Q: What kind of books do you write?
A: I write crime fiction. But not one type. I hope what all my books have in common are intriguing characters and compelling storylines. And originality. I don't want to write books you've read a thousand times already.
Q: Where did you get the idea for 'Run, Run, Run'?
A: I wanted to write a novel that was a chase from page one to the end. No deviations, no compromises. I wanted to take an everyday couple and put them in an impossible situation, make readers think about what they would do in the same position. Dan and Sally aren't trained professionals in the art of evasion. Yet they find themselves on the run from both sides of the law. They have to find new depths of courage.
Q: What are the themes in the book?
A: The book's about justice. It asks interesting questions about the very nature of justice. To evade the criminals and corrupt police officers, Dan and Sally have to venture over the line that separates the legal and the criminal. Yet, they have to do this in order to survive. Does that make them bad people? It's something the reader has to decide.
Q: Have you come across any Frank Tong characters in real life?
A: I've met a few gangsters. I directed a TV show and they were occasional guests. One notorious man who was involved with the Kray Twins and the Richardsons comes to mind. He had an altogether different view of life from the rest of us. Frank Tong hates himself as much as he hates other people. And yet that self-hatred also inspires his art, which he uses as an escape.
Q: Why did you decide to write 'Riot Murder'?
A: I was in London during the riots. It was a strange week. In the space of a few days the atmosphere of the whole place changed. Anybody wearing a hoodie became public enemy number one. Shops closed in the middle of the afternoon. All very odd. At the same time I had a character in my head who's dream had been to become a top actor. But he wasn't any good. So, he reluctantly became an undercover cop. An undercover cop is acting most of the time. But Myles Morgan just doesn't know when to stop. He's a complex guy. He has the mentality of an actor and strictures of working for the law. I wanted to explore him over a series of novellas.
Q:What did you do before writing novels?
A: I directed TV shows and was a Creative Consultant.
Q: 'Run, Run, Run' is available as an ebook. Any plans to release it as a paperback?
A: The publishing industry is changing rapidly. Last year, more e-books were sold online by Amazon than hardbacks and paperbacks combined. There are no plans currently to publish a paperback version.
