David was brought up as the son of a farm-worker in Kent and Sussex, in England, where he gained his love of the countryside. At university in Sheffield, he studied geography, and after a PhD at Bristol moved into an academic career – first in geography and then, through a combination of intent and serendipity, in environmental science and epidemiology. Over this time he published extensively, both through academic journals and books.
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In 2009 he moved to New Zealand, where he now lives. He has always enjoyed writing, and as an escape from university work wrote a number of short stories and children’s stories, most of which are available on this website. He also wrote one novel, Figures in a Tuscan Garden, which was short-listed for the Constable Trophy but never submitted for publication. Since moving to New Zealand, he has devoted himself to writing novels and poetry. |
The Direction of Our Fear was published by BMS Books in New Zealand, in 2016. An earlier novel, By The Tracks We Leave, was self-published through CreateSpace in 2017 and launched by distributing copies to little libraries around New Zealand and elsewhere. His next novel, The Claim, was long-listed for the Michael Gifkins Prize in 2018, and published by UK publishers RedDoor in 2019. He is currently working on two new novels. Zarrin follows the experiences of a Syrian refugee, fleeing abuse to find refuge in Europe. Works of Art and Love is a story about the relationship between an artist and his sitter - and the parallels between art and truth and love
In his novels, David explores human relationships and loneliness, usually against the background of some personal or social drama, and through the lens of different people’s experience. Underlying questions in the stories are: who are we, and what is truth? His poems are rooted in the landscape – especially, now, that of the beautiful Tasman area where he lives. They are written to be accessible but thought-provoking, often with a playful touch. Many of his poems are being released as blogs through this website, and he also intends to publish a collection when the time is right. One of his poems, Motueka, won a silver medal in the international UPLI poetry competition in 2015. Reflections, a collaboration with his friend and photographer, JF Robert was published in December 2020.
In his novels, David explores human relationships and loneliness, usually against the background of some personal or social drama, and through the lens of different people’s experience. Underlying questions in the stories are: who are we, and what is truth? His poems are rooted in the landscape – especially, now, that of the beautiful Tasman area where he lives. They are written to be accessible but thought-provoking, often with a playful touch. Many of his poems are being released as blogs through this website, and he also intends to publish a collection when the time is right. One of his poems, Motueka, won a silver medal in the international UPLI poetry competition in 2015. Reflections, a collaboration with his friend and photographer, JF Robert was published in December 2020.
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Between writing, he loves walking and exploring New Zealand in the company of his wife and dogs, investigating the local geology with members of the Nelson Rock and Mineral Club, watching cricket (and even more so, seeing the Blackcaps occasionally win), classical music and the company of special friends . . .
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