How many books have you written?
Just one, Jurymen May Dine. A whodunnit told from the point of view of one of the jurors in a murder trial, Tony Quirke. Unhappy with his fellow jurors’ decision that the defendant is guilty, Quirke sets out to investigate the case on his own and ends up fighting for his life in gangland.
How much research did you need to do for your book?
A lot! Mainly into campaigns to overturn wrongful murder convictions. I’m thinking of the Barry George, Steven Downing and Sally Clark cases, for instance. What interests me about controversial cases like these is how they lead you through a Hall of Distorting Mirrors. The prosecution presents one version of events, then the defence presents a different one. But if you walk out of the courtroom and start asking questions in the community where the murder took place, you might discover a third version, then a fourth, and so on. That’s what happens to Tony Quirke as he investigates the case himself, meeting all sorts of savoury and unsavoury characters on the way. Some of them tell him one thing, others tell him the opposite. He’s wandering through a Hall of Distorting Mirrors and the mystery becomes more perplexing with every step.
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
Like all whodunnits, Jurymen May Dine had to be carefully plotted. The clues and red herrings had to be edged into position precisely. So I guess the plot came first. But as soon as I started writing, the characters started bouncing off each other in ways that I didn’t expect. Most readers find Tony Quirke very relatable. He’s been described as an Everyman, with some admirable qualities but a few rough edges too. And that’s how I see him. He’s determined to solve the mystery, so determined that he was almost taking the story forward himself. Within the framework of the clues and red herrings, of course.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
Yes — two noir masterpieces by James M. Cain, Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice. Then there was our own Ted Lewis, who gave a huge boost to BritNoir in the 1970s with Jack’s Return Home aka Get Carter. These are the books that set me on my way. Noir is the corner of the crime writing universe I feel most at home in.
How important was professional editing to your book’s development?
Very important. First of all, the manuscript went to a development editor, one of the best in the book world and a specialist in crime fiction. After that it went to a copy editor, another specialist in crime fiction, who went through the text paragraph by paragraph. Finally, it was line-edited to guarantee a typo-free text. Professional editing is an essential part of the writing process. Only an editor can see a manuscript from the reader’s point of view.
How long did it take you to write this book?
I guess the idea had been swirling around in my subconscious for decades, but the actual writing process took about three years. The first draft of a novel comes quickly. It’s the revision that takes time. Writers shouldn’t be called that — they should be called re-writers, because that’s what they spend most of their time doing!
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
I didn’t experience writer’s block until Jurymen May Dine had been published and I began work on my next novel. That’s when it hit me. I was suddenly terrified of putting pen to paper! What put me off was the conviction that anything I wrote was bound to be complete and total rubbish. So to avoid writing, I spent hours scrolling through Facebook, making cups of tea, finishing long-neglected DIY jobs, going out for walks and so on. Anything to avoid facing up to a blank sheet of paper.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
Once I’d got over my block – it took about six months – I wrote the first draft of my next crime novel quite quickly. It’s another standalone, but it’s a bit different from the first. In Juryman May Dine, a murder has been committed and the narrative follows the main character on his quest for the murderer. My next novel is more of a whydunnit. We know who has committed the crime from the beginning. The narrative follows his attempts to avoid getting caught — and his struggles to come to terms with the consequences of what he’s done.
What is the best money you’ve ever spent with regard to your writing?
Taking a Master’s degree in Creative Writing at Glasgow University. This was an exciting introduction to the craft of writing, not only thanks to the course tutors (all of whom were published authors) but because of the literary agents, publishers, world-famous writers and other luminaries of the literary scene who came to give talks. And I made a lot of friends among my fellow-students, many of whom are now well-known authors.
What would you say to an author who wanted to design their own cover?
Don’t! Leave well alone! This is a job for a specialist.
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LINKS TO BOOK PAGES
Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CPJP9WY5
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/jurymen-may-dine
Apple Books https://books.apple.com/gb/book/jurymen-may-dine/id6473789502?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=books_box_link
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=2bLnEAAAQBAJ
Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jurymen-may-dine-nick-boreham/1144451816?ean=2940185883266