For this installment of “20 Questions and a Selfie,” we catch up with Daniel Parsons, middle-grade and young adult fantasy author.
Daniel, a self-professed “wannabe explorer,” began creating fiction worlds of his own at the tender age of nine years old. At age 11, when he overheard an English teacher whisper to a co-worker, “this one has potential,” Daniel suddenly realized his writing could be more than a hobby. He has been writing novels ever since.
You can connect with Daniel on Twitter @dkparsonswriter and on his website, www.danielparsonsbooks.com.
Our 20 questions with Daniel start now:
1) What is your full name?
Daniel Kyle Parsons
2) What is your professional job title?
Author
3) Describe your organization.
I write middle-grade and young adult fantasy books.
4) Describe your surroundings right now.
A bedroom with too many books and not enough bookshelves.
5) What was your first paid writing gig?
My first self-pubbed ebook, The Winter Freak Show.
6) What was the last thing you wrote?
A blog post in which I interviewed a bestselling author.
7) What is the next thing you plan to write?
A sinister children’s book called ‘Feelers’.
8) Finish this sentence: The ideal way to start my day is …
to wake up early and set off in the car. All good adventures begin before dawn.
9) Besides your computer, what is sitting on your desk right now?
A mug of hot chocolate, three books, and a mountain of notes for my latest novel.
10) So-called writer’s block is no match for you! What is your antidote?
Read books, watch TV, and socialise. Inspiration will strike. I once got an idea while watching a nature documentary!
11) Finish this sentence: I hate it when I read …
YouTube comments from people who have clearly not watched the video.
12) What are the most important tools, programs and systems you use for your work?
Microsoft Word, Corel Draw, and good, old-fashioned pen ‘n’ paper.
13) First book that comes to mind? Go!
‘The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel‘ by Anthony Horowitz
14) What are your favorite smartphone apps and why?
Definitely Twitter. It’s becoming something of an obsession.
15) What have you always wanted to write?
A long series of books that everyone loves, like Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
16) What is your advice for aspiring professional writers?
Don’t be too wordy. People don’t want to struggle through a book they have chosen to read for fun.
17) First famous writer who comes to mind? Go!
18) Finish this sentence: My favorite thing about being a writer is …
that I get to work when I want, how I want, and on any project of my choosing.
19) Pencil versus pen—who wins and why?
Ideally, laptop. But I am quite partial to a luxury pen. They make me feel suave.
20) Finish this sentence: One word or phrase people will never read in my writing is …
“… and they all lived happily ever after.” Because life isn’t that simple.
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