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Alfie Robins

12/18/2013

5 Comments

 
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Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.... That’s not quite right, seeing as it’s the week before Christmas and the creatures in question, namely moles, are very much stirring ... all over The Coffee House garden. A whole bleedin’ metropolis has moved in and they’re merrily hanging their stockings. Bah humbug... it’ll be lumps of coal for the velvety critters if I have anything to do with it. Anyway, enough of that, it is indeed the week before Christmas, the third candle is lit and I have cinnamon biscuits and spiced apple crumble on offer for this week’s guest. I’m delighted to welcome a great Hull crime writer, and all round canny lad, Alfie Robins. I’m hoping he’ll reassure us all that the streets of his fair city are not overrun with the criminal elements that populate his gritty, crime novels and give us an insight into why he thinks Hull won City of Culture. Well done Hull!! I’m also hoping he’ll tell us about his latest book, and who knows, he may have a few tips re my aforementioned mole infestation. So let’s get to it ... and give a warm Coffee House welcome to Alfie Robins.

 1 – Let’s get you fed and watered before we begin, Alfie. Have a shufty at the menu and state your poison. Healthy or unhealthy? I’m afraid the healthy option is restricted to half a carrot, the other half being reserved for Rudolph.

AR - To be honest with you I think I’ll have a cuppa soup if you have any, and a bread roll, it was nithering being kept waiting out there with moles. What’s with the candles, has your electric been cut off? Cuppa soup! Ahem, only homemade scrummy stuff on these premises, Mr Robins.

2 – Alfie, I’ve already let slip that you hail from Hull, but I’m sure everyone would like to know a little more about you and how you know so much about criminal types and dodgy goings on. Are you a full time writer with a good imagination or do you have a stripey jumper and a bag marked swag in the bottom of your wardrobe? If you have a secret skill or hobby we want to hear about it...we really do, as long as it’s legal!

AR - I can’t really answer the first part of the question, on grounds that I may incriminate myself. Let’s just say I was brought up in a part of the city where the people were tough and so was life, beside I don’t want a hit squad looking for me. As for the stripey jumper, I’ve never worn one. I always preferred the black jumper, trousers, shoes and never went on a job without a balaclava, you know the type with just the eye holes. Apart from being quite an expert in Lee Style Tai Chi, my main hobby is grifting, can’t beat pulling off a good con. Full time writer? Well if you call being retired enabling me to write full time then yes, but earning enough to get a decent income from it then no.

3 – How did you initially get into writing? What does your family think of your writing and all the time you devote to your fictional characters? As you already know, Alfie, I love your writing, with its black northern humour and twisty plots, but who in your family is your biggest fan?

AR - At school I was not what you could call very academic, I was always better at athletics, it came in handy being a fast runner on Hessle Road. In later life, In 1994 I went back into education as a mature student and took a degree, Special Economic & Social History at the University of Hull.  I think that encouraged me to take more of an interest in writing.   A few years later, after I suffered a work injury and had quite a lot of time on my hands was when I thought maybe I could write fiction, in-between my evening job of breaking and entering. All of my family have been a great support in my writing, but none more so than my son Lee, who is learning disabled and who loves being a character in two of my books, he’s always asking when he’s getting promoted from Detective Constable!

4 – Can you remember the first thing you had published? Did you run the gauntlet of the query letter? Enter a competition or decide to self publish?

AR - I’ve never been one for entering competitions and oh yes, I did the usual trawl of agent and publishes. I gathered quite a selection of, “thank you, but no thank you letters”. Then I approach Tim Roux, who at the time was running the social network site Night Reading and fortunately for me he agreed to publish my first novel “Reprisal”, which I am pleased to say reached the dizzy heights of No 8 in the Amazon UK kindle charts. Well done! I think we’d all like that kind of success.

5 – From your own experience as a writer do you have any tips for those not yet published? Is there anything you would do differently with the benefit of hindsight?

AR - I think the best advice has already been said in previous interviews, never give up and never be afraid to ask for advice from your peers. To be honest in answer to the second part of the question, I wish I’d started creative writing years ago. But saying that, maybe the time wasn’t right for me then.

6 – I know you write police procedural, crime fiction, and you certainly know your way around the nick, does this entail much research and if so, how do you go about it? Is there a particular genre or type of scene that you would avoid and if so why?

