I finally get interviewed ... by .....

 

Hello my little chickadees,

It's been far too long since I last wrote a blog. I know! What can I say? I've been busy, busy, busy. 

I thought I'd done with the Whitechapel Murders as a stand alone, but I was asked time and again for a sequel, so I've been working on that. Lots more research to do, as I'm taking it in a slightly different direction, which in turn will make for a far bigger word count, which will please my readers. One in particular. A member of the UKCBC who resides in the USA. The link to my page, where you can view Whitechapel, along with all my other books is at the end of the interview... 

For the last 8 years I've been a member of the UK Crime Book Club. It has 27.3k members and I'm now one of the admins, so that takes up quite a bit of my time. If you're interested in reading crime and enjoy live interviews with the authors, or offline for those that are a bit camera shy, pop along to their facebook page and knock on the door.

I little while ago I put a request out for someone to interview me, as I hadn't been interviewed outside of the UKCBC since, forever. Everyone seemed to be so busy and nothing happened so ... I thought I'd get my alter ego TeeGee to interview me and it went like this. Why do you think they call me Mad Tee?

T K Geering: It's very kind of you to take time out of your very busy schedule to interview me.

TeeGee: It's a pleasure TK. So tell me all about yourself. 

T K Geering: I was born and bred in Hastings, Sussex. I loved living by the sea and spent many a happy hour, standing on the harbour wall, allowing the sea to do it's worst. My parents despaired, but I loved it. Back then I had quite long hair, which blew everywhere. I lived in tight jeans, a long 'beatnik' jumper, frequently no shoes and the soles of my feet were like leather, and I thought I looked pretty cool back then. I was in a rebellious stage, as I had passed a scholarship and was being educated in a catholic convent/college by Irish nuns. As you can imagine, there was an extremely strict uniform rule, winter and summer. White gloves were compulsory at all times in the summer when we left the confines of the college, and there were snitches around to report any offenders. Nuns, checked over each of us daily, before we left and detentions were thrown about with exceptional ease, if you didn't have the gloves, hat and correct footwear. The nuns had very high standards and we had to uphold them. Out of college was a different matter, hence the rebellion. 

My claim to fame, is that my great grandfather was a founder member of the world famous, Winkle Club of which the royal family, endless dignitaries and showbiz personalities are members, but also, one of my ancestors was the Guestling Murdress, or Murdering Mother, 1800-1849. Oh yes! but that's a story for another day. These days I reside quietly in Kent, the garden of England. Although, some parts of it are starting to become more of a concrete jungle. - 'Oh, there's a green space, let's put a few flats in there'. (eye rolls)

 

When the weather is warmer, I write in my summerhouse, or sit on its wide veranda, watching the sun go down with a glass of wine. My beautiful, part Siamese, part moggy cat of 23 years, died many years ago and is buried in the garden with another family cat. I often feel him around me when I’m in the garden or writing. So these days I have an "It's not my cat!" who pops in and out when the urge takes him. There's also a randy, renegade squirrel called Cyril, who fights the birds for their food, when he's not making yet another family in the surrounding trees. I thought the endless pigeons, mating in the garden and on my fence were bad enough, but he beats them claws down. Scheesh. I also love pottering in the garden, just to see what the wildlife have been up to. It’s just wonderful to be amongst nature. 

Hobbies, well writing of course, but I love to beach combe and I’m a bit of a conchologist. I made a jewellery box from bits and bobs found on the local beach. I love pottering in the garden and I've recently been checking it out after our winter has taken its long toll. There's a lot to be done, but I have friends who like to come and help out.

TeeGee: It sounds idyllic TK. So when did your writing journey start? 

T K Geering: It began  whilst I was sitting in my garden, on midsummer's eve back in 2011. I got an idea for a story revolving around fantasy. From that small idea, Erasmus, the time travelling lover with attitude was born. Here's a bit of the blurb ... Whilst sitting in his warm cave, he peered into his wood fire and saw an image of a beautiful woman. She was living in a different time frame and he decided to travel through time to meet her. So begins a new life for him as he travels back and forth through time... It ended up as a trilogy at the time with an element of unexpected crime, but has now evolved into one book called Soulfate. Since then I have gone on to write many books, the latest being the Whitechapel Murders, which was received very well. I have also written many, many, short stories, some of which are published in the UKCBC short story section.

TeeGee: So how did you find your publisher?

