What’s the strangest
thing that happened to you in an interview?
Maybe not the strangest, but certainly the most
memorable.
A few years back (quite a few in fact as was in my college
days, writing horror film and book fanzines - yes this was pre-internet!) I had
the privilege of being asked to interview Jay Clarke (one of the Canadian team
of lawyers that write collectively as Michael Slade) over lunch at Langhams
Brasserie.
A great lunch and a lovely chat with a very like-minded
guy. But, perhaps too like-minded as we both loved horror movies and when
we got to discussing those and the magazine, Fangoria, his publicist admitted
to feeling a little green around the gills and left us to get on with it
:)
The day was topped off by the fact that, as we'd had such a
great conversation, in the evening at the launch party, Jay spotted me
amongst the crowd of the much more professional press guys and
called to me. I was a bit gob-smacked, but not as much as those in the
room who were clearly wondering who the hell was this 'kid' amongst
them.
It was great to interview CJ Box over breakfast at Harrogate
this year - but I was so embarrassed when a few other attendees (including
author David Jackson) were about to sit with us and then I had to ask if
they would mind giving us a while. They were very understanding
and gracious - I must get a bigger tape machine as I don't think they realised
I was interviewing at the time.
What’s the best perk
of being a crime blogger?
Where to start? I don't think I could single one out.
Obviously it's great to receive free books - that's a given. To get them in advance of publication is a greater bonus and
an honour too, and there's nothing better than somebody telling you via twitter
or on a blog comment that they are going to or have bought the book based
on a review you've written.
Then there are the book events, the launches and the special
memories - those at Goldsboro Books in London are always fantastic and draw
great crowds, and when there's something a bit different, such as the Jack the
Ripper tour walk for the launch on SJ Bolton's 'Now You See Me', it will
stay in the mind for years to come as a really memorable and fun evening.
Meeting crime writers in general is always a great time
guaranteed - genuinely the nicest bunch of people you could hope to meet.
And, of course, without the blogging (and twitter, plus the
support of many) I wouldn't have won the 'blogger in residence' gig at this
year's excellent Harrogate Crime Writing Festival.
We may not have won the quiz, Ilaria, but we can't have
everything :) [I have to butt in here and add that Keith and I were on the same quiz team....we didn't win, but we didn't do too bad...]
Crime fiction blogging seems to spin off into all sorts of
other things I never would have had the opportunity to do before - this year I
attended and took part in the World Book Night launch, attended the filming of
three episodes of the TV Book Club, and have written for the We Love this Book
website - so, all good and thoroughly enjoyable stuff.
Conversely, what’s
the worst aspect of being a crime blogger?
I wouldn't really necessarily call it the 'worst', but maybe
the most difficult, if that's okay to twist things a little? That would
be time - or lack of it.
There really are so many great books out there that, with
the full time sales job I hold down to pay the mortgage, bills and keep the
kids in shoes, sometimes a few chapters and I'm asleep on the sofa far too
early some evenings.
This is all, without a doubt, self-inflicted, however,
particularly as I also delve into YA books every now and again (something my 11
year old daughter is now assisting with on our JNR version of the blog), so
some days more YA books arrive than crime fiction titles to review.
It's also a bit of a challenge to make sure a balance is
being struck and that all the lovely folk who look after us bloggers are
getting an even spread of reviews - there's nothing worse than a site that
looks like every review is a book from the same publishing house.
I have invested in a dry wipe board, just to keep a better
track on what I'm doing so that I can switch off from the day job in the
evenings and take a look at what I 'really' want to be doing.
A great hero or a
great villain? [IM: I am indebted for this question to the wonderful Dan Holloway, author of The Company of Fellows as one of his 'how long is a piece of rope']
In life, the great hero would have to be my Dad. If I
can be half as good a Dad to my kids as he is to me then I would have done a
pretty good job.
In crime fiction, my author hero would likely be the late
great Ed McBain - I love the ensemble work of the 87th Precinct novels and the
man was so prolific - my bookshelves of his work shout at me to get my own
books written.
For a crime fiction character, my hero would probably be
Charlie Parker from John Connolly's excellent novels - he has just the right
balance of being a haunted character whilst also being tough and ready to do
his bit when required - and I just love the way those books tread the border
between crime and the supernatural.
For a villain - I will avoid real life and authors and
go with a character only, and here's where I go more horror than crime I guess,
with Annie Wilkes from Stephen King's masterpiece Misery. Although, I
guess the title villain may not strictly apply in that case as she clearly
believes she is only acting in the best interest of the author Paul Sheldon and
his work - as chilling as that becomes.
What’s the book plot
you’d rewrite?
Ooh - good question.
To be honest, I wouldn't profess to thinking I could do
anything to improve on anyone who's actually had something published.
But, there are lots of books where I guess I would have
preferred the ending was different of the plot changed in some way.
In some ways, although I absolutely loved Justin Cronin's
The Passage, I was sad when the first section of the book ended and I felt
rushed years ahead as I wanted to stay in the first section for longer - maybe
for that whole book - especially as it was the first of a trilogy.
What’s the best idea you’ve had which has gone (so far) unappreciated by everyone else?
Well, nothing that I'd take to Dragons' Den if that's what
you mean.
In terms of writing, I have completed NaNoWriMo (National
Novel Writing Month) for the past few years. Two years ago my
children expressed an interest and wanted to know what I was writing, so I
changed tack and chose to write a childrens' fantasy book featuring them.
It meant that, every night at bedtime, I got to read them a few pages and then
got their feedback and ideas as to where the story would go next -
cheating in a way, but I felt that was a pretty good idea to keep them happy
and to get the book written.
If I'm allowed two, then I also changed the design on the
architects' plans when we had a loft extension a few years back, to put a turn
in the new staircase rather than a straight run - this resulted in me gaining a
lovely little office and reading space - a bit selfish, but I thought it was a
good idea :)
Tidy desk or messy desk?
A bit of both really.
I like nothing more than getting organised.
Today for example, my desk (which is actually now our dining
room table) is covered in paperwork from the day job to file away for next week
along with the work laptop, calculator, car keys, workbag and several phones,
along with a pile of books received today, this laptop and paperwork relating
to book-ish things.
So, right now it's very messy, but I will no doubt spend a
couple of hours this evening getting everything organised in the expectation
that this will be the weekend where I get stuff done. Then my wife will come
home, the kids will start fighting, washing up in the kitchen needs doing and
dinner to be sorted out - and my nice tidier desk will sit like that until it's
time for Monday to hit with vengeance.
Most stupid question you’ve ever been asked? (no, you can’t answer with “this one”!)
That's not a stupid question, but it is the toughest of the
bunch.
It doesn't relate to books or writing, but to somebody
taking dictation (from a cassette machine) at a place I used to work.
The guy on the tape had asked the temp to type a quote
(we repaired shop signs) and he'd said 'Two engineers attending site and
carrying out repairs...'. The temp actually asked me if what she'd typed was correct,
clearly not engaging brain before showing it to me.
She'd typed 'Two engineers attending site and carrying out
some bears' !