AR - I have to be honest, the bulk of my research comes from reading, the television and my own experience of the police interview room from the wrong side of the table. However, a book I would recommend is, “The Crime Writer’s Guide To Police Practice and Procedure” by Michael O’Bryne. I have that book too. I was fortunate to meet with Michael at last year’s Yeovil Literary Festival. He certainly knows his stuff.

There is no way at all that I could write a romance or love scene. I’d be too embarrassed in case my wife read it and then I would be for the high jump.

7 – Where does your inspiration come from, Alfie? Do you listen to music while you write? Is there a song or artist that you feel is significant to your writing.


AR - Yes music plays a big part in my writing, I’m not a music snob I listen to nearly everything. Country, classical and throw in a bit of Elvis, but the sixties music still takes some beating, I suppose that’s because I’m an old git.
I think the following youtube link sums me up!  You’ll probably agree. Very apt, Alfie!


'They're coming to take me away'

8 - Were you brought up in a house full of books, or did you sneak off to the library at every opportunity as I did. As a child which was your favourite book? Do you have a favourite book and author now? What are you reading now?

AR - Books have always been important to me. My father was a fisherman, away at sea for three weeks at a time with only books and the radio for company when they weren’t working, the fishermen would listen to the American forces stations transmitting from Iceland, hence my liking for country.  When he came home there was always a bag full of paperbacks, “The Saint”, Dennis Wheatley’s black magic and Raymond Chandler, whose character name Philip Marlowe who I pinched!  There used to be second-hand book shops along Hessle Road were you could do a swop, I was always swopping. At present I’m having a change from the usual and reading an autobiography, ‘My Life’ by David Jason, cushty.

9 – I’d love you to tell me a little about the books you currently have published.

AR - Reprisal, a straight forward police procedural was the first. Featuring the above mentioned Philip Marlowe, only this time he’s a DCI not a PI. Reprisal may have been the first but it isn’t necessarily my favourite, this has to be Just Whistle, published by the leading British crime publisher Caffiene Nights Publishing. Ok, it’s still a crime novel but it’s out of the ordinary and has a surreal twist. Snakes and Loser is the third, this time once again featuring DCI Marlowe and its out now as am ebook, the paperback should be available early in the New Year. Must admit, Just Whistle is my favourite, if you haven’t read it folks, I‘d highly recommend it if you like crime with a twist.

10 – If it’s not a closely guarded secret, and won’t spoil the plot, can you give me a hint at what you have planned next? I won’t tell anyone...promise.

AR - Then next planned novel is Funeral Rites, a follow up to Just Whistle but that’s a closely guarded secret at the moment and hopefully should be published in the second half of 2014.  However I am also working on something different, there’s still the crime element but also it’s a bit spooky, at present the working title is The Dead Talk Back. Sounds like my kind of book.

11 – Pick one of your characters and sell him/her to us in twenty words or less.

AR - DS Harry ‘H’ Blackburn, easy going, dry sense of humour, good at his job and like a drink or two, just like me.

12 –Please introduce the book you’ve brought with you, Alfie, and while I go and top up your coffee, would you like to read a short excerpt?

AR - No problem, Babs, I’ve brought the new one with me Snakes and Losers, featuring DCI Philip Marlowe and his team. I hope you’re not squeamish.

Disclaimer – The following excerpt does contain adult language and a rather gruesome scene. If you’re of a nervous disposition, or easily offended ... please look away now. If you like your crime gritty ... please carry on.

Fatty heard the Range Rover door open and close again. Keane came back inside carrying a large heavy canvas hold-haul.  He set the bag on the floor and locked the stable door behind him. The bouncer watched with interest, the bag was unzipped and Keane took out what was inside.


‘Oh no, you must be fucking joking! I’m not having any of that! For fucks sake Chainsaw Massacre ain't for me, I’m off.’ He started to unfasten the suit; this was not what he’d signed up for.

‘No you fucking don’t, you’re already in this up to your bloody neck, and what does it matter he’s FUCKING DEAD!  Not going to be bothered is he!’ If Keane was honest about it, he wasn’t really relishing the task himself. He’d already had a similar conversation with his Uncle and was told he’d do “as he was feckin told”.

‘Well I’m not using the fucking saw.’

‘For such a tough looking bloke you can be a right tart at times.  Just get the fucker down while I see how this thing works.’

