David Cowzer interview

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This interview with David Cowzer, author of "A Matter of Life and Death" was first published in July 2006. David Cowzer on right

Where were you born and raised?

Born and raised in Dublin - initially on the Northside before moving south of the river.

What was it that first got you into writing and when did you start writing?

I've always been interested in writing since I was a teenager, but I didn't really get started properly until I did a screenwriting course in the NYU/UCD film school.

Which writers have influenced you the most?

I'd like to say Hemingway, Beckett and Joyce all had an influence (which they did), but if I'm brutally honest the first book I recall being really taken in by was "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. I had no idea books could be so entertaining! More recently contemporary fiction writers like Nick Hornby, Roddy Doyle and Joseph O'Connor are probably closer to the way I write.

Where do you stand on the nature v. nurture debate? Were you born a writer, or were there factors in your environment that enabled you to become a writer?

Personally I think it's something you're born with, which you need to work hard at to perfect (still working on that).

There are a lot of courses teaching creative writing nowadays, but do you think that good writing can be taught?

I think you can always learn ways to improve.

Have you entered writing competitions? If so, have you won any prizes?

My day job is working as an advertising copywriter, for which I have won various awards for work on TG4, Digifone etc.

What kind of things do you write?

Things like "A Matter of Life and Death", about two Dubliners going to the World Cup in Japan on a Honda 50. The Roy Keane incident forms the backdrop, which they are completely unaware of.

What, for you, is the best piece of prose that you have ever written?

I hope I haven't done it yet!

What are you working on now?

Currently I'm adapting "A Matter of Life and Death" as a screenplay and thinking about the next novel.

What is your writing day like?

I usually start about 10am and write a thousand words before lunch. I'll do another thousand after lunch in a couple of hours and then finish for the day.

Where would you like to be in 10 years time?

Writing good stuff that people enjoy.

What¹s the most exciting thing about writing for you?

The creative process - not knowing exactly who or what is going to come out.

What¹s the most frustrating thing about writing for you?

Not being able to publish, film, produce it the following day like you can in advertising! I've probably been spoiled a bit in that way.

What¹s the best piece of feedback that you¹ve had from your audience?

Probably to make sure it's always the characters speaking and not the author - although that is more from a critique point of view.

Do you write for a particular audience, or is your first priority to satisfy your own creativity?

I think initially I try to write what I find interesting personally, and hope that others will too.

Do you have a homepage? If so, what's the URL?

Still working on that one, but you can find out more at http://DavidCowzer.bebo.com

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