David Hankins in the Writers of the Future Epic eBundle

This interview is part of a series on the authors contributing to the Writers of the Future Epic eBundle, available starting July 11.

I was honored to meet David Hankins at the Writers and Illustrators of the Future workshop for Volume 39, back in 2023. It was a pleasure to get to know him (along with all of the students) both in class and at the after-hours gatherings. David was eager to learn from the instructors and to get to know his fellow winners. He was engaging and quick and fun to be with.

Oh, and he had ducks. But that’s another story…

David Hankins is the award-winning author of Death and the Taxman. He writes from the thriving cornfields of Iowa where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two dragons disguised as cats. His short stories have graced the pages of Writers of the Future Volume 39, Amazing Stories, DreamForge Magazine, Escape Pod, Unidentified Funny Objects 9, and others. David devotes his time to his passions of writing, traveling, and finding new ways to pay his mortgage. You can find him at https://davidhankins.com

I had the opportunity to ask David a few questions about him, his work, and the Writers of the Future Epic eBundle.

How are you associated with Writers of the Future, and what does it mean to you?

Writers of the Future launched my writing career. I was an enthusiastic (unpublished) amateur when I found the contest, and through their resources and community, I grew by leaps and bounds. I won the contest in Volume 39 with my original short story of Death and the Taxman, the novel in this bundle, and WotF’s enduring support since then has been truly phenomenal!

Tell us about your book in the bundle. Why did you choose this book from all your works?

Death and the Taxman is about the Grim Reaper trapped in an IRS agent’s dying body. He must regain his powers before he dies and faces judgment for his original sin. The original short story won Writers of the Future and was named Best SFF Short Story of 2023 in Critters Readers Poll. The fully expanded novel in this bundle won Book of the Year for Outstanding Humor (Independent Author Network) as well as the Best SFF Novel of 2024 with Critters. This is the first book of the Grimsworld Series.

What was your favorite part of writing/editing this book?

I absolutely love writing from the perspective of Death himself. I’m a huge fan of Terry Pratchett, so creating a Reaper in homage to his vision of Death was a real treat. My version of Death is a fallen angel who became the Grim Reaper as an escape from judgment for his original sin. He’s serious, hard-working, and genuinely cares about the souls in his charge. But he’s never really understood humanity, which made writing him trapped in a dying human body a whole lot of fun!

What one other of your books should readers check out?

I highly recommend Grimsworld Tales, a collection of short stories set in the same world as Death and the Taxman. They’re mostly origin stories that answer a few questions I intentionally left unanswered in the novel while setting the stage for the follow-on novels in the series.

Is there another story or author would you recommend to your readers as an exemplar of the Writers of the Future Contest?

My favorite story in recent years was “Butter Side Down” by Kal M in Volume 40. Absolutely hilarious! Humor is hard to write, and Kal M nailed it using a unique style and sardonic voice. She made me cheer for the toaster who ended the world!

What’s your favorite Writers of the Future memory?

For me, it was the art reveal. Walking in and seeing the art for my story for the first time was an experience like no other. While other authors started crying at the beauty of their illustrators’ works, I busted out laughing. I loved it! Sarah Morrison’s illustration of Death and the Taxman perfectly captured the lighthearted nature of the story, and I immediately asked her about using it for the cover of the upcoming novel. We’ve been working together ever since.

Learn more about David Hankins

• Website: https://davidhankins.com/
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/DavidHankins.Author
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/_davidhankins/
• TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@_davidhankins
• X: https://x.com/_davidhankins
• BS: https://bsky.app/profile/davidhankins.bsky.social