Complementing my blog interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the one hundred and ninety-fifth, is of multi-genre David Kendrick.
Dave Kendrick lives in Bournemouth and works full time in Poole as a Technical Author. He has an Honours Degree in English Literature and is currently studying part-time for an MA in Creative Writing with Manchester Metropolitan University. When he isn’t writing Dave enjoys travelling, camping, surfing and the great outdoors. This inspires and provides the fuel for the fire of his writing.
David has been writing fiction for thirteen years and has had short stories, flash fiction, letters, articles and poetry published in national magazines. His first (as yet unpublished) novel titled ‘Unleashed’ was short listed for the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook novel competition in 2007. His second novel ‘Reef’ was published in e-book and paperback formats last summer and is available on Amazon. He was also recently interviewed on BBC Radio Solent about ‘Reef’ and his current writing projects. He is halfway through his third novel ‘Deep’ to be completed by the end of 2014.
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And now from the author himself:
I write what I like to read. I like to be taken on a journey to somewhere, with characters I care about and I like to learn something along the way. When I read a novel it is always a good character that remains with me long after I have finished. This was what I had in mind when I wrote ‘Reef’. I was fascinated by the culture of the Maoris and how in tune they were with their environment. This is true also of surfers and the sea.
I have lived in Boscombe for 10 years and surfed there for 25 years and have observed the reef development since the early days. I wrote about the changing face of Boscombe in my prequel novel ‘Unleashed’ in the year 2000 when the reef or marina discussions were just beginning. So this idea has been bubbling away since then. I think everyone was hopeful that the surf reef would be a good thing. I knew that the firm they were looking to employ had also designed and built the New Zealand Reef. In 1995 I travelled and surfed all over New Zealand and I spent some time with friends in Tauranga where the reef was built. I fell in love with the Country and in particular with the Maori culture and traditions.
The old adage is to write what you know. I know about surfing, I knew the two settings of Boscombe & New Zealand and I had experienced the culture of the Maoris. So I thought I was well placed to write a novel that combined all of those elements.
Essentially, ‘Reef’ is an eco-adventure set in New Zealand 2006. It follows the lives of four very different people and what happens when an artificial surf reef is installed in Tauranga’s sacred Maori fishing waters.
The theme of ‘Reef’ was influenced by reading about the Waitangi treaty which fooled the Maori’s into giving away land. I suppose having travelled widely and seen indigenous people having their land taken and their culture diluted, I could identify with their plight. The loss of identity is something that I care about.
I brand ‘Reef’ as an eco-adventure, and it seems to appeal to a wide readership, both male and female and from 18 year olds to pensioners. I think there is something in there for everyone. Relationships, surfing, culture, environment and most importantly characters that you care about.
I am an avid reader and am definitely inspired by reading. I think ‘The Beach’ by Alex Garland would be pretty close to my writing in terms of the adventure element. For the plot and travel and surfing maybe ‘The Dogs of Winter by Kem Nunn. For the environmental elements perhaps ‘The Highest Tide’ by Jim Lynch. Readers of Tim Winton novels might well find something to like about my work because of the soul of surfing and being in touch with the elements.
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You can find more about David and his writing by visiting Facebook on http://www.facebook.com/DavidKendrickauthor.
His latest novel, ‘Reef’ is available in e-book and paperback formats:
- on Amazon.co.uk via http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=david+kendrick+reef
- on Amazon.com via http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=reef+david+kendrick
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