The Man From The Mainland: David Lynch releases his first book
By Éadaoin Ní Flaithearta
A volatile chief of police and a disturbed criminal who was recently released from prison are the central focus of a recently released novel, entitled ‘The Man from the Mainland’, which is set on a rural Irish island.
The book is the brainchild of David Lynch, who grew up in Killinarden in Tallaght and attended Killinarden Community School, and marks his first book release after many years of writing.
David Lynch
Set in 2004, the book follows the exploits of Chief Superintendent Tom Bryne, who wrestles with his demons while fearing the return of Donald O’Sullivan, a dangerous criminal he arrested many years ago, with tragic consequences.
Author David, who has lived in Spain more than a decade, told The Echo about his first foray into writing, and why he decided to set 'The Man from the Mainland’ in rural Ireland in 2004.
When did you move to Spain and why did you decide to move there?
It was the age-old story of boy meets girl. I met a Spanish girl in Dublin who was living there for a year, and then she had to return to Spain to finish her studies.
When she invited me to go with her, in 2007, I accepted, thinking I would only live there for a few months. However, over a decade later, I’m still here.
When did you start writing?
I went through periods in my life where I enjoyed writing and it started as a hobby. I wrote some short stories then I tried to write a novel in my early 20s.
The story ran out of steam and didn’t feel right, so I put it on hiatus. But I am currently using the theme from that story for my next novel.
Only this time, I made the characters older and it has given the whole story a new lease of life.
Has living in Spain influenced your writing?
I think the concept of moving to a new country – any country – where you’re introduced to new cultures and ideology can only help to broaden your mind and nurture creativity. Spain also contributed to one of the character’s mannerisms, plus he is obsessed with Spain.
He wants to escape the island where the story is based, and live in Spain.
Why did you decide to set ‘The Man from the Mainland’ on a rural Irish island?
There are volatile characters in the book that resent each other, so the prospect of having them on a rural island where they cannot avoid each other adds another layer of tension that you might lose by having the setting, for example, in a large city.
You also set the book in 2004. What was it about that year that made it an appealing period of time for the book to be set in?
It was mainly to assist with a character’s struggle with new technology after ten years of incarceration. There was a dramatic change between 1994 and 2004, rather than in the last ten years, in regards to mobile phones and the internet, which was in its infancy back in 1994. So, 2004 felt right.
How does it feel to have released your debut novel? Were you nervous or excited about it coming out?
Definitely a combination of the two. Nerves, because you’re sharing your ideas with people, and, of course, failure, which nobody craves, particularly on something as time-consuming as writing a novel.
Then excitement because of the prospect of releasing a book. And seeing your words printed on paper, and in your hand, is a surreal but amazing feeling.
Where can people purchase ‘The Man from the Mainland’?
It can be found online now on Waterstones, any Amazon platform, on Kindle and Paperback.
Unfortunately, there are some teething troubles on some devices with the paperback version on Amazon UK due to new regulations with Brexit, which will hopefully be resolved soon.
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