Gareth Ian Davies was born and raised in the south of London, during which time he wrote many terrible things and dreamed of becoming a novelist. Instead, he earned a degree in Physics from the University of Bristol and didn’t quite know what to do with it. After moving to the American Midwest he flirted with a career in nuclear engineering before taking the somewhat safer path as a software architect.
He spent the next three decades writing code and technical documentation, before finally realizing his dream by publishing his first novel. He has since completed that series, contributed several short stories to anthologies, and may be getting the hang of this author thing.
Gareth lives in St. Louis with his wife, two cats, and a cockatiel. Once, there were fish.
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QUESTIONS:
1. Tell our readers a little about yourself and your writing (including publications).
I’m still a reader first and foremost. I aspire to write the kinds of stories I want to read. That influences not only genre, but also book length (no doorstops, please) and character diversity (especially when I can challenge “norms”). I don’t want believe in revealing everything, even in a story’s finale. I prefer that each reader has room to fill in the gaps according to their own understanding and interpretation. That’s how stories stay alive.
I published my first novel, Imprints of the Past, in January 2023. I call it an urban fantasy or paranormal thriller depending on my mood at the time. Tethers of the Present and Echoes of the Future complete the “Of Imprint & Erasure” series. I finally finished something!
I’m part of an Indie Author Collective (https://www.indieauthorcollective.net/) that publishes semi-annual short story anthologies with various themes. I love the different challenge of writing short fiction as well as novels! So far, I’ve written a pair of original dark fairy tales and a topical story about a haunted AI assistant.
May 12th sees the release of Truesilver, the first of a new dark fantasy series called The Chaos Walker Revolution. It’s a very different story, set in a very different (although all too oddly familiar) world. It’s the tale I’ve wanted to tell for a long time, and I’d love for you all to join the ride!
2. What writing projects are you currently working on?
I’m busy with the first draft of Truesilver’s sequel right now. I also expect to contribute short stories to one or two of the October 2026 Indie Author Collective anthologies.
3. Are you a daytime writer, a mid-day writer, a nighttime writer, or just someone who writes when the mood hits you?
I write almost exclusively first thing in the morning, before starting my day job or weekend chores. I prefer quiet and no distractions (other than needy cats) to get in the creative flow, and my mind is freshest in the morning. However, I’ll often jot down ideas or do pertinent research at other times of the day.
4. Who/what first inspired you to write?
I’m a J.R.R. Tolkien geek. After reading Lord of the Rings for the first time in high school, I immersed myself in not just the world and characters he wrote about, but in his entire creative process. He instilled in me a fundamental love of storytelling, no matter the genre. I still dream of joining modern day “Inklings”, sitting around a table in a cozy pub, sharing our emerging stories with each other.
5. What are your favorite book genres?
Urban and epic fantasy are my main jams, but I read a lot of horror and science fiction too.
6. When you are in a writing funk, how do you find your way out?
Read more. I read more books now, especially by other indie authors, than I ever did before first publishing my own. Others’ creativity always inspires me. I never copy anything directly, of course, but sometimes elegant plot developments or narrative techniques can be powerful sparks igniting fresh ideas in my own work.
7. Do you ever base any characters on yourself? Give specifics in your books if possible.
Not intentionally, although I make a cameo with my wife and friends as concert goers seen across a crowded bar in Tethers of the Present.
8. What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?
Write primarily for yourself. Write the kind of story you’d love to pick up and read again in five years’ time.
Eric Woods, Author 