The bouncer looked at the limp figure dangling like a marionette at the end of the rope and shook his head. ‘It was your own bleedin’ fault,’ he said to the corpse as if expecting an answer.  He adjusted the plastic sheet until it was centrally placed underneath the swaying figure. He walked to where end of the rope was tied fast, unwound it from the cleat and took the weight. The pulley fixed to the roof rafter squeaked as it was placed under the duress of the full weight of the body. ‘Shit,’ the bouncer called out as he lost his footing on the shiny plastic sheet and let go of the rope and the body dropped to the floor in a broken heap.

13- Can you let us know where we can find it?



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Amazon UK

Amazon .com



14 - And let us know where we can find you, Alfie.

Facebook

Alfie Robins Blogspot

Caffeine Nights

Eastcoast crime fiction




15 - Finally before you leave, a test for your imaginative, story weaving skills. We’re playing a little game that I hope all my guests will contribute to. Can you give me 100 words of your choosing to follow on from this last line from Juliet B Madison? Your last line will be picked up by the next guest... and so on:  (the story so far can be found here)

...darkness overwhelmed her and she sank to the floor in a dead faint... 

When she regained her composure, Isabella looked up, it was gone.  She couldn’t believe it, who would do such a thing? It was a dastardly thing to do.  On hands and knees she checked everywhere, under the sofa, behind the television, it wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
The more she thought about, the more obvious it became, there was only one person she knew evil enough to do such a thing. 
She stood, hands on hips and shouted at the top of her voice. ‘You bleedin’ little elf, bring back my fairy, the Christmas tree looks naked without it.


Right well, that’s certainly added a twist to the story. Let’s see what the next guest does with that! Thanks so much for stopping by, Alfie. It’s been a pleasure to chat with you and find out more about you, your unique brand of humour (breaking and entering indeed...) and of course about your books. Snakes and Losers is a great read and as it’s hot off the press, I’d recommend it to all you crime buffs.

                                                                    Babs x






5 Comments

Juliet B Madison

12/11/2013

15 Comments

 
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The second candle is now lit, and for those who may be a little concerned at the safety aspect of my homemade, advent extravaganza, rest assured I’ll blow out the candles when I close up for the evening. My little corner of Northumberland has seen some wintry weather over the past week, so I’ve stoked up the wood-burner and in addition to the usual calorie laden treats; I have homemade soup and crusty bread hot from the oven and the obligatory mince pies (with cream of course). This week at The Coffee House I’m delighted to welcome Juliet B Madison. Juliet is another tireless supporter of Indie authors and the author of a new UK crime fiction series which is proving very popular indeed. I’m looking forward to hearing more about what makes Juliet tick. So without further ado...let’s get started.  

1 – First things first, Juliet. Lots to titillate your taste buds in The Coffee House today, are you a sweet or savoury person?  May I take your order please?

JB -I’ll have a latte with two sugars please, Babs, as well as the soup and crusty bread. I like sweet things but, on account of having had Type 1 Diabetes since childhood, I have always tended to choose the savoury option. I can NEVER resist tiramisu though. Oh dear, that must be difficult. Soup coming up, sorry, no tiramisu I’m afraid.

2 – Juliet, I’m sure everyone would like to know a little more about you. Where are you from? Are you a full time writer or do you have to share your time elsewhere? If you have a secret skill or hobby or if you moonlight as something particularly exciting we want to hear about it...we really do!


JB - I wish I could afford to write full time, Babs, but sadly I can’t so I have a mind-numbing evening office cleaning job. I come from Reading in the Thames Valley (between Oxford & London). My fictional city of Ashbeck is located between Oxford and my hometown, Reading, so the action sometimes spills over into either or both locations if needed. Mind numbing jobs are perfect for thinking out plots, though.

3 – How did you initially get into writing? I know you’re a prolific writer, Juliet, so I’m interested in how you discipline yourself. Do you have a daily word quota, or just write when the mood takes you? What does your family think of your writing and all the time you devote to your fictional characters?

JB - When I was a kid I would fill exercise books with stories. I write when the mood takes me, but DI Frank Lyle has free rein so he often runs away with the story. My Mum and my Gran have read all the DI Frank Lyle books to date, apart from the one I’m here to talk about today. But my mum doesn’t like the Lulu.com site so she waits until they get on Amazon, although she DID read the second DI Frank Lyle book Heir to Misfortune on the Kindle app on her ipad.

