David Dodds
ALLi Author Member
Location: United Kingdom
Genres: Magical Realism, Fantasy
David Dodds has been writing all his life. From short stories, written as a child on an elderly typewriter, via editing a university newsletter, he progressed to writing both fiction and non-fiction for a broad range of magazines and blogs, as diverse as Practical Wireless, Sailplane and Gliding and various wildlife and conservation publications. When he progressed to novel-writing he combined his love of history and mythology with magical realism, set in the dark wynds and closes of Edinburgh. His first novel, Touchpaper, the first in the Parallel Realm series was published in 2024. The second, Wyrm-galdr was published in late 2025. David lives in a former railway workers cottage in the Scottish Borders with his wife Rona, a small and opinionated dog and an elderly one-eyed cat. Now retired from his work as a bat ecologist, when not engaged in writing or small-dog-wrangling he helps Rona with her successful plant nursery. He also enjoys flying gliders over the beautiful Scottish Borders and training new pilots, in his role as a flight instructor.
David Dodds' books
Genres: Magical Realism, Fantasy
Formats: E-Book, Paperback, Hardback
Age Groups: 12-15, 16-18, 18+
An immersive urban fantasy with a fun twist on legendary and mythological creatures. Narrated by Drew Macleod, a young man learning to wield galdr—magic inherited, bargained for, and barely understood—the story balances irreverent wit with escalating stakes. Drew’s reluctant mentor, the gruff daemon Archer, remains a standout presence: cigar-smoking, whisky-loving, emotionally guarded, and deeply unpredictable. Their strained relationship, shaped by guilt and unspoken loyalty, gives the novel much of its emotional weight. Around them gathers a wonderfully eccentric cast, from the compassionate herbalist Alyssum and the steadfast artisan Traggheim to Jamie, Drew’s loyal best friend, and Garm—an ancient being housed in the body of a small, opinionated dog. David Dodds weaves together urban fantasy with rich historical and mythological elements, adding a dash of steampunk and a touch of coziness, all set against the atmospheric backdrop of Edinburgh, creating a truly original reading experience.
Genres: Magical Realism, Fantasy
Formats: E-Book, Paperback, Hardback
Age Groups: 12-15, 16-18, 18+
My name’s Drew Macleod and I can use galdr. You’d call it magic. I’m slowly developing my skills with the “help” of Archer. He’s a grumpy git, but he’s the last remaining daemon, so who else is going to protect Edinburgh from all the bad stuff out there? The angelii? Don’t make me laugh. If people had any idea what was going on out of sight they’d wet themselves and the angelii are as powerful as half-drowned kittens. So it’s down to Archer and I to fend off maras, sceadhus, shades, ælves and all the other nasties out there. There’s Garm of course, but as he manifests as a small, scruffy dog his help is limited to sarcastic advice. Thank heavens for Alyssum and Traggheim, herbalist and dweorg artisan respectively. And Jamie, the best mate I accidentally dragged into all this with me. Wyrm-galdr is the second book in the...