Amazon Author Interview

David Stokes

The Singing Bowl (Book 1: The Warming Worlds Series)

Congratulations, David! Your book’s available to buy on the Amazon bookstore. How did you feel to see it there for the first time?

Terrific. Just like seeing one of my own children born, although not quite as messy.

Can you tell us about your book and why you wanted to write it?

It has an overarching theme of climate change and I wanted to launch it during COP 26 to support its objectives. With Michelle’s help I managed to do that! All profits will be donated to local charities that aim to reduce carbon emissions. So, I hope it sells well and helps save the planet – which is what the heroes of the story set out to do (only on a different planet).

I hope so too. Have you always been a writer / wanted to become an author?

I have always loved to write and wrote a lot in my day job as a uni professor. But professors are supposed to seek after the truth so I couldn’t make things up and always wrote non-fiction. Until recently when I wrote a couple of historical novels and really enjoyed writing a mixture of evidence-based story and my own invention. The Singing Bowl was inspired by
wanting to say something about today’s world rather than the past.

What made you take that leap and publish your book?

It takes a long time to write a book – especially a half good one! Although I enjoy the writing process, I judge myself as an author on readers’ comments. Hence the need to publish.

I see. Have you any more book plans in the pipeline?

Yes too many! One is a finished manuscript on the life of King Alfred’s daughter, Æthelflæd. The next one will be back to the Warming Worlds – book 2.

That’s amazing. I can’t wait to find out more. What advice would you offer other aspiring authors who are thinking of self-publishing?

Self-publish is a slight misnomer as it is difficult to do all the publishing and marketing AND find time to write. So my advice is to get help to not only improve your writing but also find your way around the processes of self-publishing.

All the best with your book, David. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

You can buy a copy of The Singing Bowl here:

ABOUT THE BOOK

Climate change is wreaking havoc on Thera, a sister planet to Earth.

A novice monk from Thera mistakes two teenagers for climate experts at a protest in London, and assumes they are the chosen ones from the prophecy he has been selected to fulfil. He takes them to his planet to solve the greatest problem of our time – global warming.

To succeed, these unlikely heroes must survive floods and wildfires, unite warring factions of prehistoric creatures, and overcome their own darkest demons.

Can our brave warriors secure this world’s future? Or has time finally run out?

Find out in this breathtaking environmental adventure that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

Use the ‘look inside’ feature to sample the opening pages of this timely work of young adult fantasy fiction.

***Profits from the sale of this book will be donated to organisations working to reduce carbon emissions, particularly Zero Carbon Guildford, a community-led charity in the author’s home town that has the objective of helping the borough reach carbon neutrality by 2030.***

Praise for The Singing Bowl …
“A triumph of fact and fantasy that focuses on the most important issue we have ever faced.”
“A gripping story with a powerful message.”
“A wonderful blend of characters, realms, and settings.”

VISIT WWW.DAVIDSTOKESAUTHOR.COM for more information about David’s books.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK (FROM AMAZON)

I was given a copy by the author to review and pass on to a young person who might then, in turn, share their thoughts. It is refreshing to find a children’s book with an original theme among the plethora of formulaic fantasy titles that abound today. (Boy and girl attract the attentions of a villain(ess) while seeking lost family member.) In this book the brave duo, Japan and Garda, have a much bigger problem to solve: climate change on another planet, Thera. Thera provides us with a mirror image of Earth but with an alternative counter factual history. Dinosaurs are not extinct but are more highly ‘evolved’ in intelligence terms and their cold bloodedness drives the need for excessive consumption of coal. Dinosaurs drive steam locomotives, ranch meat (farting sauropods) and wage war. This book isn’t about exploring the human condition, it is about the condition of our planet and the author explains this well.

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Lost myself in this powerful climate story recently and found a stimulating parallel world where our current predicament has played out under the most surprising of scenarios. A great story teller pulls you in and leaves you with thoughts on where we are with our own climate struggle. A great read for teenagers and adults alike with a need to read on at the end of every chapter. When is the film coming out?