4 – Can you remember the first thing you had published? Did you run the gauntlet of the query letter? Enter a competition or decide to self publish?

JB - I had a few poems published in anthologies during my teens and twenties. I had a less than pleasant experience with a small publisher a couple of years back, after which I decided to take the self-publishing route.

5 – From your own experience as a writer do you have any tips for those not yet published? Is there anything you would do differently with the benefit of hindsight?

JB - Never give up on your dreams of being in print; it is easier now than when I was in my teens. All the things I might have done differently with hindsight would have involved money I just don’t have. Other advice is NEVER pay anyone for an honest review and you need to grow Rhino hide i.e. be able to take constructive criticism. Someone may offer you a winning plot twist under the guise of criticism after all. That’s a very good point, Juliet. It’s hard for us all to accept criticism, but another person’s constructive insight can be a valuable thing.


6 – I know you write police procedural, crime fiction, does this entail much research and if so, how do you go about it? Is there a particular genre or type of scene that you would avoid and if so why?

JB - A lot of my research comes from crime novels and TV crime drama, I learn loads from that. I sometimes ask our good friend Paul Trembling about scene of crime issues, and I use the Howdunnit writers guide series a lot, especially for autopsy scenes and injuries. In the first book, Second Chances, I had a Hindu character so I asked Malika Gandhi tons of questions about their beliefs etc so that he came across as authentic. There was also a Diabetes related aspect to both the first two books which of course came from 34 years experience of living with the condition. I would avoid any storylines directly involving the death of a young child because I have chosen not to have kids and I don’t think I could be accurate enough about the emotional fall out associated with such a tragedy.

7 – Where does your inspiration come from, Juliet? Do you listen to music while you write? Is there a song or artist that you feel is significant to your writing?


JB - In 2013 DI Frank Lyle would be 70, so long retired. I see myself as a sort of chronicler of his most testing cases, rather like Dr Watson is to Sherlock Holmes, so I let him dictate and his memory is what inspires me as well as reading his old case notes.
I more often have the TV as background rather than music, but DI Frank Lyle is a fan of Joan Baez.  So here is a link to her song Diamonds & Rust, which often features in the stories. It’s scary to realise that song is as old as I am. DI Lyle likes to listen to her in the car (tapes because the DI Lyle series is set in the 1980s and early 1990s so prior to in car CD players.)


8 - Were you brought up in a house full of books, or did you sneak off to the library at every opportunity as I did. As a child which was your favourite book? Do you have a favourite book and author now? What are you reading now?

JB - I was encouraged to read as a child. I read far too many books to have a real favourite (I was a young child pre-Harry Potter) I don’t recall having an absolute favourite book as a child, but when I was in my teens I discovered "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4" by Sue Townsend and have bought every Adrian Mole book since. I’ve seen him grow from a gawky teenager into an only slightly less gormless adult. I can’t really say I have favourites now, although I am very fond of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile. At the moment I’m reading Good Deed by Indie crime author Steve Christie. (No relation as far as I know lol)


9 – I’d love you to tell me a little about the books you currently have published.

JB - Second Chances was the first DI Lyle book and it was set across 5 years and featured the one case that haunts him to this day because it had a high cost to him both personally and professionally. Heir to Misfortune is about blackmail, murder and corruption among prominent members of Ashbeck society. Modern forensic medicine was really only in its infancy then so they had a lot to learn about DNA swabbing and blood spatter patterns, which is why I chose to set them in this time period.

10 – If it’s not a closely guarded secret, and won’t spoil the plot, can you give a hint at what you have planned next? I won’t tell anyone ... promise.

JB - The next DI Lyle book Murder in the Wings will be centred on a theatre group in Ashbeck and feature professional jealousy, emotional blackmail and murder, but I haven’t written a word yet so there is nothing to give away. I am also putting together an eBook box set which will feature Second Chances, Heir to Misfortune and Unholy Alliance plus a short “Coming soon” excerpt from Murder in the Wings; this should be ready to release in the spring.

11 – Pick one of your characters and sell him/her to us in twenty words or less.

JB - DI Lyle is a man dedicated to truth and justice; committed to his family and compassionate towards victims of crime.

