I am so excited to be able to interview Graham Smith, author of ‘Lines of Enquiry’ and ‘Snatched From Home’. He’s my first ever author interview! You’ll see from his responses that, although Graham writes about crime, he has a wry sense of humour too.

Graham Smith Interview

1. How did your writing career begin?

I’ve been an avid read of crime fiction since the age of eight. A chance encounter at the Harrogate Crime Festival saw me join the ranks of www.crimesquad.com as a reviewer. Through Crimesquad.com, I got to meet and interview lots of authors. Eventually the urge to jot a few ideas of my own down saw me embark on the journey that is writing a novel. I also encountered a lot of books where I’d be thinking, “I can do better than this.” It got to the point where I needed to put my money where my mouth was. I did and was lucky enough to earn a publishing contract for ‘Snatched from Home.’

2. What motivates you to write?

The voices in my head keep telling me stories which I think are worthy of a wider audience. Plus there are a lot of mental health benefits in letting some of the voices out. Being more serious, I have a caught the writing bug so badly that if I was alone in the world with no possibility of anyone to read my stories, I’d still be writing them.

3. What do you read when you’re not writing?

I always have a crime novel on the go. The only exception to this is when I’m editing. Then I try to read books which will help me with my research.

4. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m a pantser through and through. I need only the setting, lead character, the major crime and the resolution I want to happen (eg a serial killer being caught or killed by the hero) for me to start writing.

5. Do you create characters for the plots or vice versa?

The answer to this is neither and both. I have a head full of ideas and I have two series characters. I tend to choose which idea is best for which character. Having said this, I always have to introduce new characters within the framework of my story. The first third of the last novel I wrote, took a totally unexpected turn when a character took over the story despite being dead from the first paragraph.

6. Would friends and family members recognise themselves in your writing?

Some traits from family members are definitely included in my characters, but it’s the little things I pick up from strangers and overheard conversations which often create the most memorable traits.

7. What plans do you have for future novels?

I have the sequel to ‘Snatched from Home’ completed and submitted to my publisher and I have another novel – ‘The Watcher’ – out on submission. I have enough details for both the third Harry Evans novel and the sequel to ‘The Watcher’ swirling around my head. I plan to start one of them in the next few days.

8. Which five authors would you have round for dinner?

I’m gonna go for an odd and eclectic bunch as I’ve been lucky enough to meet most of my writing heroes. My five dinner guests would be, Wilbur Smith, Tom Cain, Alistair MacLean, Ian Fleming and J.R.R. Tolkein. I’d serve a huge shepherd’s pie and make sure there was plenty of beer available. It’d be a proper boys night in.

9. Which book do you wish you’d written?

‘The Da Vinci Code’. I believe there’s a great story hidden among all the clumsy phrases. Plus, there’s a certain financial benefit to be had from being the author of one of the best-selling books ever.

10. Your debut novel ‘Snatched from Home’ is being made into a play for the Manchester Arts Fringe. Can you tell us about this?

I’m very lucky to have met the actor and director, Derek Lawson, when he directed the adaptation of a friend’s novel. We got talking and he asked to read my work. From there he adapted it into a play and it was picked up by the Fringe festival. It will be showing at the Salford Arts Theatre from the 8^th -10^th July. I have been involved in creating the script and the casting and have to say I’m blown away by the level of talent involved and can’t wait to see it live.

Graham Smith is married with a young son. A time served joiner he has built bridges, houses, dug drains and slated roofs to make ends meet. For the last fourteen years he has been manager of a busy hotel and wedding venue near Gretna Green, Scotland.

An avid fan of crime fiction since being given one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five books at the age of eight, he has also been a regular reviewer and interviewer for the well-respected website Crimesquad.com for over six years.

I’m sure you’ll want to find out more about Graham Smith so here’s where you can do just that:

The Major Crimes Team Vol 1: Lines of Enquiry

UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Major-Crimes-Team-Lines-Enquiry-ebook/dp/B00U0N3FG8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1424951840&sr=1-1

US

http://www.amazon.com/Major-Crimes-Team-Lines-Enquiry-ebook/dp/B00U0N3FG8/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1425557648&sr=1-5

Snatched from Home

UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Snatched-Home-Would-Children-Harry-ebook/dp/B00U0GRQCY/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1424951840&sr=1-2

US

http://www.amazon.com/Snatched-Home-Would-Children-Harry-ebook/dp/B00U0GRQCY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425557558&sr=8-1&keywords=snatched+from+home

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/grahamnsmithauthor

Twitter
https://twitter.com/GrahamSmith1972

Website
www.grahamsmithauthor.com

I was delighted to be offered the chance by Liesel Schmidt to read and review ‘The Secret of Us’.