T K Geering: Back then in 2011, I made use of the writers and artists year book and submitted to every publisher that I could find and ... I ended up with a drawer full of rejections, which I've still got! However I had faith in the book and refused to give up. I joined a group called Struggling Authors, initially started by Richard Grayling. His idea was to help struggling authors where he could and eventually I met many authors in the same situation as me, several of whom, I'm facebook friends with to this day. Richard was also a struggling author, but he put his writing to one side, to mentor me and for that I will be eternally grateful. He asked me to interview a publisher, who unbeknown to me had read the various chapters I had put up on Authonomy. Long story short, he asked to publish the book through his publishing house, Taylor Street Publishers in San Francisco. It went from strength to strength and got to #3 on Amazon in it's category. We eventually parted  company and I'm now with Wild Wolf Publishing. I couldn't be happier.

TeeGee: Where do you get your inspiration from, for your books?

T K Geering:  Basically I’m a people watcher and regardless of where I am, I’m eyeing up prospective characters. (I always prefer to sit facing a door.) That couple in the pub sitting so close, are they conducting an illicite affair? Is he/she planning to murder the other? My friends have got used to it now, but they enlighten their own friends they introduce me to, that they could end up in one of my books. I have that wandering eye I guess.

TeeGee: How many books have you written?

T K Geering: Well Soulfate is a trilogy of the Erasmus stories, but nine in total, with a couple of WIP’s lurking on the laptop in folders. I have written endless short stories, which one day, I might approach my current publisher to put out there. 

TeeGee: Are you a plotter or a pantser? And do you have a writing routine?

T K Geering: Well I start out as a plotter and then get a bit bored and want to start writing the story. So I guess I’m more of a pantser really. However, I’m permanently unprepared, when I have to stop writing to check on a research matter and as many authors will tell you, this leads you on a long journey of …”Oh that looks interesting. I wonder what that’s all about” and you find that an hour later you have gone down a completely different route with research, but it’s fun and informative. As for a routine, well when I’m writing everything gets ignored. Spiders spin webs to their hearts content and laugh at me. I stop to eat, drink, think and plot. Most of all, I love it when the characters hijack the story and I just sit back and watch where they take it to. Sometimes there is a fair bit of deletion going on, but overall I give them their head just out of curiosity.

 

TeeGee:  Favourite food/drink?

T K Geering: Mmmm Ribeye Steak with all the usuals, or even with just a salad, but of course red wine to accompany. Favourite non alcoholic drink? A cup of tea usually, but also a coffee of any type, black or white. 

TeeGee: Have you any WIP at the moment, or anything due to be/recently published? 

T K Geering: I do have two WIP’s at the moment. One is a prequel to the Erasmus series as stated above, which I WILL finish one day. The other is about a police assassin, which is totally out of my comfort zone but I’m determined to finish it. Both are several chapters in. Recently published is The Whitechapel Murders. A story set in Victorian London dealing with body snatchers, dubious street vendors and an inspector that is trying to solve the Jack the Ripper murders. It seems to be selling well at the moment so that is pleasing. As stated above, I'm writing the sequel at the moment and yes ... I will finish it as soon as I can, I promise!

TeeGee: Why have you chosen to write fantasy and crime?

T K Geering: Actually I didn't choose to write fantasy, it seemed to choose me. I'm a great believer of faeries and the little people ... and I can hear you laughing, right at the back there. I'm told my garden has an ethereal feel about it. That's why I enjoy writing out there, especially in the summer and it's where most of my inspiration comes from. - Not necessarily from the bottom of a bottle, even though it relaxes me and allows the characters a bit of leeway to do their own thing if they want to. As for crime, well that's down to 27 years working as a volunteer for my local police force, helping to train officers through role play etcetera, which is well documented in other conversations I've had. I have so many, many, stories secreted away in the recess of my mind. Probably unbelievable to some, but I was there and saw it.

TeeGee: Why do you chose to interview other authors?

T K Geering: Good question. When I first started on my writing journey, I was given a helping hand as stated above. There are many novice authors out there, that have written exceptional books, but never been given an opportunity to be published. Many give up and self publish, but I like to pay on my good fortune.

TeeGee: Any other interviews coming up?

T K Geering: Not that I'm aware of. Ironically I always seem to be an interviewer as opposed to an interviewee. So I'm totally indebted to you for the interview. 

TeeGee: You're welcome.

