Please welcome Nick Lloyd-Davies to my blog. Hello Nick, Shall we have a chat today?
1. Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post.
Hi everybody. I’m Nick Lloyd-Davies and I’m a self-published author of several children’s books. I live in the West Sussex countryside in England with my wife and son – my daughter away at University (which I still can’t cope with!).
2. Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?
I remember being at primary school, aged 7, wanting to write in my lunch hour, somewhat in competition with a friend of mine. We also competed with reading too! I think it was more about ‘who wrote the most pages’ rather than anything else, but clearly it was something we both enjoyed.
I didn’t pick up writing fiction again until I was doing jury service in my early 40s, sitting around waiting for a case. I had by then become a dad and was telling made-up stories most nights to my kids – they loved them, often more so than the other books that had been read a million times. It was being a dad that got my imagination flowing again and, when jury service came along I started to put these stories to paper.
3. How difficult was it writing your first book?
I didn’t find it particularly difficult to write (it just flowed out), but then I had little in the way of training as an author and it was full of many flaws, which I only came to see later on. Nevertheless, it was a sweet kids’ book about bullying and being my first – and only five thousand words – I am still proud of it.
4. Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?
Never. If anything, I have only ever wanted to write full time but my day job and the reality of paying the bills means that that remains a dream. On many occasions, like most authors (unless on a trad contract with deadlines!), I go through drought periods. As a self-published author (with little in the way of financial gain through sales), you need that internal fire – plus free time and good health – to come together in tandem and this has been a rarity for me recently.
5. Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?
Firstly, I would say myself, but secondly (and more significantly) my Twitter/X writing community. It’s wonderful how authors will support authors (especially in the world of self-publishing) and how social media can, in this instance, be a very positive resource.
6. Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
I would firstly say thank you, from the depths of my heart, for giving my books a go. If you are pondering, I would really urge you to give them a go, as I do believe they are a great read, full of silliness, adventure, imaginary worlds and important messages for children (eg around climate change, ocean pollution). Our readers are everything, especially if they can provide a glowing review!
7. What is the best advice given to you (book or otherwise), and by whom?
The best advice I have had has been from a tremendous children’s author, Bryony Pearce (@bryonypearce on X/Twitter). She taught me so much about ‘show not tell’, passive voice and world-building. With this crucial knowledge, I’ve been able to write with much more confidence and self-criticism.
The other source of advice I would say is simply through reading – some very influential authors, for their descriptive skill are Daphne du Maurier, Hardy, Margaret Atwood and Catherine McCarthy (@serialsemantic on X/Twitter). Each of these authors manage to bring every scene to life, immersing you in their world. And as for children’s books, I especially love Ali Sparkes, Lewis Carroll and the great Roald Dahl.
8. What is your target audience and what aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?
I have a series of books aimed at 6-9 year olds (the Glowstone Adventures, a series of five) which have animals as the lead characters, but led by a determined twelve-year-old girl, wanting to make a positive difference to the world and its innocent creatures. These books tend to have a subtle message, about the environment, or behaviours (eg. vanity, bullying, bad manners!).
My other books are middle grade/teen novels and are unapologetic adventures filled with imaginary worlds, dastardly villains, Sci-Fi, dystopian backdrop and lashings of hope! Always (well, maybe not always!) with a happy ending or a hint of a sequel.
9. Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?
I tend to have an early idea of what I want for my cover, but to date I have worked with illustrators, and one particular part-time illustrator, Nay Wilson (@0ysterchild on X/Twitter) , to produce these. My earlier books were vanity-published and that’s another story…!
10. What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt?
I am working on a new teen/YA novel, set on Mars in the year 2046. A new Mars colony is under threat of destruction – and only eleven-year-old Kasper has cottoned on to this and the conspirator involved. Will anyone believe him before it is too late? Is the conspirator right to try and focus human effort to saving Earth, rather than reaching for new homes? Is there life on Mars – and will it make an appearance? Here is an excerpt – I hope you like it!
FOUR-THREE-TWO-ONE-LAUNCH PML-EIGHTEEN!
As my whole body was thrust back into the seat, I forgot everything we were taught about controlled breathing and just held my breath. For how long I had no idea, but it was unbelievable force. Before I knew it, I felt the module heating up as we began punching through the Martian atmosphere. I started to breathe again and found myself just transfixed at the yellow glow splaying out from the heat shield. The module was shaking vigorously now, non-stop, my teeth chatting involuntarily.
Don’t bite your tongue. Just don’t bite your tongue. Deep breaths. I talked to myself in my head trying to manage the million sensations going through me. Fascination. Fear. A compulsion to laugh out of sheer terror. Excitement that the journey was nearly ending and no holes found yet!
The burning glow outside was fading.
Parachute deploy T-minus ten seconds.
As it opened we were all thrust forward, straining our harnesses to their limit. Now I felt sick and beads of sweat cooling on my forehead. The module was shuddering and another jolt came as the parachutes opened fully.
Heat-shield jettison! T-minus twenty seconds.
Surface lock-on confirmed.
Dad looked to me and winked. Mum was just staring in abject terror.
TRN confirmed.
Descent rocket start-up. T-minus ten seconds.
I held my breath now. I could see the landing point really clearly now and a defined landing pad marked PM18. Martian dust was now swirling everywhere, starting to blur any view in all directions. I couldn’t see the ground anymore. I had to trust that this thing would land safely.
And then it happened. Touchdown. I could feel that reassuring jolt as the module landed. We were no longer floating in space – we were on land, actual land. Martian land. I released my breath as the dust began to settle outside and I could see shapes and movement through the windows.
‘Welcome to Phoenix Four, Mars,’ announced Control.
‘Woo-hooooo!’ screamed Dad. ‘We’ve done it! We’re on Mars!’
‘Thank God for that!’ replied Mum, a huge smile of relief on her face.
11. Any last words before we wrap things up?
Just to ask all agents and readers, on behalf of all self-published authors – give us a go, give us a chance! You will find something special! And thank you to wonderful supportive people like you, Mary, thank you, thank you!
BIO
Nick has self-published 7 children’s books to date:
– Katie Helps a Giraffe Scared of Heights
– Katie Helps a Lizard in a Blizzard
– Katie Helps a Bear with Bad Hair
– The Boy Who Saved Time
– Katie Helps a Turtle with Tummy Ache (including a foreword from TV Presenter Julia Bradbury)
– Katie Helps at Seal Sports Day (including a forewords from an IPCC Lead Author, Greta Pecl);
and more recently
-The Neptune Girl
Now he is developing his writing, with new titles aimed at the mid-grade and Teen genres. Titles including Tommy’s Escape from Amelion and his current work in progress – Kasper and the Mars Conspiracy! These are fast-paced adventures with kids leading the way.
Nick is passionate about giving children alternatives to the world of WiFi, passionate also about protecting our precious planet, climate change issues featuring frequently in his books, including The Neptune Girl and Katie Helps at Seal Sports Day!
Nick’s idea of excitement is more likely to come from buying fresh tomatoes in a paper bag or doing some DIY, but otherwise writing from his home in the countryside of West Sussex.
Oh, and he would quite like to travel to Mars if he gets the chance. If this isn’t possible, then writing about it must surely be the next best thing!
Check out more at – www.nicklloyddavies.com
When Angels Fly 