David Conyers
Encyclopedia
David Conyers writes predominantly science fiction
and Lovecraftian horror.
Most of his childhood was spent in the Adelaide Hills
, before moving to Melbourne
. There he achieved a bachelor's degree
in civil engineering
at the University of Melbourne
in 1993. After several years working on remote outback construction sites in Western Australia
, and extensive travel in Africa
and Europe
in 1995, he settled back in Melbourne taking up a career in marketing
and corporate communications
. He moved to Adelaide
in 2005 where he now lives with his wife and daughter.
David published his first professional story Vanishing Curves in the Book of Dark Wisdom in 2004 and his first novel, The Spiraling Worm
co-authored with United States horror writer John Sunseri
, was published by Chaosium
in 2007. The novel went on to receive an Honourable Mention for Best Australian Horror Novel in the 12th Annual Aurealis Award
and the 2007 Australian Shadows Award
.
His science fiction short stories have been nominated for the Aurealis Award, the Australian Shadows Award, the Ditmar Award
and the Aeon Award
, the last presented by the Irish speculative fiction magazine Albedo One
. In 2007 he won the Australian Horror Writers Association
's Flash Fiction Award for his story Homo Canis and in 2011 won the Short Story category for the same award for Winds of Nzambi co-authored with David Kernot.
Recurring themes in David's work includes human rights
abuse, totalitarianism
, self-identity, and self-actualization.
Between 2004 and 2007, David was the Associate Editor of the Book of Dark Wisdom. At the same time he was writing and editing role-playing games, predominately for the Call of Cthulhu
setting, based on the works of H. P. Lovecraft
and published by Chaosium Inc. He is currently a reviews editor and interviewer with Albedo One
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and Lovecraftian horror.
Most of his childhood was spent in the Adelaide Hills
Adelaide Hills
The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is unofficially centred on the largest town in the area, Mount Barker, which has a population of around 29,000 and is also one of Australia's fastest growing towns.- History :The...
, before moving to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. There he achieved a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1993. After several years working on remote outback construction sites in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and extensive travel in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1995, he settled back in Melbourne taking up a career in marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
and corporate communications
Corporate communications
Corporate communication is the message issued by a corporate organization, body, or institute to its publics. "Publics" can be both internal Corporate communication is the message issued by a corporate organization, body, or institute to its publics. "Publics" can be both internal Corporate...
. He moved to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in 2005 where he now lives with his wife and daughter.
David published his first professional story Vanishing Curves in the Book of Dark Wisdom in 2004 and his first novel, The Spiraling Worm
The Spiraling Worm
The Spiraling Worm is a science fiction and Lovecraftian horror novel written in the style of a spy thriller, by authors David Conyers and John Sunseri and published in 2007. The novel went on to receive an Honourable Mention for Best Australian Horror Novel in the 12th Annual Aurealis Award and...
co-authored with United States horror writer John Sunseri
John Sunseri
John Sunseri is a horror writer from Portland, Oregon in the United States. As well as writing traditional horror fiction he also writes Lovecraftian horror. John spent two years at Yale University studying a major in English. Today he manages a restaurant.Writing since 2001, John has published...
, was published by Chaosium
Chaosium
Chaosium is one of the longer lived publishers of role-playing games still in existence. Founded by Greg Stafford, its first game was actually a wargame, White Bear and Red Moon, which later mutated into Dragon Pass and its sequel, Nomad Gods...
in 2007. The novel went on to receive an Honourable Mention for Best Australian Horror Novel in the 12th Annual Aurealis Award
Aurealis Award
Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award.-History:...
and the 2007 Australian Shadows Award
Australian Shadows Award
The Australian Shadows Award is an annual literary award established by the Australian Horror Writers Association in 2005 to honour the best published work of horror fiction written or edited by an Australian...
.
His science fiction short stories have been nominated for the Aurealis Award, the Australian Shadows Award, the Ditmar Award
Ditmar Award
The Ditmar Award has been awarded annually since 1969 at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention to recognise achievement in Australian science fiction and science fiction fandom...
and the Aeon Award
Aeon Award
The Aeon Award is a contest for short fiction in any speculative genre, including fantasy, science fiction, and horror. The Award is sponsored by Aeon Press has a grand prize of €1000 and publication in Albedo One.-2005-2006 Awards:...