Here is a link to T K Geering's author page 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=t+k+geering&i=digital-text&crid=3NHKZNB6YZ9ZB&sprefix=T+K+Geer%2Cdigital-text%2C84&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_8

 

 

 

Back in the saddle

 Hello my little chickadees, how is everybody? I haven't done one of these for a while.

I got a writing block at the beginning of the pandemic, nada zilch, nothing, seriously. I found it very depressing because each time I opened one of my W.I.P. the cursor just blinked at me willing me to do something, but I just closed them up again.

When my publishers Wild Wolf released the anthology Another Bloody Christmas, I became excited as one of my short stories was included - A Corpse for Christmas - which was set in Victorian times. It's about a meat pie vendor, body snatchers and Jack the Ripper. One of my readers questioned why I didn't turn it into a novel and then another asked the same question. On a whim, I opened up the document and started to read it again. Hallelujah I suddenly realised that I was starting to expand the story and one thing led to another. I'd started out with 2,000 and by the time I'd finished there were 19,000+, so a bit of a bonus. The first draft is now with my beta readers, whilst I sit with bated breath awaiting their thoughts and unbelievably still tweaking my copy. I'm obviously back!

In the past, I've lectured to students at a local college on creative writing, but on one occasion the tutor of a mechanical engineering course that I'd met over coffee, asked if I would talk to them about my writing regime, as he thought it would help with their report writing to which I agreed. He specified that each of the students could ask me one question and I would respond by email and they could be discussed on my next visit. I was quite amused by some of the questions and I thought I would put them here with my responses. It also gives a background into my writing history.

Q - What car do you drive and do you like it? If so, why? 

A. I used to own a silver mini back in the day, that I called Melvin because part of the index was MEL. I don't drive now and prefer to be chauffeured around.

Q - Are you interested in cars?

A - Not really. As long as it's got good brakes and four good tyres, it's good for me.

Q - Do you have any pets?

A - I had a cat that lived to be 23 years old, but he got feline dementia and had to go for a slow walk over the rainbow bridge. I do have a family of squirrels that live in the trees in my garden and they constantly wreck it burying their nuts. They usually have stand up fights with the magpies. They tease them and then fly up just out of reach.

Q - What's your dream of becoming in the book world?

A - Probably writing a book which was considered good enough to turned into a TV series perhaps, or a mega best seller. Having said that, Soulfate reached #3 on Amazon back in 2011. I actually wrote it for YA but it was read mainly by adults, who seemed to enjoy it judging by the ranking. If I wrote it today I would probably write it completely differently.

Q - What made you think about writing books and how do you feel when you have finished a book?

A - I suppose I've always had a story inside of me from way back at college. I loved writing essays, but never seemed to have time to complete them in the allotted 40 minute lesson, which was very frustrating. When I have finished writing a book there is a sense of satisfaction, that I've at least had some input as my characters do tend to take over from me sometimes. I just sit back and go along for the ride. I do have to reign them in though from time to time.

Q - What made you go into writing and what inspires you?

A - I was sitting in my garden at sunset back in 2011 watching a spider spinning a web and I started to think about faeries and the little people. A story began to form in my mind and I got a note pad and biro but I couldn't keep up with the ideas, so I swopped over to a tape recorder. From there, my main characters Shasta and Erasmus were born. They must have been sitting waiting to be written, because I wrote the trilogy in just over six weeks working all day and sometimes at night. I loved reading as a child and I was always the young girl reading in the library. Sadly libraries often take a back seat these days, as we favour the internet in general for information. To me a library is the world at your fingertips, but now of course the world is at the end of your fingertips on screens. There is nothing like the enticing smell of a book in a library though.

Q - Why did you change from fantasy to crime?

A - Actually I didn't choose fantasy, more the other way around! It's a great world to escape into. A point in question would be the HP book series. Ironically my writing style was compared to J.K. Rowling, oh, and C.S. Lewis of the Chronicles of Narnia fame. Sometimes you just need to stretch yourself towards another genre and for me it was a natural progression with crime. My first attempt was called Poison for Two, which seemed quite popular in an  online book club I belong to.

Q - If someone wanted to become a writer what advice would you give?

