David M. Brown was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and first conceived the idea of the Elencheran Chronicles at college in 1999. He spent ten years compiling the history of Elenchera, resulting in 47,000+ years of events, 500+ maps, 2000+ pages, several short stories and many much-needed acquaintances with Jack Daniels. David also has a blog, The World According to Dave, which features reviews, stories and dramatic tales of the horrors of owning cats.

About Fezariu’s Epiphany

The White Oak, Clarendon’s oldest brothel, lured and destroyed men by the thousands. Fezariu was different. He had never been drawn by the White Oak’s vices but the brothel had still ruined him when he was just a boy.

Salvation came in the form of the Merelax Mercenaries – Elenchera’s most prestigious hired hands. They gave Fezariu the chance to escape from his past. Immersed in the world of dangerous assignments in the colonies Fezariu longed to forget everything about his childhood but only in facing the past would he ever be free of it.

Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, David. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

Great to be here. I self-published my debut novel, Fezariu’s Epiphany, in May 2011.

Q: When you were published for the first time, which route did you go – mainstream, small press, vanity published or self-published and why or how did you choose this route?

My wife, Donna, and I chose the self-publishing route for Fezariu’s Epiphany as we wanted full control of the book. Donna had already been instrumental in being an editor and critic for the novel so it became a natural transition for her to become my agent and promoter as well.

Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

The feeling of publication didn’t really hit me until I held my first printed copy of Fezariu’s Epiphany. That was a special moment for us both. We must have celebrated with wine and a takeaway, so no fancy restaurants for us, we’re more than happy with the little things that life has to offer.

Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

We opted for a book trailer which you can find on http://www.elenchera.com and on YouTube. I did wonder initially how effective a trailer could be for a book but was really pleased with how the one for Fezariu’s Epiphany came out.

Q: Since you’ve been published, how have you grown as a writer and now a published author?

I feel more confident in my ability to write and the positive feedback I’ve had back from readers has been wonderful for me. The world of Elenchera as a whole is meant to be something different and to have readers tell me that this is new to them but that they have also enjoyed it means a great deal to me.

Q: What has surprised or amazed you about the publishing industry as a whole?

Going down the self-publishing route I don’t think Donna and I realised just how much work is involved in getting a book to print and then promoting it too. I certainly couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my wife and I’m pleased that she’s branching out and helping many other writers realise their dreams just as she has done mine.

Q: What is the most rewarding thing about being a published author?

A good review means more to me than the amount of sales. It’s not just that readers have enjoyed Fezariu’s Epiphany it’s that some people have understood what it is I am trying to achieve with the Elencheran Chronicles. As a writer you can take your book only so far before you put your faith in it to touch the hearts and souls of readers. Not everyone has enjoyed the novel and that’s fine, I would never expect that, but the important thing is many people have praised the book and they’re looking forward to more. What could be more rewarding than a reader turning round and asking when is your next book out?

Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

While working on your novel why not have a regular blog? Not only does a blog keep your writing fresh and offer an alternative source of material, it’s a great way to connect with readers and writers alike, early promotion for yourself and your novel too. I would also tell writers to find themselves a trusted critic to help pinpoint the weaknesses in their writing. Donna has done wonders for me in locating areas she believes I need to improve on. It took six drafts to complete Fezariu’s Epiphany but it was worth every one.