Author David Dalglish
Since I self-released my first novella as an ebook in August, I’ve had the chance to meet many talented “indie” authors who are going their own way in this ebook era. Some of them are having considerable success. Take for example 26-year-old David Dalglish (here’s his Amazon page), the author of The Half-Orcs series and A Dance with Cloaks, the first book in another fantasy series. His books have some nifty covers created by Peter Ortiz.
In addition to being one of the most genuine and friendly indie authors I’ve met over the last couple of months, David is also doing very well as an independent author. His sales, mainly ebooks sold through Amazon and Apple’s iBookstore, will net him at least $2,500 this month, and he’s been extremely productive as he continues to put out new works this year. He’s living the dream. He’s a great story because not long ago he was a manager at a Missouri Pizza Hut, and now he’s writing fantasy novels full-time and making considerably more money.
The Half-Orcs series is interesting, on one level, because it features sympathetic characters who are not always likable. In fact, his characters sometimes commit acts that are downright evil.
David seems especially gifted with certain aspects of characterization. He recently wrote an insightful guest blog post on the Dun Scaith blog (Scathach Publishing) called “Likable Villains and Imperfect Heroes.” Here’s an excerpt from it:
You want to make a villain memorable, even likable? Give him traits traditionally viewed as good. Love, compassion, forgiveness, humor, kindness, self-sacrifice: the boring villains wouldn’t know what these even are. Make Jack cruel to his children but loving to his wife. Make him funny and charming at work, but a wretched junkie once out of sight. Have him pray sincere prayers to be a better father just before beating another father to death just because that man is black. Want to make a real sicko? Let the sight of blood cause him joy. Let the act of murder fill him with elation, not for causing harm but for the instant feeling of being god. Twist emotions against your readers. Too often the villain is the dark, brooding, angry man with no friends. Give them charisma. Give them faith. Give them certainty.
…
One last thing…say you want a character to be redeemable. You want him to do something bad, yet not lose the hearts of the reader. The key is, as the writer, to absolutely adore that character. Treat them like your spouse, your brother, or your friend. You’re watching them do these terrible things, and the whole while you want him to stop. You want him to change. It breaks your heart watching him kill or steal or use. And if the readers can feel that, and feel that same heartbreak and desire in the character, then they’ll hope for better. The lure of redemption is powerful. There’s great joy in the return of the prodigal son, not because the son has earned it, but because the son fell so far yet the father feels nothing but love.
If you’re interested in more about David, here are some interviews with him:
On The Indie SpotlightSince David has two different series that he’s self-publishing right now, I’ll let him explain the difference between the two in his own words. I found these comments on his interview on Ty Johnston’s blog:
For those wanting a bit more literary writing style, stronger world-building, and a lot of relatable, normal characters, A Dance of Cloaks is it. Those wanting a more hack n’ slash feel, well, there’s still my good ol’ Half-Orcs.
The second book in his popular Half-Orcs series has received some incredible reviews, including this one from Robert J. Duperre:
Yes, “The Cost of Betrayal” is that good. I dare anyone to read it, to take it in, to relish it. The mistakes in the writing from the first book (which weren’t that noticeable to begin with) have been remedied. What remains is a tale of such power that you have no choice but listen. Carnage and conflict aside, as some might not welcome them, there is too much here to not appreciate it.
This needs to be read. It needs to be out there.
Speak Your Mind