12 –Please introduce the book you’ve brought with you, Juliet, and while I go and pop another log into the stove, would you like to read a short excerpt?

JB - Unholy Alliance is the third DI Frank Lyle novel. It is centred on the murder of a curate, Reverend Martin Hayes, during an ecumenical conference. The victim seems to have had a troubled past, but what DI Lyle and his team discover is rather shocking.  Will a little knowledge prove to be a dangerous thing?
This excerpt comes from Chapter 15 of Unholy Alliance and is narrated from the POV of DC Jayseera Lyle, DI Lyle’s Indian wife, who has come back to work part-time six months after having their first baby. Rice, is Canon Thomas Rice, a former police officer, who has been called in to help the police owing to the case’s church connection.

 

About ten minutes later there was a knock at the door. Frank opened it to admit Jim Cox and two of his SOCO team.

“Jesus Christ,” he exclaimed.

I glanced at Rice, hoping he wasn’t offended, but he did not appear to be. He was a former cop after all, which meant he would have been used to such language.

“I presume you have Hayes’ prints?” Frank looked at Cox who nodded.

“We’ve all got gloves, but I need you to dust in case there are prints here that do not belong to Hayes.” Frank said, “Meanwhile we have to look out for anything that might give us a clue to the man himself.”

“I don’t envy you,” Cox said.

Frank, Rice and I began leafing through the papers.

“This might be of interest,” Rice said after about ten minutes. He was holding a bundle of torn papers, which looked like letters. Frank supplied him with a sealable evidence bag. I admired the fact that Frank was always prepared; he carried evidence bags and gloves almost everywhere with him.

“It would be good if we could find a diary or something,” I said, “But that would be asking too much.”

“In this bombsite anything’s likely, DC Lyle.” Rice said.

He began leafing through some torn photographs, most of which were grainy and badly exposed.

“Whoever took these was no David Bailey.”

He carried on looking.

“Look at this, DI Lyle,” he said suddenly. Frank walked over to him and I peered in.

It was a grainy age-distorted snapshoot taken on a pier of some sort. It had been torn in half but the halves clearly matched. It showed a younger Hayes and his mother with a child, aged about five or six, wearing a pair of trunks and a towel around his shoulders. It was posed, none of them looked especially happy. I realised that, in order to find the key to the mystery, we would need to know who the child was.

“Did Hayes have any younger brothers, kids of his own or a nephew?” I asked, suddenly excited by this discovery.

“No to the first and third, he was an only child,” Rice said, “As to the other, well a definite don’t know.”

Suddenly we heard a piercing scream from upstairs and a muted, “Oh my God.”

Frank dashed into the hallway. DC Fox was halfway down the stairs, his face ashen.

“What is it?” Frank’s tone was urgent.

“Guv, I really think you need to come and see this.”

Frank and I ascended the stairs, Rice close behind. WPC Mahon was stood in an open doorway, tears streaming down her pallid cheeks.


13- And can you let us know where we can find it?


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AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

KOBO

LULU









14– And some links as to where we can find you.

Website

Twitter @JulietBMadison

Authorgraph

Facebook - Juliet B Madison Crime Author

Facebook - Unholy Alliance

Facebook - DI Lyle Mystery Series

Facebook - Asbeck CID



15 - And finally before you leave, a test for your imaginative, story weaving skills. We’re playing a little game that I hope all my guests will contribute to. Can you give me 100 words of your choosing to follow on from this last line from John Holt? Your last line will be picked up by the next guest... and so on: You can catch up with the story so far Here.

There on the wall was a painting of a lady, a lady dressed in grey, but the face was that of Rose herself...

Rose was horrified to see this. What on earth did it mean to see her face on an old picture?

A thousand scenarios and explanations ran through her mind but none of them seemed remotely plausible.  She felt acrid bile rise into her mouth and throat, which she valiantly attempted to choke back down.

She thought about the famous line from Sherlock Holmes about eliminating the impossible, but the trouble was it all seemed impossible so she was unlikely to find the remaining improbable and with it the truth.

The shock was proving to be too much and with a cry Rose remembered nothing more as darkness overwhelmed her and she sank to the floor in a dead faint.


 

Thanks for stopping by Juliet. It’s been great to find out more about you and of course about DI Lyle and his team. Good luck with the series.


