02 August 2018
Who are some of your favorite authors?
I’m a huge, huge, huge Jim Butcher fan. I love his Dresden Files series, these are my favorite books. Some other authors I enjoy reading are Patrick Rothfuss, Barry J Hutchison, Joshua Dalzelle, Douglas Adams.
Who are some authors in your genre that inspire you?
The answer is Jim Butcher again. If I could expend my universe to something half the size of what he’s done, I’d be happy.
What are some great books you’ve read recently?
I’ve had a lot of fun with Barry J Hutchison’s Space Team series. It’s a fast-paced scifi parody. Very funny, full of sparky sarcasm.
In a completely different genre, I was pleasantly surprised by The Portrait written by Iain Pears. The entire book is structured as a monologue on the part of the narrator. It’s a bit unsettling at first, but the story is so gripping you get used to if after a while.
What types of books do you enjoy in your downtime?
Fantasy and science-fiction mostly, but I’m not exclusive to either genre. A good horror story’s always nice or a well-structured mystery. So long as it’s well written and the characters draw me in, I’m game.
What are you working on now? Any chance of a sequel?
Yes, Hostile Takeover is the first book in the Vale Investigation series. I’m currently editing book two and working on the outline for book three.
What are the upsides and downsides to being an author?
The upside is: I’m always busy… and the downside is: I’m always busy ☺.
It’s really nice to have something to do in my free time, but sometimes it’s hard to balance my day job, my private life and my writing career. Especially days like today, when I have a new novel coming out and a lot of promotion to do. But, at least, I’m never bored.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I have a day job in an office. I get up at 5:30 and go to work and come home between 16:30-17:30 depending on my work-load. Sometimes I write down ideas in the evening, but most of my writing is done on the weekend and on my days off.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
I outline everything before I start writing. It’s a step that takes me several months, but it allows me to avoid writer’s block.
Out of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite?
By far, Blind Chess, the fourth book in my Neve & Egan Cases series. It’s (almost) entirely told from the POV of a blind character. That was an epic challenge to me, and it took me twice the time it usually takes me to write it, but I did it. And I’m really proud of the result.
If someone is brand new to your work, what book do you think they should start with?
On my website, I have two prequel novellas that you can download for free. It’s a great way to get a taste of what I do.
– “Redemption Road” is a prequel to the Vale Investigation series—it’s the story of Vale and Death’s first encounter.
– “Personal Favour” is set in my series of cozy mysteries The Neve & Egan Cases. It’s a glimpse of the life of Alexandra Neve, before she became a private investigator in London.
Originally posted @ The Tired Buyer