When Eira’s fiance Matt tells her he thinks their engagement is wrong and leaves her stranded in a restaurant with just the word ‘Sorry’ scrawled on a napkin, she feels as if her heart is broken. Flame haired Eira moves state to try to begin a new life, little realising that her life will change for ever and her past is never very far behind.

As I started reading, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this book as there were a few too many adjectives in the descriptions for my taste. However, the plot is very good, twisting and turning along the way so that, although the reader hopes for a happy ending, there’s no guarantee there will be one.  Such clever plotting hooks the reader and I enjoyed ‘The Secret of Us’ after all. It’s a real roller coaster of a read.

Eira is a strong and likeable character. As one shock after another hits her, she adapts in a very realistic and humane way so that the reader feels her emotions with her and grows to admire her more and more.

There is real emotion conveyed throughout this book and reading ‘The Secret of Us’ put me in mind of some of the Nora Roberts books I’ve read and enjoyed. I think ‘The Secret of Us’ would definitely appeal to all readers of romance.

My enormous thanks to Bookbridgr and Nikki Barrow at Hodder for providing a review copy of ‘A Man Called Ove’.

Fifty-nine year old Ove thinks everyone is a fool. Ove likes order and routine. He says little but is very good at D-I-Y. His world becomes complicated when new neighbours arrive, who, along with a mangy cat, don’t allow him to get on with his life the way he thinks wants to.

I’d heard a lot about Fredrik BackMan’s ‘A Man Called Ove’ and I had read and thoroughly enjoyed ‘My Grandmother Sends Her Regards And Apologises’ so I was expecting great things from ‘A Man Called Ove’. This is always a problem as the potential to be disappointed is high. Phew! I need not have worried. I absolutely adored ‘A Man Called Ove’.

The novel is cleverly constructed in quirkily named chapters that could happily stand alone as short stories in their own right. Written in the continuous present tense there is a freshness and immediacy about the story that draws in the reader so that they are living the events at the same time as Ove. I found the writing perfect and not at all constrained by being in translation. The variety of construction meant that I totally understood Ove’s point of view.

Indeed, as the novel progresses, the reader feels as if Ove is a beloved member of their own family and that all of the other characters are friends they’ve known for years. I’ve seen references to Ove as a kind of Victor Meldrew character, but he is so much more than that. He experiences love, rage and frustration in a totally humane and understandable way. In Ove there is something we can all recognise about ourselves. I feel I have missed out in life by not having met Ove and have to keep reminding myself he isn’t real but is a character in a book.

I also thought the humour was wonderful and I laughed out loud in several places – something I rarely do when reading. I cried too. On the front of my copy of ‘A Man Called Ove’ is an endorsement saying ‘warm, funny… unbearably moving’. I couldn’t have put it better myself. Wonderful.

‘A Man Called Ove’ was published in paperback on 7th May 2015

I am very grateful to Frances Gough at Headline and Bookbridgr for my copy of ‘Girls on Tour’ by Nicola Doherty.

Originally published as a series of five novellas, ‘Girls on Tour’ focuses on Poppy, Maggie, Rachel and Lily as they search for true love amongst a series of madcap adventures taking them from Paris to Los Angeles, Meribel to Rome and New York.

This is not the kind of fiction I usually read, but it was a real pleasure. ‘Girls on Tour’ is a sparkling chick lit book, full of laughs, romance and friendship. Each section is written from the point of view of one of the girls and each is really well depicted so that they become like friends to the reader as well as to each other. Similarly, even the most insignificant character is well rounded and alive.

What I really liked was the detail of the settings. I could easily picture myself on the ski slopes in Meribel or on the back of a Vespa in Rome. The descriptions of clothing, food and weather brought the book to life and I found the stories fast paced and engaging. There are lots of very amusing elements and I frequently found myself laughing out loud.

‘Girls on Tour’ is a perfect read for those looking for lighthearted escapism. I’d recommend taking it with you on holiday and if the weather’s poor you know you’ll have some sunshine!

‘The Janus Stone’ is the second in Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway novels and was my May selection for the reading group to which I belong. I chose ‘The Janus Stone’ because I don’t normally read crime fiction and the reading group has many crime fiction fans.

Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist called in by DCI Harry Nelson when the skeleton of a child is discovered by builders demolishing a Victorian House in Norwich. The house has had a sinister history, as two children went missing, never to be found, when the house was used as a children’s home.

I always avoid saying too much about the plot in my blog as I think this can spoil the read for others, but the narrative was entirely credible and thoroughly well researched with its references to Janus without being smug or preachy. I found it totally absorbing and exciting – a true page turner.

What I thought was so skilful about Kelly Griffiths’ writing was that, whilst there were references to the first Ruth Galloway novel, they were so well woven into this one, the reader didn’t feel they only had half the story as I have found with other series.

The characters in ‘The Janus Stone’ are very realistic, flawed and human so that they come alive on the page and transform form mere characters to real people. I especially warmed to Ruth and Harry. Their story is definitely not over in this novel and I’m desperate to know what happens next to them.