                                                                                        Babs x









15 Comments

John Holt

12/4/2013

10 Comments

 
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Well we’re into December and in true ‘Blue Peter’ tradition I’ve fashioned two metal coat-hangers, a heap of tinsel and pine cones, and four candles into a rather nifty advent calendar. The first candle is now lit and I have to admit I’m rather pleased with it. I’ve also splashed out on the latest sound system so that my guests may be entertained while I mess about with the coffee machine. On the sofa this week at The Coffee House is my good friend  John Holt. John writes crime fiction and historical fiction and is a great advocate for Indie authors. John can always be relied upon for a wise word or wisecrack and it’s my great pleasure to have him as my guest today.  

1 – Lots on the specials board today, John. I’ve been up since the crack of dawn and the cake platter is heaving with goodies. So, state your preference, please; coffee, tea or hot chocolate, and perhaps a little something to go with it?

JH - Well firstly let me say that it’s great to be here. Coffee will be fine, black and two sugars please. It used to be six but then I had to cut it down. I must say that Chocolate gateau looks pretty good, and you made it yourself. A slice of that would be terrific. Just the one slice - a large slice. Oh and a smidgen of double cream - a large smidgen if you don’t mind.

2 – John, perhaps you’d like to tell us how you ended up here on my sofa. Are you a full time writer or do you have an additional occupation or interest that drags you away from the keyboard. If you have a secret skill or moonlight as something particularly exciting we want to hear about it...we really do!

JH - I wish. No, sadly I’m not a full time writer, and if I weren’t actually retired I would need a day job to keep the wolf from the door. As it is I retired some years ago, basically because of a heart attack that I had in 2004. I used to be a Chartered Surveyor working for the Greater London Council as a Senior Project Manager. Then in 1986 I started my own surveying practice, doing reports for people buying houses, and preparing architectural drawings for extensions and new houses. I did a lot of work for a couple of local Estate Agents. Then I had the heart attack and lost several clients who could not, or would not, wait for me to recover. Then I began to lose interest anyway, and eventual stopped about five years ago. As for secret skills well I do like restoring old photographs, so if you have any old pictures with tears and scratches let me know and I might be able to restore it for you.

3 – How did you initially get into writing? Are you a disciplined writer with a daily word quota? What does your family think of all the time you spend with your fictional characters?

JH - In one way or another I guess that I have always wanted to write a novel, but apart from the lack of time, due to full time work, I could never think of a decent plot. Then in 2005 I suddenly had the time, my work load had decreased considerably, and the germ of a plot was presented to me. We were on holiday in Austria, staying at Grundlsee, one of three lakes. The next lake, Toplitzsee, had been used by the German Navy to test rockets during the war. As the war ended there were rumours of nazi gold being hidden in the lake. Hence came the idea for “The Kammersee Affair”, which was published in December 2006.
At first I think the whole idea of me being an author cost me a fair sum of money, and was not taken seriously. It wasn’t until my books began selling that things began to change. Now Tom Kendall is almost a member of the family. And no I don’t have a daily target. I write as and when I think of something suitable. I don’t believe you can force yourself to write, it has to come naturally, and in its own time.

4 – What was the first thing you had published and how did you go about it? Did you run the gauntlet of the query letter? Enter a competition or decide to self publish?

JH - Once I had written “The Kammersee Affair” I had visions of it being snapped up by a publisher and then I would sell lots of copies and make a lot of money. A search of the Internet soon had me thinking differently. It seemed that publishers were not looking for new authors who did not have a track record, or weren’t an A lister. But then I found a number of publishers who were more than willing to publish my works, a long as I paid them. The fees ranged from $10000 (I kid you not) from Dorrance Publishing in New York; £2400 from Austin and Macauley; £700 from Authorhouse; and £400 from Raider Publishing in New York. I agreed to go with Raider, after all it was good to see my book in print, and naturally I would sell lots of books and get my money back wouldn’t I? I started book number two, “The Mackenzie Dossier” (originally “The Mackenzie File”). That too was published by Raider, for another fee. By 2009 I had four books published with Raider. Sadly none of them were selling. Furthermore my contracts were only for a three year period. In March 2012 I decide to re-release all of my books, and self publish them myself. In August of that year Phoenix (my publishing brand) released “A Killing In The City”. In August 2013 Phoenix released my sixth book “The Thackery Journal”.