A - The first thing is never ever give up! I would suggest joining a creative writing course, where you will have the chance to get your work critiqued and in turn critique others which can be helpful to a writer as it gives an opportunity to see other writers writing styles. You will get good honest feedback, but you also have to be prepared for it to be pulled apart, which can be soul destroying especially if you think you have written something exceptional. You just have to take it on the chin because they may just be right. I have a draw full of rejections from agents and publishers, but I knew my work was good and refused to give up.

Q -  What is your favourite book?

A - One of my favourite books is called Dudes Down Under, written by an Australian author, Suzannah Burke. It's a comedy about a tame crocodile called Cyril, that lives in an 'A' listed hotel frequented by the movie stars and insists on being dressed in dinner suits for dinner. He drinks beer straight from the can and loves swaying to 1940's music and song. He sleeps off his hangovers in whatever bedroom he's closest to, which can be a bit tricky for guests! Unfortunately it's now out of print.

Q - What inspires you to write books?

A - Anything really. I might be sitting in a pub or restaurant and spot a couple drinking or dining. Is he/she showing enough attention to the partner? or maybe he/she is planning a murder. It could be a painting in a shop or gallery window that sparks my interest. Does it talk to me suggesting a story?

Q - Where did you source you information to write about crime?

A - 27 years as a volunteer with Kent Police, working with neighbourhood police officers that knock on doors with their boots. Also helping to train police officers through role plays amongst other things. How to treat an offender or victim for instance. I was usually the 'victim' that had been 'robbed' or playing the part of a missing person, or maybe I was a potential suicide. How would they deal with me, which is where their training came in. I also went with an officer to a sudden death which gives an insight as to what happens next. Going out in patrol cars and yes I have been out with patrol officers back in the day with the sirens etc. As I became more experienced I got drawn further into the 'inner sanctums'. All of the above gave me ideas for stories.

Q -  What has been your favourite book that you have written?

A - Oh that's a very tricky one as all my books are my babies. If I have to chose it would be Ghosts of Timeless Cottage which I set in Hastings my home town. I set it in my great grandparents/grandparents cottage. The story of a Houses of Parliament PA, that inherits a cottage, that is haunted by sea faring ghosts that are a 100 years old. She gets to write one of the ghosts life story.

Q -  What sort of titles do you think interests readers?

A - This is an exceptional question; thank you! If you were to ask several different authors they would probably each give a different answer. Personally I like short snappy titles, that roll off of the tongue. Usually you know when you have the right title. Mine range from single words, including Soulfate, Merlin, to Sleeping with the Gods, Mirror of Darkness, Poison for Two, Another Bloody Christmas and Police Assassin which is a W.I.P. still. Other authors, may well fill up the cover with a title if they feel it's relevant. It's finally down to the publisher in my case I guess but I have an exceptional graphic designer.

Q -  Did your teen years include any crime?

A - This question cracked me up. I would probably say, that's for me to know and you to wonder! However to enable me to work with the police I was vetted and the clearance I hold goes up as far as anti terrorism by Special Branch and the Home Office - I was given to understand when I asked.

Q - What is the worst crime that you had to deal with?

A - An unexpected Domestic Violence situation when I was visiting someone. The husband came in drunk and became violent. I managed to distance myself and the family and called the police. If you mean while I was working with the police I was extremely well protected and they ensured I was never in any danger. In my opinion, probably child abuse of any kind is one of the worst crimes, or DV against either sex. In  this day and age, also County Lines where drug dealers entice youngsters into selling drugs for them. They get in so deep they can't see a way out. Fortunately I've never had any experience of that except through training as spoken about above.

Q - How do you identify getaway car?

A - Another question that cracked me up. A driver revving the engine to full capacity, while wearing a ski mask and then burning rubber usually does it for me! OR a car being driven at speed with police cars in pursuit with maybe a stinger.

Q -  Who publishes your book and how many have you written?

A - I have written 8 books which are published by Wild Wolf Publishing, including a trilogy and I have 2 W.I.P.  I've also written endless short stories that have been published in a private book club and of course endless poems.

Thank you for such interesting and varied questions.

So there you have it. That all seems so long ago now. I'll update you on my current book as it goes through the editing process.

Laters Potaters.

Author Spotlight on B A Morton

Hello my little chickadees

How are you today? We now have a bit more freedom and I'm wondering if you have taken advantage of hugging someone. After around 18 months in lockdown I would have hugged a rabid dog if he'd let me. I settled for my granddaughter who threw her arms around me and didn't want to let go. Quite an emotional moment for both of us.

