Tell us about yourself.:
David Devine is a second-generation Irish-American. Today, the lilt of an Irish brogue touches his heart. A native of San Francisco he was raised across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree for Industrial Engineering & Operations Research from the University of California, Berkeley.

He worked in Ocean Transportation holding roles in Engineering, Marine Terminal Management, and Sales. He also provided Management Consulting services in Silicon Valley. Having not suffered enough anguish from the corporate world he owned and operated a bicycle store.

A prolific technical writer, David began creative writing on a whim with short stories. Having anthology success with Murray, The Disgruntled Reindeer, he would go on to write a novella and a radio play script. Hibernia is his debut novel.

He has two daughters. David currently resides near the mist of Niagara Falls with his Grenadian (he swears she sounds Irish) wife.

He takes inspiration from Julia Child, Lee Trevino, and W.C. Fields. He is an avid chef. Do not ask for his guacamole recipe. There is none; it’s guacamole.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
San Rafael, a suburb across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. We were a San Francisco-Irish family. There was much dry humor in our households. HIBERNIA was greatly affected by my upbringing. The dry humor continues in my current project.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
In addition to writing, I am a caretaker and home owner. I do not have the luxury of setting a writing schedule. Sometimes a paragraph is in my head for hours before it hits the keyboard.

What authors have influenced you?
San Rafael, a suburb across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. We were a San Francisco-Irish family. There was much dry humor in our households. HIBERNIA was greatly affected by my upbringing. The dry humor continues in my current project.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join a writing group with more accomplished writers than yourself. It commits you to completing work and a rising tide lifts all ships.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Don’t sweat the small stuff ….It’s all small stuff.

What are you reading now?
Recipes, Assembly Instructions, Pill bottles.

What’s your biggest weakness?
As far as writing is concerned, a weakness, and perhaps a strength, is that I have an engineering background.

What is your favorite book of all time?
Benjamin Franklin, An American Life, so impressed with all the fields he mastered and his influence on the nascent days of the United States.

When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
I have little free time and have lost vision to the point where I can no longer participate in many of the sporting activities I would have listed 15 years ago. …I am an avid chef however (to date no digits lost).

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I know I read Dr. Seuss (and I read them over and over to my children), but I would have to say the Encyclopedia Brown books. The logic in solving the mystery appealed to the little engineer.

What has inspired you and your writing style?
I started creative writing after many years of professional/technical writing. I saw it as a challenge.

As to style, my writing is quite reflective of my technical bend and dry sense of humor.

What are you working on now?
UnCOMMONWEALTH, a modern day Casablanca set in Grenada. This tiny nation has a surprising confluence of international interests.

What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
Still trying to figure that out.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Write, write, write. Sell, sell, sell. …As long as I can read the screen (and I do zoom it in), I plan to keep writing novels.

How well do you work under pressure?
Pressure was trying to learn touch typing on a typewriter with unmarked keys at 13 years old.

How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
The characters set their own tone.

If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
Pay your way. Smile as you go. Leave construction not destruction.

David Devine’s Author Websites and Profiles
Website
Amazon Profile

David Devine’s Social Media Links
Facebook Page