, the last presented by the Irish speculative fiction magazine Albedo One
Albedo one
Albedo One is an Irish horror, fantasy and science fiction magazine founded in 1993 and currently published by Albedo One Productions.-Overview:...
. In 2007 he won the Australian Horror Writers Association
Australian Horror Writers Association
The Australian Horror Writers Association is a non-profit organisation that commenced in 2003 with the goal of providing a unified voice and sense of community for Australian writers of dark fiction and to further the development of dark fiction in Australia.-History:The AHWA built to some extent...
's Flash Fiction Award for his story Homo Canis and in 2011 won the Short Story category for the same award for Winds of Nzambi co-authored with David Kernot.
Recurring themes in David's work includes human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
abuse, totalitarianism
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible...
, self-identity, and self-actualization.
Between 2004 and 2007, David was the Associate Editor of the Book of Dark Wisdom. At the same time he was writing and editing role-playing games, predominately for the Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)
Call of Cthulhu is a horror fiction role-playing game based on H. P. Lovecraft's story of the same name and the associated Cthulhu Mythos.The game, often abbreviated as CoC, is published by Chaosium.-Setting:...
setting, based on the works of H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
and published by Chaosium Inc. He is currently a reviews editor and interviewer with Albedo One
Albedo one
Albedo One is an Irish horror, fantasy and science fiction magazine founded in 1993 and currently published by Albedo One Productions.-Overview:...
.
The Harrison Peel series
Modern day Lovecraftian horror novel series set in the world of spies, government conspiracies and cosmic monsters.- The Spiraling WormThe Spiraling WormThe Spiraling Worm is a science fiction and Lovecraftian horror novel written in the style of a spy thriller, by authors David Conyers and John Sunseri and published in 2007. The novel went on to receive an Honourable Mention for Best Australian Horror Novel in the 12th Annual Aurealis Award and...
(2007), with John SunseriJohn SunseriJohn Sunseri is a horror writer from Portland, Oregon in the United States. As well as writing traditional horror fiction he also writes Lovecraftian horror. John spent two years at Yale University studying a major in English. Today he manages a restaurant.Writing since 2001, John has published...
, ISBN 156882-212-X. Honourable Mention Best Horror Novel for the Aurealis AwardAurealis AwardAurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award.-History:...
(2007) and the Australian Shadows AwardAustralian Shadows AwardThe Australian Shadows Award is an annual literary award established by the Australian Horror Writers Association in 2005 to honour the best published work of horror fiction written or edited by an Australian...
(2007). - The Eye of Infinity (2011).
Anthology appearances
- False Containment (2005), Horrors Beyond, ed. William Jones, Elder Signs PressElder Signs PressElder Signs Press, Inc is a Michigan-based book publisher distributed through the Independent Publishers Group. It specializes in horror, science fiction, and fantasy titles.-History:...
. Reprinted in The Spiraling WormThe Spiraling WormThe Spiraling Worm is a science fiction and Lovecraftian horror novel written in the style of a spy thriller, by authors David Conyers and John Sunseri and published in 2007. The novel went on to receive an Honourable Mention for Best Australian Horror Novel in the 12th Annual Aurealis Award and...
, Chaosium Inc. - Aftermath (2006), Agog! Ripping Reads, ed. Cat Sparks, Agog! PressAgog! PressAgog! Press is an independent Australian book publisher, specializing in speculative fiction short story collections. It was founded in 2002 by Cat Sparks....
. Short-listed for the Aurealis AwardAurealis AwardAurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award.-History:...
(2006) and Ditmar AwardDitmar AwardThe Ditmar Award has been awarded annually since 1969 at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention to recognise achievement in Australian science fiction and science fiction fandom...
(2007). Reprinted in Apex OnlineApex DigestApex Magazine, also previously known as Apex Digest, is an American horror and science fiction magazine which began publishing in 2005 out of Lexington, Kentucky. In 2008, Apex Digest ceased printing the American digest size print version and opted to move the magazine online. This free webzine,...
ed. Jason SizemoreJason Sizemore (editor)Jason Sizemore is an American writer and editor based in Lexington, Kentucky. He is the editor and publisher of Apex Digest, a quarterly science fiction and horror digest...
. - Regrowth (2006), Arkham TalesArkham TalesArkham Tales is a 2006 Cthulhu Mythos anthology published by Chaosium. It is a shared universe anthology, meaning all the stories occur in the same fictional universe. The stories all take place in the fictional city of Arkham, Massachusetts, spanning a time period from 1873 to the present day...
