Dave Wickenden's Blog, page 3
January 22, 2020
Pre-sale for Mad Dog
Mad Dog is available for preorder NOW and ONLY at https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thri.... Publication date is July 30, 2020. If you preorder before that date and use promo code: PREORDER2019 you’ll receive a 15% discount.
December 15, 2019
Book challenge
I've met my book challenge of 50 books but am unable to show on Goodreads because a bulk of the reads were manuscript evaluations as an editorial intern for a publisher. Oh well, I know how many I've read.
October 28, 2019
Deadly Harvest Presale
Deadly Harvest
Canadian vigilante, Laura Amour takes her crusade against child exportation to France to take on an international human trafficking organization. What she exposes goes far beyond anything she has ever expected to deal with. Against her is a powerful statesman with vast resources and one of the world's most active anti-terrorist police forces. She must partner up with a rogue anti-terrorist police officer and a teen prostitute or thousands might die.
Release date: November 16, 2019
Canadian vigilante, Laura Amour takes her crusade against child exportation to France to take on an international human trafficking organization. What she exposes goes far beyond anything she has ever expected to deal with. Against her is a powerful statesman with vast resources and one of the world's most active anti-terrorist police forces. She must partner up with a rogue anti-terrorist police officer and a teen prostitute or thousands might die.
Release date: November 16, 2019
March 24, 2018
First Author Interview with Fiona Mcvie
https://wp.me/p3uv2y-7NR
Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?
Hi, I’m Dave Wickenden and I am 56 yrs old.
Fiona: Where are you from?
I hail from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Fiona: A little about your self (ie, your education, family life, etc.).
I’m a retired Deputy Fire Chief with 31 years of service. I am married with three sons and three grandsons (we don’t do the girl thing) Love camping, reading, writing
Fiona: Tell us your latest news.
My debut novel, In Defense of Innocence is being released by Crave Press on April 16/18.
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
I’ve tried a few times over the years but life kept getting in the way. In 2014 during a summer vacation I began writing this story and enjoyed the process so much that I decided to take an early retirement to write full time.
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Once I completed my first novel
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
The story deals with a vigilante that hunts child abusers and the cop assigned to catch the killer. I have long been disturbed at the ever growing numbers of children being abused and the weak punishments being handed out in Canada, so the story grew from there.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
Children are innocence but are unable to defend themselves and this anti-hero does just that.
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?
In this story, I used both first person so the reader gets a glimpse into the mind of the vigilante and third person for the rest of the story.
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I did a lot of research into police tactics when it came to catching child abusers worldwide. I tried to make it as realistic as possible, especially how people react both physically and emotionally. There were a couple of scenes where I admit I cried like a baby when writing as I put myself into the character’s place.
Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?
No. I am a home body. I have my writing room at home or a picnic table in the shade at camp.
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
I was fortunate that the people at Crave Press allowed me to design my cover, both this one as well as the one for my next release, Homegrown which comes out in June 2018.
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Although just a thriller story, I think that I ask people to reflect on how precious children are and that we at a grassroots level must force governments to treat this type a crime with the gravity it requires. There are more victims in this type of crime than just the child. There is the family, the first responders and the mental health officials that have to pick up the pieces.
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?
A new author for me is John Hart. I just read The Last Child and fell in love with his writing. Baldacci and Ludlum are right up there as well in the thriller genre. I also love Bernard Cornwell and James Clavell and a new historical author K.M. Pohlkamp.
Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.
Big support from the members of the Sudbury Writers Guild which I am a member.
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
I’ve been writing full time since retirement.
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Not really. I had to rewrite the book completely four times as I learnt the trade of creative writing. My previous experience was technical, report and business plans for municipal government. I went to school to learn how to write these types of documents. I have no formal training in creative writing so had to learn on the fly. I received a ton of knowledge from the writers of Scribophile (on-line critique forum)
Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?
I learned the publishing process, which is exciting and now I’m learning about marketing.
Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
I think Zooey Deschanel would do a great job as Janice Williams.
Fiona: Any advice for other writers?
Never give up! There are some very dark, depressing times. Push through them. You could be one story away from publication.
Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Always set some time away from the technology (except e-readers) to pick up a book and lose the stress of your day.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
Reading ARC titled GunZ Book two in the Dark Elf War by fellow Canadian, William Stacey
Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
The Pony Express at 8 years old
Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?
Laugh – Mrs. Brown’s Boys
Cry – you guessed it – children being hurt
Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?
After devouring Margret George’s Rome series, I think meeting Caesar would be right up there. The man was so far ahead of his time it would be a most interesting conversation.
Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?
I use to have a custom art business and did portraits through the media of pyrography – highly detailed wood burning. My biggest accomplishment was a portrait of the Canadian Prime Minster, the Honourable Jean Chretien which was burnt on paper and is displayed at the Governor General’s mansion in Ottawa.
Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Got my wife addicted to Daredevil and Iron Fist on Netflix.
Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?
My wife is Italian so anything with pasta especially her lasagne, BBQ lobster
Green
Hard Rock – Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Rush
Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?
Read
Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone?
He did what others said was impossible.
Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?
Website http://davewickenden.wixsite.com/dave...
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/davewic...
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Twitter @DaveWickenden
Facebook @WickendenDave
Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?
Hi, I’m Dave Wickenden and I am 56 yrs old.
Fiona: Where are you from?
I hail from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Fiona: A little about your self (ie, your education, family life, etc.).
I’m a retired Deputy Fire Chief with 31 years of service. I am married with three sons and three grandsons (we don’t do the girl thing) Love camping, reading, writing
Fiona: Tell us your latest news.
My debut novel, In Defense of Innocence is being released by Crave Press on April 16/18.
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
I’ve tried a few times over the years but life kept getting in the way. In 2014 during a summer vacation I began writing this story and enjoyed the process so much that I decided to take an early retirement to write full time.
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Once I completed my first novel
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
The story deals with a vigilante that hunts child abusers and the cop assigned to catch the killer. I have long been disturbed at the ever growing numbers of children being abused and the weak punishments being handed out in Canada, so the story grew from there.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
Children are innocence but are unable to defend themselves and this anti-hero does just that.
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?
In this story, I used both first person so the reader gets a glimpse into the mind of the vigilante and third person for the rest of the story.
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I did a lot of research into police tactics when it came to catching child abusers worldwide. I tried to make it as realistic as possible, especially how people react both physically and emotionally. There were a couple of scenes where I admit I cried like a baby when writing as I put myself into the character’s place.
Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?
No. I am a home body. I have my writing room at home or a picnic table in the shade at camp.
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
I was fortunate that the people at Crave Press allowed me to design my cover, both this one as well as the one for my next release, Homegrown which comes out in June 2018.
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Although just a thriller story, I think that I ask people to reflect on how precious children are and that we at a grassroots level must force governments to treat this type a crime with the gravity it requires. There are more victims in this type of crime than just the child. There is the family, the first responders and the mental health officials that have to pick up the pieces.
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?
A new author for me is John Hart. I just read The Last Child and fell in love with his writing. Baldacci and Ludlum are right up there as well in the thriller genre. I also love Bernard Cornwell and James Clavell and a new historical author K.M. Pohlkamp.
Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.
Big support from the members of the Sudbury Writers Guild which I am a member.
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
I’ve been writing full time since retirement.
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Not really. I had to rewrite the book completely four times as I learnt the trade of creative writing. My previous experience was technical, report and business plans for municipal government. I went to school to learn how to write these types of documents. I have no formal training in creative writing so had to learn on the fly. I received a ton of knowledge from the writers of Scribophile (on-line critique forum)
Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?
I learned the publishing process, which is exciting and now I’m learning about marketing.
Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
I think Zooey Deschanel would do a great job as Janice Williams.
Fiona: Any advice for other writers?
Never give up! There are some very dark, depressing times. Push through them. You could be one story away from publication.
Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Always set some time away from the technology (except e-readers) to pick up a book and lose the stress of your day.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
Reading ARC titled GunZ Book two in the Dark Elf War by fellow Canadian, William Stacey
Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
The Pony Express at 8 years old
Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?
Laugh – Mrs. Brown’s Boys
Cry – you guessed it – children being hurt
Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?
After devouring Margret George’s Rome series, I think meeting Caesar would be right up there. The man was so far ahead of his time it would be a most interesting conversation.
Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?
I use to have a custom art business and did portraits through the media of pyrography – highly detailed wood burning. My biggest accomplishment was a portrait of the Canadian Prime Minster, the Honourable Jean Chretien which was burnt on paper and is displayed at the Governor General’s mansion in Ottawa.
Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Got my wife addicted to Daredevil and Iron Fist on Netflix.
Fiona: Favorite foods, colors, music?
My wife is Italian so anything with pasta especially her lasagne, BBQ lobster
Green
Hard Rock – Shinedown, Five Finger Death Punch, Rush
Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?
Read
Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone?
He did what others said was impossible.
Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?
Website http://davewickenden.wixsite.com/dave...
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/davewic...
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Twitter @DaveWickenden
Facebook @WickendenDave