Recently I interviewed Babs Morton who writes under the name of B.A. Morton. Babs is an exceptional writer but my favourite thing about her is the fact that she lived in a haunted cottage. We've had many conversations about that in the past. Here she is. Hello Babs.

    Would you like to introduce yourself?

Hi Tee and thanks for the opportunity of this interview. I’m a bookaholic with a soft spot for Border Terriers, gardening and chocolate. I was a civil servant for many years, a GP receptionist, a miniature house painter, (miniature houses not miniature me, although I am on the short side) and once upon a time I also popped the pineapple onto French bread pizzas (do those things still exist?) The mantra of ye olde Findus factory drummed into all of us production drones was ‘Never NEVER stop the line!’ ... time’s money etc. As one who was almost buried alive by a runaway line full of crispy pancakes, I can assure you, if in doubt - stop the bleedin’ line! For a number of years my hubby and I lived in a haunted cottage built on the foundations of a medieval chapel, which provided lots of inspiration for my vivid imagination. Now we live in a regular house near Newcastle, which is far easier for babysitting grandbabies.

Tell me about your day to day writing schedule. Is there a routine?

I don’t have a writing routine. I do scribble notes and flashes of inspiration on scraps of paper and stuff them under my keyboard - and forget they’re there. I tend to write in the evening when there are no distractions i.e. binge watching crime series like Line of Duty. I work better with a deadline or someone nagging me to ‘get on with it’.

What genre do you write in and how many books have you written?

I primarily write crime fiction/psychological crime - my preference to read and write, although I do also have a historical series (Templar knights, clashing swords and treasure - lots of treasure!) I’ve just published my tenth book, a Newcastle crime thriller ‘The Favour Bank’ (Good cops, bad cops, and not sure which side they’re on cops.) I’m a member of the Crime Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers.

Favourite food and drink?

Hmm, a nice mug of tea and a chocolate digestive biscuit.

What are your thoughts if your characters take over writing the story?

Oh this happens all of the time, I mean, who on earth do they think they are? I say to them, ‘Hey, I made you!’ and they just shrug and do whatever they like. ‘Solve the bleedin’ crime,’ I say, “All in good time,’ they reply. Huh, they forget I have the power. I have the delete key!

When did you first start writing seriously?

I suppose it was about 2010. I joined Authonomy, a writer’s site/community. Made some good friends, who are still friends today, and I learned a lot. I was fortunate and won second place in The Yeovil Prize literary Competition 2011 with my debut crime novel ‘Mrs Jones’ and just kept on writing. My psychological thriller ‘Bedlam’ was a finalist in the 2020 Wishing Shelf Awards.

Any exciting WIP for us to look forward to?

I’m currently writing The Crow Killer’s Daughter, book two in my new series set in Newcastle. Other projects include sequels to ‘Bedlam’ and ‘Twisted’.

If you could take a character out of one of your books and entertain them for the night, who would it be and from which book?

Haha, I think it would have to be Spook, from my crime thriller ‘Twisted’. She is absolutely bonkers and game for just about anything! It would definitely be a wild night! If I had to pick a bloke, then it would be DS Joe McNeil from Bedlam. That guy really needs a break, God love him.

Your favourite book written by another author.

You know, I have so many favourite books from so many different genres. I could write you a list and still miss out some blindingly good reads. So instead I’ll just say anything written by John Connolly and leave it at that.

Links to your books

You can find all of my books on Amazon – and you could ‘follow’ me, if you had a mind to, to keep up with any new releases: (To clarify – I don’t mean follow me home because that would just be weird)

Links to Babs books: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

I have read several of Babs books and I can highly recommend them.

Laters Potaters

Pure Talent

 Hello my little chickadees,

How are you all today? Oh really? Never mind I'm sure you'll get over it in time. I'm wearing my sympathetic coat today. Did you notice?

On my blog today we have the multi talented Rod Glenn. Not just an amazing writer in the crime/horror genres, but a talented actor as well. Oh, and he also owns a publishing house with approximately 90 authors which include, a former X factor finalist, the brother of murder victim Lesley Ann Downey, a former darts champion, a couple of former detectives, and me! He’s also a big Reacher fan. So, let’s introduce him to you.

