up with a love of nature, music, science, and history, with thrillers and horror novels feeding the dark side of his seriously disturbed imagination. He talks to his characters, talks often, and most times they listen. But the real fun starts when they tell him to take a hike, and they Open That Door anyway. Idiots.
David lives in Ontario, Canada. From Mozart to Vivaldi, classic jazz to classic rock, he feels naked without his iPod. Suffering from MAD—Multiple Activity Disorder—he divides his time between writing and blogging, photography and Photoshop, reading and rollerblading. An avid amateur astronomer, he loves the night sky, chasing the stars with his telescope. Sometimes he eats.
When I’m writing, I see characters and scenes in my head. My writing is an extension of what I see. A lot of readers have told me that reading my books is like watching a movie. I like to immerse the reader in the worlds I create. I need them to feel the pain and the joy that my characters feel. If one of my characters is getting rammed by an eighteen-wheeler, so is my reader.
My photographic style is similar—I try to capture the essence of the subject. I have to climb inside the subject and create an image that makes the viewer see and feel what I do.
In graphic design, the goal is the same: It’s all about impact. If I’m creating a book cover for another author, I want their readers to go “WOW” when they see it. The imagery has to tell a story. I like to create covers that would look great as a movie poster.
Your writing has been compared to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Clive Barker. Which of these authors, if any, had the most influence?
It’s a tie, actually, between King and Barker. King is the sublime storyteller; Barker the wordsmith. I like to say that King taught me how to lie my ass off and make them believe. Barker taught me how to imagine—and then to imagine more. I often feel like I'm a blend of these writers. I'm always pushing myself on every page and every chapter. I strive to tell a great story that is written equally well.
Velvet Rain is akin to King’s The Green Mile. While the stories are utterly different, the spirit of the books is very similar. You have these heroic, tragic characters that want nothing more than to be just like the rest of us, but know in their hearts that they’ll never be free of their curse.
Fosgate’s Game is your classic Hitchcock tale, complete with a dark and stormy knight. (Pun intended—chess is key to this old-time ghost story.)
THE DARK
IT KNOWS WHAT YOU WANT. IT KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED.
In denial over his father’s death in a horrific accident, Kelan Lisk has grown fearful and withdrawn. For this meek and bullied child, a burning desire to tame a deadly sledding hill consumes him, drawing him inside a wondrous place where anything is possible … including his father. But as this strange new realm spills into this one, twisting an innocent little boy into an agent of evil, the world is forever changed, devoured by an even greater evil–the Dark.
The complete print version cover of David's latest chiller, The Dark.
VELVET RAIN
HE WAS BORN A MIRACLE. IT WILL TAKE ONE TO SAVE THE WORLD.
Kain Richards is the last of his kind–and a man on the run. So when this mysterious drifter falls for a beautiful and sensible Iowa farmwoman, he knows full well the perils of getting too close. And yet, for the first time in his miserable existence, life feels normal … feels real. But as those around him soon realize, reality is not what it seems. For when a tragic accident forces Kain’s hand, his astonishing secret–and godlike power–changes their lives, and the world, forever.
KINGS OF INDUSTRY. PAWNS OF FATE. LET THE GAME BEGIN.
For Chadwick Harlow, a peaceful, easy-going Englishman, after-dinner drinks with his business partner–a ruthless, hard-edged hunter–is a weekly affair. But when casual conversation takes a mysterious and menacing turn into the supernatural, his wits are put to the test in a deadly challenge. Clinging to life but praying for death, Chadwick must summon the will to survive, before all is lost in a terrifying descent into madness.
David lives in Ontario, Canada. From Mozart to Vivaldi, classic jazz to classic rock, he feels naked without his iPod. Suffering from MAD—Multiple Activity Disorder—he divides his time between writing and blogging, photography and Photoshop, reading and rollerblading. An avid amateur astronomer, he loves the night sky, chasing the stars with his telescope. Sometimes he eats.
Q&A With David.
You're an author, desiner and a photographer?
I’m very visual. For me, words and images are one and the same. They speak the same language, convey the same thing. We all know how words can hurt; how they can inspire. Images can do the same.When I’m writing, I see characters and scenes in my head. My writing is an extension of what I see. A lot of readers have told me that reading my books is like watching a movie. I like to immerse the reader in the worlds I create. I need them to feel the pain and the joy that my characters feel. If one of my characters is getting rammed by an eighteen-wheeler, so is my reader.
My photographic style is similar—I try to capture the essence of the subject. I have to climb inside the subject and create an image that makes the viewer see and feel what I do.
In graphic design, the goal is the same: It’s all about impact. If I’m creating a book cover for another author, I want their readers to go “WOW” when they see it. The imagery has to tell a story. I like to create covers that would look great as a movie poster.
You’re a juggler?
I juggle a lot of things. Balls. Time. Staplers. They hate me in the produce section.Your writing has been compared to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Clive Barker. Which of these authors, if any, had the most influence?
