I’m excited to feature this Q&A with David Quantick, author of the upcoming all-ages novella, Imagine a Friend. David’s writing includes short stories, novels, television, cinema, and more. I’m fascinated by his amazing career, and I think you will be, too!
Imagine a Friend will be released by Stars and Sabers on March 10.
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Myna: Tell us about Imagine a Friend! Who are your characters? What themes do you explore?
David: Imagine A Friend is a novella about two friends, Louie and Marcie, and what happens when one of them can no longer see the other – and when a terrible truth is revealed.
Louie and Marcie are best friends. They share the same sense of adventure and the same sense of humour: by rights they should be friends for life – but there’s a fundamental difference between them that tears their friendship in two.
Myna: When a reader finishes the last word in the book, what emotion will they be feeling?
David: Hopefully delight and relief combined, with a strong vein of sadness conquered, and a sense that real feelings are never easy. I will also accept whooping and air-punching as these are also emotions.
Myna: How did this novella come about?
David: I had an idea for a short story with a twist in the tail but the more I thought about the more it seemed like it could be a longer story. Initially, in fact, it was going to be the script for an animated movie, which would still work, but I think it found a natural home in the form of a novella. I sent it to Stars and Sabers and they got it straightaway.
Myna: If your book had a theme song, what would it be?
David: I am surprised to realise that the answer to that question is “Together In Electric Dreams” by Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, and I have no idea why, except it just fits.
I would also add “Who Knows Where The Time Goes?” by Fairport Convention, a sad and wise song written by a teenaged girl.
Myna: Were there any surprises along the route to writing or publishing Imagine a Friend?
David: Only in just how much I enjoyed writing Louie and Marcie and populating their world – and how much sadness and loss there is running through the story.
Myna: How did you get started as a writer?
David: I always wrote as a kid, I just didn’t know I wanted to be a writer. My mum was a secretary and she gave me her old typewriter and that was it for me. I couldn’t stop writing. I wrote my first short story when I was 21, I became a music journalist shortly after, and then started writing comedy as well. It took me decades to figure out novels, though. I hope I did, anyway.
Myna: Do you have other books or stories you’d like to mention? Please tell us about them!
David: I have a novel coming out with Stars and Sabers in November. It’s called THE HYENA, and it’s the story of a (fictional) surrealist painter called Deborah Parkinson, who knew everyone from Frida Kahlo to Salvador Dali and saw everything and was a great lost artist. It’s about identity and individuality and – along with IMAGINE A FRIEND – is the piece of my writing I care the most about.
Myna: You’ve written a lot of very cool things! Do you have a different approach to the work, depending on the medium? Is there any creative overlap among the various projects?
David: Thanks! I’ve never been good at sticking to the same topic and I’ve written horror, sci-fi, romcoms, and political satire: and I write for radio, TV, movies, and print. I think the reason is because when I have an idea, I tend to think “This would be a great horror novel” or “This could be a sci-fi comic” – finding the format that fits the idea, rather than stick to one format.
There’s always overlap: because I wrote all these different things and they’re all made of my ideas and obsessions. In a lot of my books, for example, you’ll find a secret clan of private eyes, all with the same last name.
Myna: How would you describe your writing style, in general? What’s your favorite thing about writing?
David: I like comedy because life is funny and I like surrealism because life is weird. I like trying to think of things that haven’t been done: I don’t like to be too obvious.
And my favourite thing about writing is when two ideas rise up together and become a third, better idea.
Myna: How do you stay motivated?
David: I don’t know how to do anything else. But I love writing and sometimes get paid to do it.
Myna: Tell us about your awards, nominations, etc. Don’t be shy!
David: I have some comedy awards, mostly for radio in the UK, and I have an Emmy from when I wrote on VEEP. That was quite a night: Mel Brooks, who is a comedy hero, not only presented us with the award, but shook everyone’s hand and said “Well done.”
Myna: Do you have a pet, or other non-writing hobbies/activities? Show us a picture!
David: Jim the labradoodle. He is a very fine dog indeed.
Myna: What do you wish I’d asked?
David: Nothing! Your questions have a poetry equal to the music of the spheres and a completeness that’s all-compassing. I had a lovely time and am impressed by your thoroughness. Thank you!
Myna: What’s next for you?
David: I’m writing short stories for my Substack, I’ve got a book about the Beatles I wrote 20 years ago being reissued in a new edition next year, and I’ve just written a novel with a talking dog in it.
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David Quantick is an author and a writer for TV, radio and cinema. He has written several novels including ALL MY COLORS, NIGHT TRAIN and GO WEST, and his short story collection AND OTHER STORIES is out now from Into Books.
He received an Emmy for his work on HBO’s VEEP and his romantic comedy film BOOK OF LOVE won an Imagen Award in 2022. David has written for many other TV shows in the UK and USA, from THE THICK OF IT to AVENUE 5.
Projects in 2025 include SPIDER ISLAND, a horror movie co-written by David, and a new novel with Stars and Sabers, THE HYENA.
Myna Chang 