Thanks Tee. I’m Rod Glenn and I live in Newcastle, in the North East of England and lived equally in the library and on the stage growing up, with an acute love of books and acting (even though, perversely, I was extremely shy). I grew up in the 70s and 80s during the decline of the mines and shipbuilding, which were the two main industries in the area. It was a pretty bleak time, so I lost myself in books, films and television. I started writing short stories from a very young age, usually based on stories I had read or seen on the screen. I quickly discovered H G Wells, Lovecraft, Poe, Tolkein etc and never looked back. Long before I probably should have been reading them, I began devouring the likes of Stephen King, James Herbert and Dean R Koontz. Then later, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Hunter S Thompson, Richard Matheson and then into crime and true crime.

How many books have you written Rod and what genre are they? 

I currently have seven published novels and then short stories in a number of anthologies. My most well known are the Sinema trilogy, based on a film-obsessed serial killer (crime thrillers with a horror edge to them), 

The King of America (an epic sci-fi fantasy inspired by Frank Herbert’s Dune), 

The Killing Moon (a UK-based post-apocalyptic thriller, inspired by I Am Legend and Mad Max), 

Slaughterville (a surrealist re-telling of the first Sinema novel) No Chance In Hell (an action horror taking inspiration from The Magnificent Seven and Aliens).

Tee Edit: Having read most of them, I can highly recommend them and no, Rod didn’t pay me to say that.

UK Crime Book Club mainly focuses on crime novels; how would your books fit into this slot? 

I tend to start writing a story without a genre in mind – I focus on the characters and the plot and then they tend to fall into one or more genres. The Sinema series and Slaughterville are the ones that the UKCBC members will probably be most interested in.

What is your favourite pastime? 

Reading, watching films and listening to music. A good writer HAS to be a voracious reader as well, and of all genres. Read old and new and everything in between. Recent books I’ve read include a Richard Burton biography, a Lee Child, (Gotta love a bit of Reacher) a true crime book on serial killers and some H P Lovecraft.

Have you a favourite food/drink? 

I love all sorts of food dishes and love to cook as well. I do a mean lasagne and chilli, but I guess my favourite has to be a traditional roast dinner (either beef or turkey). Drinks wise, I’m particularly partial to whiskies and bourbons when the light fades and coffee through the day.

You own the Wild Wolf Publishing company, alongside Lupin Publishing Rod; What genres do the authors write in? Do they interact at all and are any of them actually sane? 

I set up Wild Wolf back in 2007 to publish predominantly dark fiction, as I felt that it was being overlooked by the big publishers and there was a mass of unpublished talent out there, who were being ripped off by vanity presses masquerading as traditional publishers. I’ve since opened up the books to anything that grabs my attention. I don’t care what genre anymore – if I think it’s worthy of publication we’ll publish it. We’ve published a lot of crime, obviously, but also sci-fi, horror, fantasy, historical fiction, true crime, biographies and children’s books. Lots of the Wild Wolf/Lupin authors have become friends and interact with each other socially – we like to think of Wild Wolf as being a family community. In my experience (myself included), very few writers are sane. You have to be a little unhinged to create the worlds and characters we create. Probably why I love acting too – I think they go hand in hand.

What do you do to relax? 

If I’m stressed, I like to listen to music. I have a particular playlist entitled ‘Morose’. It is filled with Leonard Cohen, Kate Bush, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, The Cure, Jim Reeves, Pink Floyd, ELO, Alison Krause, Carol King and a multitude of others. I usually sit in the kitchen drinking bourbon or whisky in silence and get lost in the music. Works for me. Otherwise, a good book or film always does the job too. I also like to work out daily – I think it’s extremely important to balance healthy mind with healthy body. 

You have acted with some of the greats of TV and Screen; who was your favourite actor to act alongside. Who was the funniest? 

It was absolutely amazing to work with Michael Keaton on American Assassin – he was a lovely, quiet and humble man. Sheridan Smith, Sally Phillips and Jo Brand were hilarious to work with on The More You Ignore Me.

What was the scariest film you starred in? 

Got to be Monster (2018) – I play the most horrific serial killer in it. It was a hugely challenging role getting inside the head of such a horrible person, but my research into serial killers for the Sinema books helped a lot to ensure that the character remained human and real, rather than becoming a movie monster like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees.

How many different dialects/accents have you achieved? 

I’ve always listened to and tried to mimic other people’s accents since I was a kid. It must’ve annoyed people over the years, but I couldn’t help myself. I’ve managed to master a few, like standard American, RP, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Cockney, Yorkshire and a few others.

Links to Rod’s books

Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rod-Glenn/e/B0034PNPFU

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rodglennauthoractor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rodglenn

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm34Rk0Z7JriKLVHokGjRLQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roddglenn/ 

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5406988/ 

So there you have the brilliantly talented Rod Glenn and if you're interested in live author interviews, little known author interviews, with lots of other exciting things going on connected to authors, or just want to read about crime, then join us both at the UKCBC of which we are both members. Here's the door to knock on... https://www.facebook.com/groups/ukcrimebookclub

Laters Potaters

The jewell was a cop

Hello my little chickadees. 

Well there's a lot of tumbleweed moving about my author victim cave today. I really think it's about time I purloined a few more bodies to hang up and torture.They only need to spill the beans about their books, what they're up to and a little bit about themselves. I can't help it, if I'm the nosy type and it's for their benefit after all. It's looking decidedly tidy now that there is no blood, guts and torn limbs etc laying about. It can be quite unnerving you know. I'm just not used to it being this quiet. I do like the constant moaning and screaming I hear, when I prod with my taser. I nicked it from a previous victim and I can put it to much better use. Having said all that, as I wandered through the recesses at the back I did find a couple of dead mice that were quite suitable as a quick snack.

Oh and belated Happy Easter egg day. I bet there were loads buried in your neck of the woods. Did you go on an egg hunt? I haven't done that since I walked the earth as a dinosaur. Stick with me kid, I know many things!

Today on my blog I have David Jewell. A cop turned crime writer, who at one point was mistaken for a porno author of the same name. Honest. He’s had thirty one years police experience at the sharp end of some of the toughest areas in the North East and has also received several commendations. His writing captures the voices and attitudes, of a tough, working class Northern city and often the black humour of those who police it. Since then, his retirement has enabled him to get involved in several other occupations as you will discover.

In his debut novel Death Rattle, David introduces you to Detective Inspector Jack Slade of the Homicide and Major Enquiry team, who brings a new dark and gritty realism to the crime writing genre. A body is found stabbed in a notorious Newcastle Upon Tyne gay cruising area. What appears to be a robbery gone wrong, takes a dramatic turn when the identity of the victim is revealed. Slade is drawn into a dark underworld and forced to seek help from people on the fringes of the Newcastle gay scene. Jack finds himself embroiled in a sinister world of sexual exploitation, missing teenagers and murders. His unorthodox policing methods, result in the death of a suspect and he finds himself on the outside shunned by his colleagues and a suspect in a homicide.

So, let’s learn a bit more about David Jewell the author.

Who is David Jewell

I think it’s usual to identify oneself by the occupation that you have at the time. For over thirty one years if you had asked me that question I would have immediately replied with the cliché “Like a stick of rock snap me in half and it reads “cop” from top to bottom.

However, over the past four years with the success of my TV Series “Write on” and the Royal Television Society nomination for the political biography “From Pit To Parliament” I would have been able to claim that I was a documentary film maker. Covid has put a temporary halt on that.

If you ask me today then I would have to say that I am a writer and crime novelist.

Tell us about family members

I come from a large family and we’re very close. I’m sure that just like everyone reading this during the Covid pandemic I miss my family like crazy. Facetime is a great tool and I now speak to my sister in Australia more often than before the crisis but no amount of zoom or Facetime can compensate for giving loved ones a hug. I’m hoping that the nightmare is over soon, but couldn’t help but smile when my five year old niece told me last week on Facetime “Uncle David… when this is over we’re all having a big party.” I’m so looking forward to that day.

Tell me about your writing routine

I’d love to say that I have a set routine but that would be a fib. I’m envious of my friends like International Crime Writer Mari Hannah who says it is her full time job so she gets up in the morning and writes until late afternoon with a break for lunch. Playwriter and screenwriter Michael Wilcox works in the morning until lunch time but the Horror writer Stephen Laws is the opposite and starts work around Midnight writing throughout the night. When I made a TV documentary on Stephen I called it “The Midnight Man” after one of his novels. I just write when I come up with an idea but once I start I seem to keep going for hours into the night.

Although I am determined to establish a routine … that has been my New Year resolution for a few years now.

What genre do you write in/would you consider other genres?