, ed. William Jones, Chaosium Inc.ChaosiumChaosium is one of the longer lived publishers of role-playing games still in existence. Founded by Greg Stafford, its first game was actually a wargame, White Bear and Red Moon, which later mutated into Dragon Pass and its sequel, Nomad Gods... - Outside, Looking In (2006), Hardboiled Cthulhu, ed. James Ambuehl, Elder Signs PressElder Signs PressElder Signs Press, Inc is a Michigan-based book publisher distributed through the Independent Publishers Group. It specializes in horror, science fiction, and fantasy titles.-History:...
. - As Above, So Below (2007), Secrets of Kenya, Chaosium Inc.ChaosiumChaosium is one of the longer lived publishers of role-playing games still in existence. Founded by Greg Stafford, its first game was actually a wargame, White Bear and Red Moon, which later mutated into Dragon Pass and its sequel, Nomad Gods...
- Made of Meat (2007), The Spiraling Worm, Chaosium Inc.
- Impossible Object (2007), The Spiraling Worm, Chaosium Inc.
- Weapon Grade (2007), The Spiraling Worm, Chaosium Inc.
- The Spiraling Worm (2007) with John Sunseri, The Spiraling Worm, Chaosium Inc.
- Subtle Invasion (2007), The Black Book of Horror, ed. Charles Black, Mortbury Press. Short-listed for the Australian Shadows AwardAustralian Shadows AwardThe Australian Shadows Award is an annual literary award established by the Australian Horror Writers Association in 2005 to honour the best published work of horror fiction written or edited by an Australian...
(2007). Reprinted in Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror Volume 3, ed. Angela Challis, Brimstone PressBrimstone PressBrimstone Press was an Australian independent publisher of dark fiction . Brimstone Press was established in 2004 by Angela Challis and Shane Jiraiya Cummings and was based in Western Australia....
(2009) and in Best New Tales of the Apocalypse, Permuted Press (Forthcoming). - Soft Viscosity (2008), 2012, ed. Alisa Krasnostein and Ben Payne, Twelfth Planet Press. Short-listed for the Ditmar Award (2009).
- Hell's Ambassador (2008), Black Box, ed. Shane Jiraiya CummingsShane Jiraiya CummingsShane Jiraiya Cummings is an Australian horror short story writer and editor. He lives in Perth, Western Australia with his partner Angela Challis...
, Brimstone PressBrimstone PressBrimstone Press was an Australian independent publisher of dark fiction . Brimstone Press was established in 2004 by Angela Challis and Shane Jiraiya Cummings and was based in Western Australia....
. - Homo Canis (2008), 2008 Award Winning Australian Writing, ed. David Tenenbuam, Melbourne Books. Reprinted in Midnight Echo #2 (Australian Horror Writers Association, 2009).
- Six-Legged Shadows (2009) with Brian M Sammons, Monstrous, Permuted Press.
- The Lord of the Law (2009), The Fourth Black Book of Horror, Mortbury Press.
- Stomach Acid (2009) with Brian M Sammons, Cthulhu Unbound2, ed. John SunseriJohn SunseriJohn Sunseri is a horror writer from Portland, Oregon in the United States. As well as writing traditional horror fiction he also writes Lovecraftian horror. John spent two years at Yale University studying a major in English. Today he manages a restaurant.Writing since 2001, John has published...
, Permuted Press. - Sweet as Decay (2010) with David Witteveen, Macabre, ed. Angela Challis and Marty Young, Brimstone PressBrimstone PressBrimstone Press was an Australian independent publisher of dark fiction . Brimstone Press was established in 2004 by Angela Challis and Shane Jiraiya Cummings and was based in Western Australia....
- Dream Machine (2010), Scenes from the Second StoreyScenes from the Second StoreyScenes from the Second Storey is the debut album by The God Machine released in 1993 by Fiction Records / Polydor. It peaked at #55 in the UK Album Chart....
, Morrigan Books. Short-listed for the Australian Shadows AwardAustralian Shadows AwardThe Australian Shadows Award is an annual literary award established by the Australian Horror Writers Association in 2005 to honour the best published work of horror fiction written or edited by an Australian...
(2010). - Sister of the Sands (2010), Cthulhu's Dark CultsCthulhu's Dark CultsCthulhu’s Dark Cults edited by David Conyers is an anthology of ten Cthulhu Mythos short stories set in Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu role-playing game setting...
