Author Interview With Dane Cobain

Dane Cobain is a writer, poet and musician from a place you've probably never heard of, somewhere in England. When he's not writing books, he's reading and reviewing them on his book blog - SocialBookshelves.com - or working at his day job in social media marketing. Find him at: 

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When the Angels attack, there’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED.
Father Montgomery, an elderly priest with a secret past, begins to investigate after his parishioners come under attack, and with the help of Jones, a young businessman with an estranged child, Montgomery begins to track down the origin of the Angels.
The Angels are naked and androgynous. They speak in a dreadful harmony with no clear leader. These aren’t biblical cherubs tasked with the protection of the righteous – these are deadly creatures of light that have the power to completely eradicate.
When Jones himself is attacked, Father Montgomery knows he has to act fast. He speaks to the Angels and organises a final showdown where he’s asked to make the ultimate sacrifice.

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Elizabeth: Hello.  Thanks for being with us today. 

Dane: Hey Elizabeth! Great to be here, and while we’re at it, thanks for stopping by my site as well! Let’s do this.

Elizabeth: The first thing I think your fans would like to know is what you’re currently working on.

Dane: Good question! I have three books coming out this year, and so I’m keeping pretty busy. All are written and in the editing stage, but it’s a question of prioritization. The first, a book of poetry called Eyes Like Lighthouses When the Boats Come Home, is currently in proofing and due out within the next couple of months, with the cover reveal scheduled for Friday 29th January. After that, Former.ly will be out – a sort of techno-thriller about a social networking start-up with a twist. Then, towards the end of the year, I’ll be releasing a non-fiction book called Social Paranoia, about how brands and consumers can stay safe in a connected world.

Elizabeth:  I’m sure we’re all anxious to get our hands on that.  How can we do that, and keep updated on your currently available musings or publications and future publications?

Dane: The best bet is probably to check out www.danecobain.com, or to follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Like most writers, I’m not exactly secretive when I have a new book out. If you follow me, you’ll know.

Elizabeth: Thank you.  Now I would like to be more specific.  Can you tell me your favorite character, and why they are your favorite?

Dane: It depends upon the book, but for No Rest for the Wicked it was Father Montgomery – he’s the father figure, quite literally, but he’s also human. In Former.ly, it’s probably Flick – again, because she has a hidden side to her personality.

Elizabeth: For those fans who are also writers, what advice can you give them for creating the most memorable stories?

Dane: Honestly, I’m still working on this – I think everyone is. I challenge you to read every Agatha Christie book and to remember each of the characters. I think getting a combination of quality and quantity is key – after that, you’re just hoping for a bit of luck, I guess.

Elizabeth: Since stories are about people, how can a writer create the most unforgettable characters, the ones you think about long after you put the book down?

Dane: I’m still working on this, too! I think that the very best characters just come alive, but sometimes it comes easier than others. Note my thoughts on Agatha Christie!

Elizabeth: Where do you get your story ideas? What inspires you?

Dane: They vary, really – that said, I’m usually inspired at a certain level by my own life, and the people that I know. The main idea behind No Rest for the Wicked came from a dream that I had, but Former.ly was more of a calculated effort to ‘write about what you know’. When I write poems, they just sort of fall out of my head.

Elizabeth: One final question.  What is your writing process? What are the usual steps you go through when writing a new piece?

Dane: Tough one to answer, because it’s changing at the moment – to be honest, it depends upon what I’m writing. But right now, I’ve been making notes about new stories on my cigarette breaks at work, five minutes at a time here and there. The idea is to plan some out so that I have a bank of stories planned out and ready to go so that I can dip in and out of them as and when I finish projects, but it’ll take a good six months to get to that stage and I’m not even convinced that it’s going to work!

Elizabeth: Thank you so much.  You have been very helpful to fellow writers and avid readers alike.  I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say it’s been a pleasure having you share your insights and work with us.  Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Dane: I think that’s about it, Elizabeth – thanks so much for having me! I run a book blog myself and so I really appreciate the support, as well as how much work you put into stuff like this – just formatting it takes forever! So thanks again for having me, and I hope you get a chance to check out No Rest for the Wicked!