Profile Description
David John Griffin is a writer, author of mystery books, graphic designer, and occasional electronic music composer, who lives with his wife Susan in a large town by the Thames in Kent, UK. He is currently working on the first draft of his sixth novel.
David’s on-going mission as an author is to produce absorbing, page-turning stories with a literary depth. His novels, with genres covering mystery, gothic, psychological, and paranormal, always have elements of magical realism within them. When writing short stories, he aims for that surprising “twist in the tail” at the end of each one.
His first book, published by Urbane Publications in 2015, is a gothic/paranormal novel called The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb. His literary/psychological novel, Infinite Rooms, was published a year after. The novella and collection of short stories called Two Dogs At The One Dog Inn And Other Stories (magical realism/paranormal) was published in January 2017 by Urbane Publications. Following that, he published a sci-fi time travel adventure called Abbie and the Portal. The urban fantasy novel called Turquoise Traveller was published in 2019.
His latest complete novel called When The Lover Lies is currently represented by Matthew Smith of Exprimez Literary Agency.
One of his short stories was shortlisted for The HG Wells Short Story competition 2012 and published in an anthology. He has had at least seven more stories published in other anthologies and magazines.
“Creative writing is a passion and a lifelong learning experience” David John Griffin
“Writing a novel is like pushing a boulder up a mountain but it’s great when you reach the top ” David John Griffin
Photos
Books by David John Griffin
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb by David John Griffin
Infinite Rooms by David John Griffin
Two Dogs At The One Dog Inn and Other Stories by David John Griffin
Abbie and the Portal by David John Griffin
Turquoise Traveller by David John Griffin
When The Lover Lies by David John Griffin
Testimonials
The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb: "A beautifully described dark, Gothic tale..." "Unpredicatable, creepy - and often very funny." "Unusual and Gripping"
Infinite Rooms: "A Masterpiece of Literary Surrealism" "An extraordinary novel. " "Such an extraordinary and different read"
Two Dogs At The One Dog Inn And Other Stories: "a timeless and classic quality". "Tales of the very unexpected indeed" "Very entertaining"
Abbie And The Portal: "Great premise, scintillating pace, and a most intriguing plot". "Utterly absorbing" "Enjoyable read."
Turquoise Traveller: “The descriptions are powerful and vivid, and in some ways Stave's nightmarish journey reminded me of a computer game, with he as the hero passing through various 'levels' of skill and understanding” "Another solid story from a gifted writer". "A psychological adventure into the dreaming mind"
Address
346 Valley Drive, , Gravesend, Kent, United Kingdom, DA12 5TH
Location
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Opening hours - Details
I can be contacted by phone on any day from Monday to Sunday, after 11am and before 10pm.
Interview
I write novels, novellas and short stories.
I was born and bred in Gravesend and have lived here for all of my life, not counting 2 years living in a little village called Over just outside Cambridge.
I was brought up in a council house in Gravesend - my mother still lives there (aged 93!). She had quite a few jobs which most included dexterous use of her hands (early electronic assembly, dressmaker, cook, etc.) My late father worked for a long time for a company in Northfleet, making wire and cables.
I have two younger siblings: a sister called Maria and a brother called Paul.
I didn't have a clue until I was 12 or 13 - I then decided I wanted to become an atomic physicist (I was fascinated with atoms and molecules). This dream was too far for my skills and understanding: after halfway through the Lower Six at Gravesend Grammar School, I decided to leave halfway through my A level studies and go to Medway College of Art and Design, as it was called then.
Ah, when I was about 5 in primary school making paper chains!
My interest in writing occurred when I was 6: the teacher gave the pupils a sheet of paper and a pencil each and we were asked to write a story. I seem to remember that I plunged into the task, filling the page with my story, and going up to the teacher at least 3 times to ask for another sheet of paper. And each time I did that, she said with a broad grin, "Another piece of paper?" This gave me so much encouragement at that young age to want to write.
I guess my first serious writing began at the age of 13 when I wrote a novella (100 pages in longhand on foolscap paper.) Its genre is sci-fi - I was inspired to write it after voraciously reading science fiction authors including Isaac Asimov, JG Ballard and Robert Heinlein.
I started writing my first novel, The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb, while attending the Medway College of Art and Design in the early 1970s at the age of 21.
After many revisions over the years, it was finally professionally published about 2015 - taking me over 40 years to find a publisher. Unfortunately, the publishing company (Urbane Publications, who were based in Rochester) ceased trading 3 or 4 years later. I then self-published it on Amazon.
I can be inspired to write by a number of things: TV programmes, surfing the web, dreams, paintings/images, reading novels by other writers, etc,.
What triggers my need to write is the two thirsts, as I call them: the thirst to be a writer from a young age (that impetus and love of words still with me) and the thirst for my writing to be read.
I think the answer to that would be that I don't constrict myself to any particular genre; every one of my books are written in different genres. In the main though, there are some genre elements that are shared.
I also like the fact that I have developed my own particular style, I'd like to think.
I can think of several golden moments which were highlights so far for my career as a writer: the first would be the joy of finishing the first draft of my first novel all those years ago.
The next golden moment was when finishing another first draft, this time of my second book, the literary/psychological novel called Infinite Rooms. I remember it being such a thrill and delight when that happened, as well as a great sense of relief, mainly because this particular novel was like pushing a large boulder up a mountain - it had been so emotionally and physically draining.
The next golden moment for me was when I finally found a professional publisher who wanted to publish my first three books. What a huge hurdle to have finally gotten over after all those years!
Most favourably, in the main. I have had a lot of positive reviews including many 5 and 4 star ratings on Amazon book pages.
After finishing my latest novel last year (called When The Lover Lies, currently represented by Exprimez Literary Agency) I took many months "recharging my creative batteries" but now I am ready and excited to begin my next novel.
I'm not sure I have any particular one…every time I start writing a new novel or novella, that becomes my dream project.
I admire and am inspired by so many authors, too many to list, but a few from off the top of my head would be Charles Dickens. Philip K Dick, Angela Carter, Stephen King, Haruki Murakami, JG Ballard, etc.
Not sure if the following two recommendations would help every writer but I would say Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott, and On Writing by Stephen King.
Writing in a treehouse in a forest on a Greek island!
That I should be kind, thoughtful and respectful to other people - I might not know what pressures or concerns they have, or the life they have led.
