Today I’m joining the blog tour for Legacy Of Guilt. I’m sharing my Q&A with the author with thanks to Zoe O’Farrell for inviting me on the blog tour and to LJ Morris for answering my questions!

Have you always wanted to write?

I have always wanted to create stories. As a kid, I used to draw comic strips and then dabbled with film making. When I was 12, I tried to write a serial killer novel. I know, I know, I was a strange kid, but that’s when it all started. Took me a while to get around to writing more seriously, but I’m enjoying it now.  

What were your previous jobs? Have they helped you with your writing process?

I joined the Royal Navy when I was 16 and trained as a Weapons Engineer. That comes in handy for any action sequencies. It also means that a lot of my characters are ex-military. I understand what makes them tick and how they relate to each other.

What was your inspiration for Legacy of Guilt? 

I was always drawn towards Cold War spy novels and the work of authors such as Frederick Forsyth. With Legacy of Guilt, I was also influenced by the modern, grittier feel of the Jason Bourne films and Daniel Craig’s James Bond.

How do you construct your characters? Do they have traits of people you know?

As I mentioned earlier, a number of my characters are ex-military. Those characters tend to, at least in part, have traits of people I served with. Others are influenced by friends, relatives, people I see in the pub or on the street. Like most authors, I’m an avid people watcher.

What does your writing process look like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A pantser at heart but I do plot a little. I usually start with a brief outline but normally find that, once I get started, that goes out the window and the story develops a mind of its own. It does get me into trouble sometimes though.

How did you research? Did you enjoy it?

The locations in Legacy of Guilt are places where I’ve lived or worked. Anything I didn’t know, I found online. I do like doing research, but I can fall down too many rabbit holes if I’m not careful.

Who are your favourite writers? Are you influenced by them?

As a kid, Roald Dahl was my favourite. Especially his darker short stories. Frederick Forsyth, Gerald Seymour and Terence Strong were my go-to authors as I got older, but I also love Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Dennis Lehane, and M W Craven. Ultimately, I think I’m influenced by everything I’ve read.

If you could invite three people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be and why?

Muhammed Ali was a hero of mine growing up and I wish I could have met him. Not just a sporting icon, but a great man.

Stephen King. Hopefully he would lend me just a little bit of his genius.  

Charlie Higson. I met him recently. He’s a talented crime writer and still as funny as ever.

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

Boris Johnson. I don’t like noisy parties.

Who would play the main character/s in a film version of Legacy of Guilt?

I think Richard Madden would be perfect as Logan Palmer and Emma Watson would be a very good Anna Riley.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

When I’m not reading or writing, I do like to watch films and TV. They have to be good though. There’s too much quality creative output available these days to waste time on bad story telling. Other times, you’ll find me with my feet up listening to music.

What is next for you?

The sequel to Legacy of Guilt, Legacy of Hate, is already written so I now have to decide whether to carry on with book 3 in this series or book 3 in my previous Ali Sinclair series. Although there is always the option to start something new. Maybe a different genre.

Favourites:

Book? – Day of the Jackal, Frederick Forsyth

Film? – Sleepers

Band/Singer? – Pink Floyd

TV show? – Breaking Bad

Colour? – Purple

Place? – Samye Ling Buddhist Monastery

Biscuit? – Jaffa Cakes

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Legacy Of Guilt is available from Amazon.

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here: