Were you an avid reader as a child? Do you still read books?
I was a very avid reader as a child. I’d rush home from school to read as much Lord of the Rings as I could before doing my homework. I read a lot of books!
Can you tell us about your journey from being a police officer in the Metropolitan Police service to becoming an author? What inspired you to make this transition?
I actually wrote my first book about ten years before I retired from the police, when I thought that my career was over due to injury. I purposely kept away from writing crime-themed books due to the nature of my job and not wanting there to be a conflict at any time. The transition was an easy one, it was just finding the time to start writing again!
How did your extensive experience as a police officer influence your writing style and the stories you choose to tell in your crime action novels?
They influenced me a lot in that real life policing isn’t as fast-paced and exciting as the tv shows make it to be, it can be tedious at times, I can tell you. I'm determined to write novels that are interesting, fun and fast paced. Sadly, the work I specialised in wasn’t the most exciting, although there were elements that were it was mainly writing reports or sitting in cars waiting for something to happen. There isn’t an interesting novel in there, however you spin it! My novels have some of the more exciting elements mixed in with what any individual, not just a police officer, would like to see happen to a nasty criminal.
Are there any authors or books that have influenced your writing style or storytelling approach?
I’d have to say that CS Lewis and Tolkien did, for sure. Whether I write anything like them is another story, though!
Your books often feature DC Kendra March. Can you share what inspired this character and how you developed her personality throughout the 'Summary Justice' series?
Kendra was originally supposed to be the main character in the series, but as I wrote the first book it became clear that her father and her ex-partner were equally as important to the series. Kendra is a character that started as a ‘by the book’ police officer who quickly realised when she looked into it that being like that was never going to help many people, that criminals too often get away with it, and that justice in this country is fleeting. Her change from being like that to the character she is now was significant, the understanding that came from having to commit crimes in order to dispense justice was profound. How she is now is how most police officers would dream of being, doing what it takes to dispense justice.
In your novels, you delve into the underbelly of London. How did your firsthand experience shape the authenticity and grittiness of your storytelling?
It helped a lot, I’ve seen it first hand and much of it will never be seen by the public, fortunately. It is there though, as it is in most cities around the world. Having seen it made it easier to incorporate into the stories and I hope the readers will get that.
Crime novels often tackle complex ethical and moral dilemmas. How do your experiences in law enforcement inform the ethical dilemmas your characters face in your books?
The main dilemma was addressing the fact that a serving police officer and her team commit criminal offences in order to dispense justice, because otherwise they’d get away with it. Once I got past that the rest was easy.
What kind of research and preparation do you undertake when writing about police procedures, investigations, and criminal activities to ensure accuracy and realism in your novels?
In addition to my own knowledge and experience, I am fortunate that i have colleagues to call upon to keep me updated on new procedures, it is important for them to be as close to reality as possible.
Can you give us a glimpse into your creative process? How do you go about developing a plot and characters for your novels?
I usually come up with a short summary as to what I want the book to be about, then I start and write by the seat of my pants!
Are there any real-life experiences from your time as a police officer that you've incorporated into your novels, perhaps as inspiration for specific scenes or characters?
A few, but nothing that any other police officer hasn’t dealt with, being attacked, being chased, being followed, that sort of thing.
As an emerging author, what challenges have you faced in the publishing industry, and how have you overcome them?
Getting the word out, marketing, trying to persuade people to take a chance and read at least one book. It’s difficult for new authors as we have to start from scratch and hope people see merit in what we write. It’s a long journey and as long as i enjoy it then I’m happy to take it.
Your novels are known for their fast-paced action. Can you share some tips on how you maintain tension and excitement throughout your storytelling?
When I write I do it as if I’m writing a scene in a tv show, so I imagine it first and then put it in writing. I prefer it to be fast paced, it keeps the tension going!
What can readers expect from your upcoming works? Are there any hints or teasers you can share about your future projects?
I am almost finished with book 6 of the series, ‘Justice’ and then I’ll be starting a new series that I can’t say too much about just yet! I will also be continuing the ’Summary justice’ series, so i’ll be alternating books as I write.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?
I look forward to getting the weekly downloads of images and messages that you send on social media, it tells me that you’re doing what you promised you would! For that, I thank you!