, ed. David Conyers, Chaosium Inc.ChaosiumChaosium is one of the longer lived publishers of role-playing games still in existence. Founded by Greg Stafford, its first game was actually a wargame, White Bear and Red Moon, which later mutated into Dragon Pass and its sequel, Nomad Gods...
Selected magazine appearances
- Vanishing Curves (2004), Book of Dark Wisdom #3, ed. William Jones, Elder Signs PressElder Signs PressElder Signs Press, Inc is a Michigan-based book publisher distributed through the Independent Publishers Group. It specializes in horror, science fiction, and fantasy titles.-History:...
. - Solvent Hunger (2005), Book of Dark Wisdom #5, ed. William Jones, Elder Signs PressElder Signs PressElder Signs Press, Inc is a Michigan-based book publisher distributed through the Independent Publishers Group. It specializes in horror, science fiction, and fantasy titles.-History:...
. - The Faceless Watchers (2005), Lovecraft's Weird Mysteries #10.
- Cactus (2008), Midnight Echo #1.
- Terraformer (2008), Andromeda Spaceways Inflight MagazineAndromeda Spaceways Inflight MagazineAndromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine or ASIM is a fantasy and science fiction magazine and webzine published out of Glenn Innes, New South Wales, Australia. The publishers of ASIM describe it as "Australia's Pulpiest SF Magazine". The magazine is currently edited by Robbie Matthews and is...
#37. - Black Water (2009), Jupiter MagazineJupiter MagazineJupiter is a science fiction magazine and is edited by Ian Redman. Based in the United Kingdom, Jupiter has garnered a solid reputation as a dependable small press in its respective field, as noted by SF Crowsnest, and is a publication which SFRevue calls "an amusing journey"...
#24. Reprinted online at Albedo One. - The Octagon (2009), Jupiter MagazineJupiter MagazineJupiter is a science fiction magazine and is edited by Ian Redman. Based in the United Kingdom, Jupiter has garnered a solid reputation as a dependable small press in its respective field, as noted by SF Crowsnest, and is a publication which SFRevue calls "an amusing journey"...
#26. - Emergency Rebuild (2010), Andromeda Spaceways Inflight MagazineAndromeda Spaceways Inflight MagazineAndromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine or ASIM is a fantasy and science fiction magazine and webzine published out of Glenn Innes, New South Wales, Australia. The publishers of ASIM describe it as "Australia's Pulpiest SF Magazine". The magazine is currently edited by Robbie Matthews and is...
#43. - The Uncertainty Bridge (2010), Jupiter MagazineJupiter MagazineJupiter is a science fiction magazine and is edited by Ian Redman. Based in the United Kingdom, Jupiter has garnered a solid reputation as a dependable small press in its respective field, as noted by SF Crowsnest, and is a publication which SFRevue calls "an amusing journey"...
#30. - The Masked Messenger (2011) with John Goodrich, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight MagazineAndromeda Spaceways Inflight MagazineAndromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine or ASIM is a fantasy and science fiction magazine and webzine published out of Glenn Innes, New South Wales, Australia. The publishers of ASIM describe it as "Australia's Pulpiest SF Magazine". The magazine is currently edited by Robbie Matthews and is...
#52. - Winds of Nzambi (2011) with David Kernot, Midnight Echo #6.
- Expectant Green (2012) with John Kenny, Jupiter MagazineJupiter MagazineJupiter is a science fiction magazine and is edited by Ian Redman. Based in the United Kingdom, Jupiter has garnered a solid reputation as a dependable small press in its respective field, as noted by SF Crowsnest, and is a publication which SFRevue calls "an amusing journey"...
#35.
Interviews
- Interview conducted with Innsmouth Free Press (2009)
- Interview conducted by Shane Jiraiya CummingsShane Jiraiya CummingsShane Jiraiya Cummings is an Australian horror short story writer and editor. He lives in Perth, Western Australia with his partner Angela Challis...
at OzHorrorScope (2007) - Interview Snapshot 2007 conducted by Alisa Krasnostein for ASif (2007)
- Interview conducted by Gary Kemble at ABC NewsAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(2007) - Interview conducted by Paul Maclean at Yog-Sothoth.com (2007)
- Half a Page with... David Conyers (2007), Southern Write, April 2007 Newsletter of the SA Writers' Centre Inc, pg7.