David C. Flanagan

David C. Flanagan is a writer based in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.

His first book, Board, was published by Fledgling Press in 2015 and recounted his attempts to overcome a fear of the ocean and learn to surf in middle-age, on the wild Atlantic coast of Orkney.

David’s debut children’s work, Uncle Pete and the Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep, was published by Little Door Books in 2021. This was followed by Uncle Pete and the Forest of Lost Things in 2022, with the third instalment of the series, Uncle Pete and the Polar Bear Rescue, published in 2023. David also has further non-fiction works underway.

He has appeared at the Kendall Mountain Festival, the Wigtown Book Festival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Reviews for Uncle Pete and the Boy Who Couldn't Sleep...

"There's so much magic in this story, it cannot fail to appeal to readers 5+, and is a perfect chapter book for those ready to move on from Picture books to something more challenging, and yet still engaging and perfectly pitched for young readers"

The Book Whisperer

“With themes of collaboration, determination, ingenuity, kindness and acceptance, Uncle Pete is the perfect book for young readers who enjoy adventure, quirky fun and loveable characters.We were all totally spellbound by the story and the children would beg to have one more chapter each night!”

Primary Teacher Bookshelf

"Young readers will love the imaginative narrative brought brilliantly to life with quirky illustrations and they’ll all be wanting to join Uncle Pete and TM on their next adventure!"

The Book Activist

"With all the lovable wackiness of Neil Gaiman's Fortunately, the Milk, the quirkiness of Quentin Blake, an added sprinkle of stardust and some strawberry jam sandwiches, Uncle Pete... is a marvellously imaginative, outstandingly original, starry adventure to fall in love with."

Bluebird Reviews

"Uncle Pete and the Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep is a wonderfully quirky wee story that explores themes of perseverance and determination and the powerful impact of working as a team and I absolutely loved it!"

Unicorns and Kelpies

"The story is packed full of action from magical stardust, icy mountains, a cloud garden, a black cat wearing glasses and a journey that will ignite the imagination of its reader."

The Book Cosy

“David C Flanagan’s rip-roaring, fantastic story, brings Harry’s plight to life for young readers and beyond. With characters like Uncle Pete, T.M and Mr Weaver, there’s no shortage of laughs as you join the intrepid explorers on a wonderful adventure. The illustrations by Will Hughes are reminiscent of Quentin Blake and add even more humour to the story as they depict their escapades through the chapters. A brilliant tale of adversity against all odds with some stardust thrown in for good measure.”

My Book Corner

Reviews for Board...

"Surfing's literary canon has a welcome new addition charting the highs and lows of riding Orkney's waves...Flanagan's memoir offers a surf story that's original on two levels: firstly, it puts an unexpected spin on the man-deals-with-mid-life-crisis-by-learning-to-surf cliché by having its protagonist getting to grips with the Sport of Kings in some of the most inhospitable conditions imaginable, namely the board-snapping, bone-crunching reefs of Orkney's Bay of Skaill; and secondly, it also details the author's parallel attempts to rekindle his childhood love of skateboarding - a passion which came to a sudden end one Sunday morning in Leith when he accidentally ploughed through a column of veterans attending a Remembrance Day service."...Roger Cox, The Scotsman.

"This is an engaging and brilliantly written surfing and skateboarding memoir. There's plenty of action, but it's also packed with humour and reflection, and deserves to reach an audience way beyond enthusiasts for those two sports."...Scotland Outdoors magazine.

"A wonderful story of hope and freedom."...Surfer Today

"Thoroughly unpretentious, Board brings a brutally honest account of what it's like to pursue an extreme sport in middle age."...Andrew Stewart, The Orcadian.