1) How old are you?

I’m 23.

2) What do you do for education/work?

I am currently studying for a pHd at the University of Liverpool - I hope to do stuff with writing and film later in life.

3) How long have you been writing?

I have been writing for as long as I can remember - I can’t recall a time in my life when I wasn’t writing stories. As far back as primary school I was writing long stories, and all through my childhood I would do that - I would always have a novel on the go. The problem was, I would never finish them, I would have an end in my head but the middle sections would just keep filling out. I’ve kept them all, endless, endless stories that seem to go on forever. Daydreaming has always been my hobby, and writing is just an extension of that.

4) How did you get published?

I published my novel using a different approach. I got feedback on the novel and got it proofread, (these two steps are very, very important and shouldn’t be over looked.) After that I used Lulu.com to produce the hard copies, Amazon KDP for the Kindle Editions, and then Smashwords for the various other eBook formats, like the iPad, Nook etc. Getting it into shops/publicising/having reviews etc takes a fair bit of work with this method, but I kind of enjoy a more hands on approach anyway. The publishing world is changing drastically and quickly - “indie” publishing, as its currently getting called, is definitely the best way to go, in my opinion. Smashwords is especially useful for eBook publication - it takes a while but it will eventually submit your work to all the big ebook vendors, think: Barnes and Noble, iBookstore etc etc. Is this option easier or harder than traditional publishing? Its a mixed bag. Its quicker, you have more control - but it is initially harder to get the feedback you do require, and then of course publicising is more difficult. Give it time, though - indie publishing needs refinement but it is shaping up to look more like the future. 

5) Will you follow me back?

I would love to follow everyone back - I always felt like tumblr should be a two way conversation, so I initially followed everyone back. However, I am now following too many people (I guess there is a limit) and it won’t let me follow anyone else, sorry! If someone I’m following deletes their tumblr, I can occasionally follow one other person, but this rarely happens. 

5) Will you check out my blog/read my writing/tell me what you think?

Freelance stuff.

6) Where can I buy your books/in what format?

They are literally available in every format now (as far as I can tell..there are SO many,) and all the details/shop are at: http://storydj.com/Where_to_Buy.html

7) Where do your ideas and inspiration come from?

All around. Everything I have ever written and probably will write is based almost entirely off real life. Even the most fantastic and unreal elements in my stories are autobiographical - and this is even more true of novels: Lilith’s Tears is basically about me. Thats not to say its all based off actual events - my writing comes from how I am feeling. All my stories and poems are metaphors for how I have been feeling at that time in my life, and what has been happening to me. I can really, trace my life events and thoughts back via my writing. This is actually the reason I do write - its a way of processing reality (especially the less good parts) into something manageable and something the feels useful, rather than rotten. 

8) How long have you been on tumblr?

I got it last November (2010) but didn’t really start using it as a proper writing blog until, say February the following year. 

9) How many followers do you have?

This is irrelevant and helps nobody. 

10) What theme are you using?

This I honestly cannot remember - I’ve had this design for quite a long time now. All I know is thats its a heavily modified version of one of these: http://www.tripwiremagazine.com/2011/03/100-best-free-tumblr-themes.html although I am no longer sure which one exactly.

11) Are you on Twitter?

I am! I’m at: http://www.twitter.com/djthedavid.

12) How about your website?

That is http://www.storydj.com.

13) What do you prefer, prose or poems?

Sorry poetry, you are great - but its all about the prose.