5 – From your own experience as a writer do you have any tips for those not yet published? Is there anything you would do differently with the benefit of hindsight?

JH - Hindsight is a wonderful thing. All I can say is I wish I had self published long ago, although I have to admit that it probably wasn’t as easy to self publish a few years ago. Now, with the likes of Lulu.com, Createspace, and Kindle Direct, self publishing is simple and cost nothing. Being self published does not stop you from also looking for a traditional publisher if that is what you want. But please do not go near any of the so called vanity publishers who charge to publish your works.

6 – I know you write crime, and adventure based on historical facts and wonder which is your favourite and why? Is there a particular genre or type of scene that you would avoid and if so why?


JH - Firstly I don’t suppose there’s any more of that cake around is there? Ah – right. “The Thackery Journal” took me four years to produce, on and off. I got quite bogged down at one stage. I had done a lot of research, and had pages and pages, but just couldn’t work out how to set it out as a novel. Then quite suddenly the whole basic layout came into my mind, and three months later the book was finished.  Despite the problems I had initially I really enjoyed writing this book, and I certainly hope to do another novel set during the American Civil War. Nonetheless I have to say that my favourite genre has to be Crime. I loved those old film noir movies with Humphrey Bogart, and Edward G Robinson. Genres I avoid are Romance, Sci-fi, fantasy, and certainly I have no interest in erotica.

7 – Where do you think your love of books and writing came from, John? As a child which was your favourite book? Do you have a favourite book and author now? What are you reading now?

JH - Every Friday evening when my father came in from work there would be a selection of sweets, which were shared with my brother Brian, and kept in a sweet tin; there would also be the latest issue of the Eagle comic, and a copy of the Enid Blyton magazine. I loved her Secret Seven, and Famous Five novels. Any time I was given the choice of what present I would like it would always be a book. My favourite book as a child was probably “Treasure Island”. My all time favourite book would be “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens. There is nothing to beat the opening two lines, or the final two lines. Brilliant, there is no other word for it. Nowadays I tend to read Alastair Maclean (a favourite from my youth). Regarding modern writers I stick to other Indie authors. One of my favourites is somebody who wrote something about “Wildewood Revenge”, can’t remember the author’s name. Another of my favourites is Alfie Robins who also writes a mean crime novel. I almost said that his writing was criminal. Just kidding Alfie, just kidding. I am currently reading "The Trojan Project" by Eileen Thornton, another Indie author - early days yet I'm about 10% into it. It reminds me of the sci-fi films from the fifties. It is scary, it is exciting, it grabs you and is taking me along into who knows what, but I'm hooked.

9 – Okay, John, now you’re full of delicious cake I reckon it’s time to tell us a little about the books you currently have published.

JH - Well as I said earlier I now have six novels published. “The Kammersee Affair”, a story about hidden nazi gold involving blackmail, a murder or three and revenge. Then there followed four novels featuring my private detective Tom Kendall – “The Mackenzie Dossier” all about political corruption; in “The Marinski Affair”, there’s a murder or two, blackmail, a kidnapping, oh and a jewel robbery. But not everything is what it seems. Then we have “Epidemic” about a corrupt pharmaceutical company, and the sudden death of a young reporter, all set as a viral epidemic slowly spreads throughout the world. In “A Killing In The City” Kendall’s holiday in London is interrupted by the sudden death of a fellow passenger. My latest novel is “The Thackery Journal”, a ‘what if’ novel set during the American Civil War. It poses the possibility that the assassination of President Lincoln was actually planned by his own generals.

10 – If it’s not a closely guarded secret, can you give me a hint at what you have planned next? I won’t tell anyone...promise.

JH - I am currently working on two more Tom Kendall novels. One is about 50% complete, the other, set in Ireland, is about 30%. I have also made a tentative start on an adventure story based on an event that happened in 1931. A privately funded expedition planned on going to the North Pole under the ice cap. It never arrived, and later the submarine was scuttled in a Norwegian fjord. What happened has never been explained. I also have a very vague idea for another Civil War novel. But not a word to anyone, you are sworn to secrecy.

11 – And please tell us even more about the one you’ve brought with you, John. Also if you have a music track that you listened to while you wrote it, I’ll pop it on now. I did explain about reading an excerpt later didn’t I? Oh good. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, or coffee, for that matter.

