Sixmilebridge security officer David R. Shires is relishing in the world of self-publishing, following the recent release of a collection of eleven short stories under the working title ‘Horde’.
Originally from Exeter in the United Kingdom, David utilised the lockdown as the perfect means of getting, what he labels “a ten year vanity project”, out into the open. Despite having no discernible overarching theme, the eleven fantasy based short stories contain a number of interconnected threads across place names and events.
“My favourite story from Horde is one called, Family Duty. It’s a cop story set in a futuristic New York City. He goes on one last mission. It ties in with his grandfather and father, who were policemen in the same area. His police station is above the ruins of the old one. My second favourite is called The Last Embrace, which is about a father and daughter in the zombie apocalypse. The father feels he is not succeeding in protecting his daughter,” David opined.
An avid reader, David draws influence from his two favourite writers, Stephen King and David Moody, each of whom harbour very different styles of writing. He feels he embraces Stephen King’s descriptive use of language on the one hand, and Moody’s care and concern for characters as the solitary driving force of the narrative on the other. He also references the latter’s accolade of publishing the first serial series on the internet, akin to David’s decision to bypass his co-owned company Maester Press and self-publish his first work for public release.
On top of working as a security officer at the Irish Aviation Authority, David operates a design company called The Image Designs, where he focuses on brand packages, delivered in 2D. Having studied illustration in Art College in Exeter 32 years ago, David found self-publishing a more natural means of getting his work out there. He learned to format books 15 years ago, when he established the now defunct Nightwatch Press. He is currently running a brand-new Clare based publishing house called Maester Press, with friend, marketing manager and author of Delphine, Bill Bradshaw.
“Self-publishing is ideal. There is no pressure to do what somebody else wants. I also had the background for it. It’s not about the money, as there is very little in it. It felt great to finish and publish, almost like a conclusion to the last 10 years. It’s nice to sell a few too,” he stated.
Horde is available through Amazon.co.uk on Kindle, or Amazon.com for paperback. RRP €5. For further information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/DavidRShiresAuthor.
