Book: The Lighthouse Keeper
Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Sure, my name is David Richards. I’ve had many titles in my life, from Marine to yoga instructor to author and dad. Perhaps my two favorite titles are “friend” and “storyteller”. I grew up moving every few years as my dad was in the Marines too, and spent three years in Japan before I was 14. After seeing the world as a Marine myself for 15 years, I decided it was time for a change and ventured into the corporate world.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’ book?
I think the biggest challenge was making the story interesting. I had never tried to write an educational fiction story before, but it was important to me that I make the most of the analogy found within the book. That, and making the characters relatable.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Stephen King has always been a favorite…I just love how he creates characters. Growing up, I loved comic books, and those have certainly played a role in sparking my creativity. Perhaps the book that has most significantly influenced my life has been Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. I’ve only read it once, but that book has led me to so many incredible discoveries about myself.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
The ocean off the coast of North Carolina. There’s a small island called Emerald Isle that I’ve gone to since I was a teenager. It always feels like a small town, and that makes me feel like it’s home.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
It really depends on the book. I’ve started writing some stories that took place thousands of years ago. The trick is, you have to be careful. I’ve never finished those stories because I got so caught up in researching the history of the culture and place I was writing about…that eventually became more interesting than the story.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’ book?
The idea was born out of my first book, Whiskey and Yoga, which came out in 2017. I didn’t do anything with it until December of 2018, when I listened to Dandapani talk about a very similar idea as it relates to the mind and our awareness. That sparked the idea. I started writing in January, had one major adjustment to make after meeting with my editor in July, then finished the book in September of 2019. It released this summer.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’ book to buy?
It’s on my website and available on Amazon.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Lighthouse Keeper’?
Someone recommend a good cover designer. They sent me four ideas based on our conversations, but this one immediately became my favorite. It’s simple but elegant. The title just seemed a natural extension of the idea that our mind is an ocean and our awareness is a lighthouse. Someone has to be the lighthouse keeper that maintains the light.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
That’s the beauty of writing. The first person the story has to excite is the author. Going back to Stephen King, after he wrote Pet Sematary (my favorite from him) he refused to publish it because it frightened him. THAT is the experience every author wants from their writing. Not necessarily of fear, but certainly to feel something. Whiskey and Yoga excited me because I finished it, and up until that point, I really didn’t know if I could write a book. The Lighthouse Keeper excited me because I really think it’s a good story, and there’s a big part of me in the book. That said, it’s exciting when you create characters that feel real. In that sense, you kind of have to let the characters write themselves. That’s what makes writing fun; getting to the point where your characters write themselves.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
In some ways, it’s a story about our creation. It’s not immediately evident, but it’s in there. You just have to ask yourself…if the characters in the story represent something more than just people, how does that evolve the story?
Book Is Available On Amazon
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