Michael, who has been a DPA customer since 2008, is a talented writer who has used the flexibility offered by print-on-demand books to help him succeed in self-publishing.

Having spent many years as an IT specialist in Australia and the US, Michael began writing as a way of keeping his mind alert whilst living on the move, between hotels and aeroplanes. Ten years ago, when he retired from the corporate world and returned to Australia, he decided to give his hand to self-publishing his work for the fun of it.

His first title, Dreamkill, a psychological thriller in the vein of The Manchurian Candidate, was written as a result of a challenge from a friend to write a novel. Five manuscripts and thirteen years on, he managed to get Dreamkill published in the US, after being rejected by 51 literary agents and then 22 publishers before it was it picked up.

Since then he’s written several more titles, including his bestselling The Janus Conspiracy, the epic The Nightmares of God, and the children’s Mickie Dalton Trilogy series.

The Janus Conspiracy tells the tale of a political conspiracy aimed at taking over the US government. Written prior to Bush ascending to the US Presidency, the book parallels the events leading upto and after he took office. Michael comments that many people have told him that had he published this title in the US at that time, he would have received some rather unwelcome attention from the FBI. He frequently receives feedback from his readers describing this book as “the best book they’ve ever read.”

Michael’s magnum opus, The Nightmares of God, looks at what it must be like to be God; to be alone in the universe of his own creation and how to cope with the immensity of deep time. Focused on the ‘end days’ of the universe, the story covers millions of years in the evolution of space, time, matter and intelligence.

Michael had always wanted to write children’s books and believes the best way to write a children’s book is to write with their assistance. The Mickie Dalton Trilogy was written in collaboration with students aged 12 and 13 at a high school in Albion Park, NSW. A story about a 12 year old boy who discovers he’s not human like everyone else on Earth and sets out to travel the universe to discover his origins. Michael – and the kids who’ve read the series, like to think it’s better than the famed Harry Potter series.

Since Mickie Dalton, Michael has set up the Mickie Dalton Foundation to fund similar ventures with other schools and has completed three more collaborations with some rural primary schools and a fourth, a sci-fi adventure written with a group of Burundian, Sudanese and Aboriginal children in the 8-12 age group. He has recently become involved with the children’s foundation ‘The Twilight Academy’, who work with troubled kids, to run similar writing projects and workshops.

The result of his work with schools has been a marked increase in the literacy skills of the children involved, so much so the NSW Department of Education has expressed interest in furthering such projects.

Michael also works with the Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre, coordinating writing projects with local children, including African and Aboriginal children, as well as running writing classes for adult students in South West Rocks.

Michael has printed all of his own titles and many of his collaborations as print-on-demand books through Digital Print Australia. He has found it to be an ideal way to manage his stock levels and keep his costs for printing to a minimum, allowing him to focus on the real job of writing and promoting his and his collaborators’ work.

Michael’s advice to other aspiring writers is simple – “Keep writing! Write every  day! And never give up!” He acknowledged that the hardest thing is to maintain the passion and has experienced the disheartening feeling of constant rejection, but stresses that it only takes one bit of praise or a sale or any positive response to reignite that flame.

Michael doesn’t suggest writers forego trying to get published traditionally, but to be aware that it can take years and success is a small likelihood. He recommends self-publishing because at the very least you see your work in print. Not only does it provide a boost to a writer’s self-esteem, it’s the first step to actually selling a book. From there, anything is possible – especially with hard work and determination.

Reference: http://focusmag.com.au/coffs/index.php?s=michael+davies