The written word has played a central role in Douglas’s life. From writing adventure stories at his junior school to writing ads, radio and TV commercials during a long career in advertising and PR.
Novel writing was a natural progression but instead of writing 60 words for a 30 second radio commercial he found penning 80,000 words for a novel an exciting and exacting challenge. Writing a novel in spare moments while still at the anvil of business as well as raising a family requires a particular dedication. Now in retirement he has more time to devote to honing his craft, seeking out professional editorial advice and reading avidly.
He writes under the title of D A Adamson to avoid confusion with the late Douglas Adams.
His first two novels in the Windelton series were dark, satirical takes on life in rural Yorkshire in the 1960s.
Douglas relishes observational wit which often characterises his writing, although there is only a smattering of this trope in his latest novel, The Third Apology.
“I seem to have a prejudice about posh estate agents and can never resist have a dig at them. Max Bulstrode-Palmer, who makes brief appearance in the Apology, is an example of my humour seeping onto the page.“
“I am lucky enough to live in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales which continues to offer inspiration for my writing as well as being a place of consistency, wonder and solace in our ever-changing and unpredictable world.”
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Work in progress
The Windelton series was always intended to be a trilogy but the ending of Windleton and the Bavarian Incident brought the saga to an explosive conclusion with the deaths of Lady Lavinia Inchdale and the Baron.
Thus the idea of writing a prequel that mapped the early life of the hapless over-ambitious bank manger, Gerald Astle, was a creative solution to completing the set. Rotten Riding is set in the imaginary industrial town of Brittley during the 1950s; the narrative satirises the changing social mores of the period where the rich are getting poor and the poor richer. This book is currently at first draft stage.
The Windelton Absurdities, Windelton and the Bavarian Incident, The Third Apology and Rubbish: The Little Dog That Became A Street Cleaner can be purchased as paperbacks on Amazon and in bookstores on request. The two Windelton novels and the Apology are also available as Kindle downloads.
You can order The Third Apology and the children’s book, Rubbish, directly from this site. (See order page)
The Third Apology is currently being recorded and narrated by the author in audio format.
If you would like to communicate directly with Douglas
he can be reached at: da@douglasadamson.com