I’m a crime writer and use my experience of more than three decades as a front line cop to fuel my writing. That being said, I am working on a potential television comedy drama but I’m finding comedy is very difficult as we all have different ideas of what is funny. I find it disconcerting when I watch classic comedy like One Foot in The Grave, Father Ted or Fawlty Towers and think to myself I could never ever be as good as that.

Favourite food/Drink.

Probably my favourite type of food is a curry but that is best enjoyed with a pint of English Real Ale… and not that fizzy lager concoction.

I enjoy cooking food for friends and weather permitting dining “al fesco” in the garden. I really love relaxing on the patio in the Summer with a good crime book and a glass of Rose wine. 

Do your characters take over at all and if so how do you deal with it?

My character Jack Slade in the crime novel “Death Rattle” has definitely grown larger than life and whilst he (rarely) breaks the law, he has no compunction about frequently bending it if the circumstances require him to. His sometimes unorthodox methods of policing have certainly found favour with my readers and he is a firm favourite amongst police officers who constantly email or message me to say how much they love him and ask when is the next Jack Slade book coming out. Maybe some of them are thinking “I wish I’d done that” whilst others muse “I know someone who got away with that.” Cops frequently say “I know who that character is!” The reality is that Jack and all the other characters he works with are fictitious with the exception of the barman in the Police club who shares his name with a real person…. along with that persons dry wit. 

I did have one reviewer who said that they found one of the things Jack Slade did far-fetched and that any police officer who did that would end up in prison. I had to smile and was inwardly pleased that I hadn’t put any clues in to identify who had done that particular deed.

Truth is very often more stranger than fiction.

Any pet hates about books.

I hate the inaccuracies in procedure in books marketed as “Crime Procedurals”. I know that it is easy to make mistakes and for typos not to be picked up by readers despite having been proof read several times, but there are basic procedural actions that keep repeating.

Very rarely is a warrant required to search a property and never if a person is arrested. Searches are almost always covered by The police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Almost never is a warrant of Arrest issued for anyone unless they have failed to turn up for a scheduled court appearance. Police have widespread powers of arrest set out in legislation. 

My real pet hate is the frequently repeated portrayal of the cop who is sick at the sight of a crime scene or autopsy. A cop like that isn’t going to last long. It has become a cliché and in more than thirty years as a cop I have never witnessed it.

The reality is you just get on and do your job despite the gore, death and destruction around you. It’s only when you finish work and go home that you might sit and reflect on what has happened. I think that is why cops have such a black sense of humour. It’s a coping strategy and I try to bring that out in my writing.

Sometimes especially in Television inaccuracies might not be the writer’s fault. Many years ago when I was working as a detective A great friend of mine Michael Wilcox was writing an episode of Inspector Morse and rang me to ask about the correct procedure for an identification parade. I told him but when it appeared on screen it was nothing like I’d explained. When I next spoke to him he said, “I know David but the Director said doing it the right way… just didn’t look as good on screen.” 

Where do you go to escape

Some years ago my brother and I invested in a renovation property in North Northumberland that is central to all the scenic places I love. Now restored it has become a holiday home which unfortunately due to Covid, is not getting visited at the moment. When I’m there I can curl up on a lounger overlooking the garden and disappear into the pages of a book. Sometimes I also use it to escape from distractions if I need to work on a novel or screenplay.

I have always loved the Northumbrian countryside and following the success of the fantastic television series Vera with the lovely Brenda Blethyn and Kenny Doughty, the world is discovering Northumberland and it’s doing wonders for the local tourist industry. 

Have you any WIP at the moment, or anything due to be published?

As I mentioned I’m working on a spec script for comedy drama television series set on Tyneside so I’m hoping that will work out. 

With regard to my Crime Novels, I’m rewriting and editing the second Jack Slade novel which will be released when Lockdown is over and we can have a traditional launch.

There’s a third novel in the pipeline which is an international thriller with strong psychological undertones. Concerning technical issues with the weapons aspects of the novel I have a good friend and former colleague with whom I’m in frequent contact. He keeps me up to date concerning firearms but he has just sent me a real writers’ joke.

A priest, a pastor and a Rabbit walk into a blood donation clinic.

The nurse asks the rabbit “What is your blood type?”

The rabbit replies “I think I’m probably a Type O”.

 

 Links:

Jewell, David — The Crime Writers' Association (thecwa.co.uk)

David Jewell (@D_Jewell_Author) / Twitter

David Jewell Author | Facebook

Amazon

www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Rattle-David.../dp/B08DJ9CXD8

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