JH - Many years ago I used to write articles, interviews and reviews, for a couple of Blues magazines, sadly no longer in print. So the music track I have chosen is “Dust My Broom” by Elmore James, hope you like it.


12 – Pick one of your characters and sell him/her to us in twenty words or less.

JH - I may have had difficulties picking a book excerpt, but when it comes to picking a character it’s easy. It has to be Kendall himself. He is featured in four of my novels, and two that I am presently working on. There is a lot of me in Kendall. He is stubborn, has a wicked sense of humour, is methodical, and never gives up.

13 – While I go and get your coffee topped up, would you like to read a short excerpt from your book?

JH - I wasn’t sure which of my books to pick, but eventually I picked this one. “A Killing In The City” was inspired by the economic crisis that affected much of the world a few years ago. Kendall, and his business partner Mollie take a much needed holiday and travel to London. A holiday which is interrupted by the sudden death of a fellow passenger.


John Wyndham Collier was a big man, big in every sense of the word. Six feet four tall and weighing a little over fourteen stone, he ruled this vast financial empire with an iron fist. Nobody crossed Collier, not if they had any sense, that is. Nobody disagreed with him. Nobody argued with him, and nobody ever questioned his judgement. Nobody dared.

He was a self-made man, who had worked his way up to the higher echelons of power. He was now head of this financial giant. He owned fifty-one percent of the shares, and was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Nothing happened in the company without his knowledge, and his agreement.

Of course he hadn’t done it entirely alone. He had made good use of several other people over the years. Not that they had any knowledge of what was happening of course, or had actually given their consent. Indeed they hadn’t actually suspected a thing. In fact, the vast majority of them didn’t even know of his existence. If they had known what was happening they would almost certainly have objected. Many of them had lost their life savings because of Collier, not that they knew of his involvement.

Always the opportunist, Collier had merely taken advantage of various situations that had occurred. And why not, he asked. If a few people were just too gullible, or too stupid, was that his fault? No it wasn’t. So they couldn’t think for themselves, was that his problem? Was he his brother’s keeper? No, he wasn’t. If a few people got hurt, or trodden on, along the way, well it was just unfortunate, wasn’t it? It was just one of those things, one of those things that couldn’t be helped. What did it matter anyway? Did anyone really care? Collier very much doubted it. Besides he wasn’t really worried whether they cared or not. In fact he wasn’t worried at all. So he had made a few enemies along the way, more than a few. But what did that compare with the power he now possessed. You couldn’t cook an omelet without cracking a few eggs, could you?

If you don’t want to get burnt, stay out of the kitchen. That was one of Collier’s favorite sayings. He had got burnt, once, many years ago. He had vowed then and there it would never happen again.

14- And let us know where we can find it?


Picture


Amazon Uk

Amazon .com

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

e-sentral

itunes





15– And where we can find you?

Website Here

Facebook Here

You can also catch up with John on Twitter -  @JohnHoltAuthor

16 - And finally before you leave, a test for your imaginative, story weaving skills. We’re playing a little game that I hope all my guests will contribute to. Can you give me 100 words of your choosing to follow on from this last line from Paul Trembling? Your last line will be picked up by the next guest... and so on:  (You can catch up with the story so far Here)

“We must find out about the Grey Woman!”...

“What do you mean, what happened to you?” Marcus asked. “And what has that to do with the Grey Woman?”

“I’m not sure,” replied the girl. “But I know that I’ve been here before.”

“That you have, Mistress Rose,” said Peter.

Marcus turned and shivered involuntary. “I knew we should never have come here.”

“Ye had no choice young sir,” replied Peter as he started to walk away. Then he stopped by the door. “It was destined. See for yourself.”

He held the lamp aloft. There on the wall was a painting of a lady, a lady dressed in grey, but the face was that of Rose herself.



JH - Thank you for having me here today. I really enjoyed it. By the way I’ve just remembered the name of that author I mentioned, you know the one who wrote “Wildewood” – it was a certain B A Morton. Did you say I could take some cake home with me. Well a little of that chocolate cake would be good, and those jam scones look good, and I do love meringues, and .... alright I’m going.

Thanks for being a very entertaining guest,  John ... and yes, you can take some cake home with you :)

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    As a writer I'm interested in what makes other writers tick. In the real world I'd invite them round for coffee and a chat. In the virtual world I can do just that. Welcome to The Coffee House!

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