A further triumph was Elly Griffiths’ use of setting. She has the ability to make a scene real and to convey something sinister exquisitely. I know Norfolk well and the descriptions were perfect. Similarly, I found there was a lightness of touch at times so that the narrative has humour as well as its darker side.

I thought ‘The Janus Stone’ was brilliant. I am now a confirmed crime fiction and Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway fan. I’m off to read the others in the series.

My enormous thanks to Frances Gough at Hodder Headline and Bookbridgr for the opportunity to read a pre-publication copy of ‘My Mother’s Secret’.

The Sheehans are a big, complicated Irish family whose lives are about to be disrupted beyond recognition when Roisin, Davey and Steffie organise a surprise party for their parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary. The secrets revealed and events that unfold at the party mean none of their lives will ever be the same again.

I’ve always enjoyed Sheila O’Flanagan’s novels, but ‘My Mother’s Secret’ has to rank as one of her best. It is typically written with warmth and understanding of what makes us human in all our frailties. With several twists along the way, the plot is satisfactorily resolved without being trite or hackneyed and I found myself cheering for each character and hoping life would work out for them. You’ll have to read it yourself to see who comes off best!

What I find so engaging about ‘My Mother’s Secret’ is that every character is human and realistic so that they begin to feel like people I really know and care about. I found myself thinking  about them when I wasn’t reading about them. It really does feel as if you’re part of the family taking part in the story with them.

I can’t recommend ‘My Mother’s Secret’ highly enough for those who love a heartwarming story with plenty of action, a brilliant range of characters and a jolly good cry along the way. It will definitely be a best seller.

Ellie is in the middle of an affair with a married man, John, that is distracting her from her work for The National newspaper, putting both her job and happiness at risk. In the past Jenny is the married participant in another all consuming passionate affair with Anthony, or Boot as she calls him. When Ellie finds letters in the newspaper archives written from Boot to Jennifer Stirling a chain of events unfolds that weaves past and present together in a spell binding read.

Circumstances meant that I read this story by Jojo Moyes over several months and I think it is testament to the quality of her writing that I never needed to go back over previous reading or remind myself of the characters and narrative. The lives of Ellie and John, Jenny and Anthony remained with me through other novels and events in my own life because they were so well depicted it was as if I was returning to catch up with people I really knew well.

What Jojo Moyes does exceptionally well is convey the human quality of her characters with all their self-delusions, faults and dreams so that the reader is deeply moved by those they come to love. I was desperate for Ellie to find happiness, but as the book progresses, it is by no means clear that she will. Similarly, the grief and wasted opportunity felt by Jenny affected me like a personal blow. I found Jennifer the more appealing female in this story.

Love and loss, self awareness, grief and happiness are the universal themes of our lives and Jojo Moyes conveys them with skill and realism. I’ve enjoyed every one of her books and this was no exception.

My thanks to Ben Adams for providing a copy of his novel for review saying ‘I’m quite happy with honesty, so if it isn’t your favourite book, be sure to tell me.’ (He didn’t have to worry!)

Graham’s life is a mess. The father of two teenage boys, he’s in a dead end job and is going through divorce. Deciding to give himself the six months before his 43rd birthday to get his life back in order, Graham meets Amy whilst walking his newly acquired dog. This could be the start of something positive – and possibly complicated, given his son, Jack, falls for Amy’s daughter Lucy. Unfortunately for Graham, he has a nasty habit of managing to say and do exactly the wrong thing at the wrong moment so getting to that birthday is never going to be easy.

I really enjoyed ‘Six Months to Get a Life’. I found it better written than some more established writers in this genre. Structured around short daily diary entries, the reader is given access to Graham’s inner most thoughts so that they get a real sense of who he is as a man. The diary format makes Ben Adams’ story an effective and accessible read.

The writing is fluid and engaging. There is considerable humour underlying Graham’s haplessness and on occasion I found myself laughing out loud. However, that is not to say that there isn’t real tragedy and emotion too and a twist towards the end took me completely by surprise. Reading Ben Adams’  ‘Six Months to Get A Life’ put me in mind of a more mature male perspective ‘Bridget Jones’ and the lessons Graham learns along the way would benefit anyone who reads the book.

Just occasionally I found the first person pronoun a little overused and might have liked a little more variety in the style, but then this is Graham’s diary so I suppose he can write it any way he likes!

One real success is Graham’s avoidance of his ex’s name. It put me in mind of Curley’s Wife in Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ where the woman is never named to try to reduce her status. As Graham finds out, preventing his ex from influencing his life is not as simple as he’d like it to be!

I’d certainly recommend ‘Six  Months to Get a Life’ to both male and female readers, and especially anyone who wants to know how to get their life back in order after a messy divorce! I’ll definitely be reading Ben Adams’ next book ‘Six Lies’