Jávea resident publishes first novel at 77 after overcoming life-threatening illness

For many people, writing a novel remains a lifelong dream. For Costa Blanca North resident David Conway, it became a reality at the age of 77.

The Jávea-area author has published his first novel, The Quiet Deception, a psychological mystery that spans Scotland, Gibraltar, the Costa del Sol and the Mar Menor, bringing together suspense, betrayal, redemption and human relationships in a story decades in the making.

Speaking exclusively to Euro Weekly News, Conway described the book as “something I have wanted to do for many years.”

“It is a work of fiction, a psychological mystery, something I would have called a ‘good yarn’ in my early years,” he said.

The novel follows former colleagues Scott and Tom, whose lives have taken dramatically different paths since they first worked together in a successful financial business. Reunited under difficult circumstances, they find themselves entangled in a dangerous web of secrets, while an ageing Glasgow crime boss and his troubled son add further layers of intrigue.

A story inspired by life

While The Quiet Deception is entirely fictional, Conway admits that many of the characters and situations were shaped by experiences gathered throughout his life.

Born in Worcestershire, he lived and worked across the UK, including Ayr, Troon, Dumfries and Glasgow in Scotland, before eventually settling in Spain with his wife Jackie.

“I think we draw on life events and experiences that linger in the psyche, and hope that a damn good imagination and a love of writing will do the rest,” he said.

His fascination with human behaviour became one of the driving forces behind the novel.

“The extremes in human psychological interaction are fascinating; from pure evil to divine goodness. It’s a never-ending stream of intertwining threads that can never be completely untangled.”

The book opens in the Mar Menor region, where the protagonist reflects on the dramatic events that have brought him to a pivotal moment in his life. From there, readers are taken on a journey through Scotland and southern Spain as hidden truths slowly come to light.

Spain provided the spark

Conway believes his move to Spain played a major role in finally completing the project.

“I genuinely think moving to Spain has been the catalyst for my current situation,” he told Euro Weekly News.

The author and his wife have long had a deep affection for the country. They married in Gibraltar 35 years ago, spent their honeymoon in Jávea and travelled extensively throughout Spain over the decades.

“We have a soft spot for this country,” he said. “We’ve taken more holidays here than anywhere else.”

Among his favourite destinations are Murcia, Cartagena, the Mar Menor and Málaga, although he says northern Spain remains one of the most beautiful regions he has visited.

Those locations helped shape the setting of the novel, which moves from south-west Scotland to Gibraltar, the Costa del Sol and eventually back to the Mar Menor for its climactic conclusion.

A second chance at writing

The road to publication was far from straightforward.

Conway originally began writing the novel in 2011, but a serious illness brought the project to an abrupt halt.

What initially appeared to be a routine flu virus developed into a life-threatening medical emergency.

After being admitted to hospital, doctors discovered he was just hours away from total organ failure.

Following a lengthy recovery, the manuscript remained untouched for years.

“I realised that I had completely lost the thread, the interest and the ambition to write,” he explained.

It was only in 2026 that the desire returned.

Beginning again from page one, Conway revisited the story with what he describes as “15 years of extra life experience” and a fresh perspective.

That renewed determination eventually led to the completion of The Quiet Deception.

From music to mystery writing

Long before becoming an author, Conway enjoyed a colourful career in music.

As a teenager during the explosion of British popular music in the 1960s, he performed with his band The Huskies, supporting acts including The Kinks, The Moody Blues, Spencer Davis, Manfred Mann, Cream and Small Faces.

He later played rhythm guitar on recordings by the late singer-songwriter Clifford T. Ward, whose work received airplay on BBC Radio.

More recently, some of Conway’s own compositions were used by Channel 4 television.

Yet despite these achievements, writing a novel remained an ambition he was determined to fulfil.

“That’s another itch finally scratched,” he said.

And he may not be finished yet.

Although The Quiet Deception is his debut novel, Conway hints that readers could see more from him in the future.

“I do have a sequel milling around somewhere in my head,” he said. “We’ll see where it takes me.”

For a first-time author who nearly abandoned the dream altogether, that sounds like the beginning of another good yarn.