David will be speaking together with Bob Fairbrother at the Town Hall (within the Corn Exchange) on Saturday 14th November 2026 between 2.15pm and 3.15pm.
One Step Ahead of Reality
What makes a headline into a gripping thriller? How do authors capture the challenges, conflicts, and possibilities that lie just beyond the horizon?
Join David Orson Newton and Bob Fairbrother for a lively conversation exploring the inspiration behind their writing and the art of creating stories that feel both entertaining and unsettlingly plausible. From emerging technologies and global events to timeless questions of power, courage, and human nature, they’ll discuss how contemporary issues find their way into fiction and why readers are drawn to stories that reflect the world around them.
Along the way, they’ll share insights into their creative processes, the research behind their novels, and the challenges of balancing realism with imagination. Whether you’re an avid thriller reader, an aspiring writer, or simply curious about how authors transform real-world ideas into compelling fiction, this engaging discussion offers a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes.
Expect thought-provoking conversation, plenty of stories, and opportunities to put your own questions to the authors.
About the author
Combat Veteran and technologist, David Orson Newton’s work has taken him from the warzones of Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen to the leading edge of innovation in Silicon Valley. He now resides with his wife and son in rural Devon, England. An alumnus of the Faber Academy, Seconds to Midnight is his first novel.
David’s Latest Release: Seconds to Midnight
2029. Europe is on the brink. The Doomsday Clock ticks towards midnight.
Cyberwarfare, disinformation and public dissent rage across the continent.
Five humans enter the fray. Some are willing, some are not.
A retired spook forced back into the shadows; a journalist chasing truth through a fog of lies; a data scientist whose brilliance hides dangerous loyalties; a street fighter seeking purpose in chaos; and a veteran who swore never to fight again.
In the shadows, British Intelligence launches two Top Secret operations – IRIS and ARTEMIS – powered by Omnia, an artificial superintelligence designed to prevent war.
But is Omnia following the human script?
Is the AI saving humanity or replacing it?
Propulsive, chilling and disturbingly plausible, Seconds to Midnight is a high-stakes techno-thriller exploring control, conscience, and what happens when the future decides it no longer needs us.