It’s a tie, actually, between King and Barker. King is the sublime storyteller; Barker the wordsmith. I like to say that King taught me how to lie my ass off and make them believe. Barker taught me how to imagine—and then to imagine more. I often feel like I'm a blend of these writers. I'm always pushing myself on every page and every chapter. I strive to tell a great story that is written equally well.
You write really scarey stuff. Any thoughts on that?
One man’s terror is one man’s thrill. Let’s face it: People love to be scared. But for me, it’s not nearly enough to scare people. My stories are about people. Their hopes and their dreams … and the stuff that scares the shit out of them. I’m not a plot-driven writer. My books are deeply rooted in the characters. If I don’t care about the characters, readers won’t, either.What other bodies of work would you compare your stories to?
The Dark is very much a grand horror story, not unlike Clive Barker’s The Thief of Always—but certainly much deeper and not for the YA reader. You’ve got this bullied little boy who learns that for all he desires, there is always a price … and the currency is in suffering and sacrifice.Velvet Rain is akin to King’s The Green Mile. While the stories are utterly different, the spirit of the books is very similar. You have these heroic, tragic characters that want nothing more than to be just like the rest of us, but know in their hearts that they’ll never be free of their curse.
Fosgate’s Game is your classic Hitchcock tale, complete with a dark and stormy knight. (Pun intended—chess is key to this old-time ghost story.)
Describe Yourself.
I’m like a bowl of Smarties that got dumped on the floor. I’m all over the map. My brain is constantly running at full throttle, which is probably why my interests are no less scattered. I love writing and photography and design—they move me in different, yet similar ways—but then there’s art, science, history, sports, and music. It’s all music, it really is.You do graphic design work for other authors—tell us what you offer.
I work very closely with authors to create book covers that rock. Every cover I do is an adventure—and a partnership. We’re in this together. I want the author to be blown away by the work.
I also produce stunning print book covers. I’ve got a ton of experience in Photoshop and printing, of course, and that allows me to create works that rival anything from a traditional publishing house.
I create beautiful eBooks, and also format the interiors of print books—the inside of a book should look every bit as good as the cover. Also, I am often hired to write taglines and book blurbs for authors. I write tags and blurbs that snap and catch a reader’s attention.
Lastly, I also create snappy social media graphics for Facebook and Twitter, blog posts, ads, even bookmarks and logos.
David's cover for Dana Griffin's book, CalamityI also produce stunning print book covers. I’ve got a ton of experience in Photoshop and printing, of course, and that allows me to create works that rival anything from a traditional publishing house.
I create beautiful eBooks, and also format the interiors of print books—the inside of a book should look every bit as good as the cover. Also, I am often hired to write taglines and book blurbs for authors. I write tags and blurbs that snap and catch a reader’s attention.
Lastly, I also create snappy social media graphics for Facebook and Twitter, blog posts, ads, even bookmarks and logos.
THE DARK
IT KNOWS WHAT YOU WANT. IT KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED.
In denial over his father’s death in a horrific accident, Kelan Lisk has grown fearful and withdrawn. For this meek and bullied child, a burning desire to tame a deadly sledding hill consumes him, drawing him inside a wondrous place where anything is possible … including his father. But as this strange new realm spills into this one, twisting an innocent little boy into an agent of evil, the world is forever changed, devoured by an even greater evil–the Dark.
The complete print version cover of David's latest chiller, The Dark.
VELVET RAIN
HE WAS BORN A MIRACLE. IT WILL TAKE ONE TO SAVE THE WORLD.
Kain Richards is the last of his kind–and a man on the run. So when this mysterious drifter falls for a beautiful and sensible Iowa farmwoman, he knows full well the perils of getting too close. And yet, for the first time in his miserable existence, life feels normal … feels real. But as those around him soon realize, reality is not what it seems. For when a tragic accident forces Kain’s hand, his astonishing secret–and godlike power–changes their lives, and the world, forever.
FOSGATE’S GAME
KINGS OF INDUSTRY. PAWNS OF FATE. LET THE GAME BEGIN.
For Chadwick Harlow, a peaceful, easy-going Englishman, after-dinner drinks with his business partner–a ruthless, hard-edged hunter–is a weekly affair. But when casual conversation takes a mysterious and menacing turn into the supernatural, his wits are put to the test in a deadly challenge. Clinging to life but praying for death, Chadwick must summon the will to survive, before all is lost in a terrifying descent into madness.
Where can readers and authors find you?
Email: davidccassidy@yahoo.ca
Website: www.davidccassidy.com
Sample ebook covers: http://davidccassidy.com/graphic-designer/ebook-covers/
Sample print book covers: http://davidccassidy.com/graphic-designer/print-book-covers/
Facebook (as author): https://www.facebook.com/DavidCCassidyAuthor
Facebook (as photographer): https://www.facebook.com/DavidCCassidyPhotography
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidCCassidy
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/DavidCCassidyGOODREADS
I'd like to say a big "thank you" to David for taking time out from his busy schedule to speak with me here at The Writers Emporium.
David is a friendly and approachable type of guy and if you have any questions or comments for him, please feel free to leave a comment.
David is a friendly and approachable type of guy and if you have any questions or comments for him, please feel free to leave a comment.
