Won’t You Be My Neighbor—David Powers King

Booya people!!! I have a special treat for you today. The 50% famous, 50% quiet, 100% talented--David Powers King! (I know that is 200%...I'm a writer, not a math genius :) I'm very excited you’re here David!

David: Thanks, Angela! I'm not a mathematician either, but I'll assume triple digits is a good thing. Thanks for having me on your blog today. I brought virtual crullers for everyone!

Angie: How did you know I was in the mood for imaginary donuts? You must be psychic :) I'm impressed. 

DPK is fierce!

Lets jump to the first question...Your name is so cool. It sounds just like a famous author name. Powers is such a cool middle name. I'm wondering where is came from. Give me a story :) 

David: I have my grandparents on my mother's side to thank for that middle name. Their descendants immigrated to America during the Potato Famine in Ireland (to be sure). Grandpa Powers even wrote a book himself once, and since I was writing my first novel when he passed away, I inherited his hand-written manuscript One of these days I'll transcribe it and see what can be done with it. 

I was given grief for my middle name during my school years (Powers. King. Amazing what kids will come up with), so I left Powers out for most of my life. At my first writer's conference, James Dashner recommended that I should stick with it, and I'm glad I did.

Angie: That is so amazing you have his manuscript! My grandmother was a writer too (mostly poetry and short stories). Sometimes I feel like she is cheering me on from heaven. What kind of story did your grandpa write?

David: It's a historical fiction novel around the Nevada Silver Rush, at a time when Vegas was just beginning and organized crime was replacing the outlaw. That's only the setting. The characters are far more interesting.

Angie: That sounds really cool! Old time Vegas could be full of all kinds of plot twists.

Here is kind of a question :) We've met in person a few times (dinner with other writers and conferences) and you always bring your darling wife. She seems so supportive of your writing. How does she help you?

David: She's above and beyond, Angela. She's the first to read my stuff (always the roughest). From the beginning, she's liked the way I tell stories. She's not a fan of zombies or epic fantasy, but is always pushing me to get her the next chapter. My first stab at fantasy was written for her, when she challenged me to write a genre she likes. Okay. She likes Shannon Hale, Gale Carson Levine, and The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, so I thought up a princess and dragon story and she ate it up. Ever since she's been kind enough to let me write when I otherwise can't. I wouldn't know what to do if she didn't have my back on this writing business

Angie: I think that is amazing! My hubby is supportive like that (although I'm not sure he would brave a dinner with tons of other writers :). It really makes a difference when you have someone who believes in you against all odds. Which of your stories is her favorite?

David: The Dragon's Heart, the YA I wrote for her (she's not biased - at all ;)

Angie: Of course not :)

Next question...What author has influenced you the most? What would you ask them if you had the chance?

David: Orson Scott Card (no hesitation there). His writing style has always intrigued me from the moment I picked up and read Ender's Game at age 11 (the first time I read a novel without anyone telling me to). I've been striving to tell a unique story ever since. My first trilogy is a space opera, even (needs an overhaul, though). And I did have the chance to speak with him at a writing workshop he conducted a couple years ago - I can't remember what I asked him, but he did sign a couple of my books called me an "evil genius" at one point.

Angie: Evil Genius! That is the best compliment anyone could give an author. I love OSC too. Enders Game was my first exposure to sci-fi and I'm still waiting to read sci-fi I like as well. You will probably laugh at me...but what the heck is a space opera? I hear this term all over and I just pretend I know what it means, but I'm not afraid of showing my ignorance today :)

David: Jordan Ricks wrote an excellent post about that (we read his posts through inkPageant all the time). Check it out here. The key ingredient of a space opera, as Jordan puts it, is that it's "more concerned with a great story than science." Star wars, John Carter, Dune, and yes, Ender's Game are considered space operas.

Angie: That is very cool. I knew Star Wars was one, I just didn't know why.

How about a fun question. If you were a candy bar, what kind would you be?

David: *Snickers* ... no, wait - that's not my answer! That's tough (not Big Hunk tough, but still). I like so many candy bars it's hard to pick just one. Okay. Since I'm not going anywhere for a while, I'll go with Snickers.

Angie: I have a bag of fun size (that size is not fun btw :) snickers hidden from my kids. If you were here I would give you one...or maybe 5 :)

David: Awesome! I don't know how my secret stash of M&Ms would feel about that ...

Angie: They are a jealous candy.

Alright last question...It must be a pageant question, but since you are a founding member of inkPageant you are already a pageant pro, so I will ask a pageant question with a writing twist :) What was the best advice you ever read on inkPageant? (Wow. Ten extra points for the number of times I said pageant in that section).

David: We're always on the lookout for great posts and the experiences of authors as they pursue their writing careers (We'd love to see more posts by agents and editors, too), but one of the best posts I read was back in April by Nathan Bransford called "Ten Commandments for Editing Someone's Work." It's a must-read for anyone about to join a critique group or has been in one for years. It helped me be a better critiquer. 

Angie: That sounds so awesome! Great critique partners are crucial. I know my work would be a mess without them. I love the idea of guide lines. I'm checking this out for sure :) 

Thanks for stopping by today. Hopefully I didn't interrupt your day job too much.

David: Not at all, and thank you for having me over.

Angie: My pleasure :) But you need to give me a tradition DPK sign off.

I'm Angie and DPK is a space opera hero!

David: Awesome, that works. How about ...

I'm David, and don't forget your virtual cruller on the way out! :)

LOL! Thanks David. If you haven’t visited David’s blog…where the heck have you been? Check it out HERE and also check out inkPageant. You won’t be sorry.

-Angie