What
genre do you write and why?
I write crime fiction novels, sometimes
known as mystery novels in the US, because I am fascinated about the psychology
and motivation behind murder cases. What makes people do the dreadful deeds
that take away lives and leave many victims behind?
Tell
us about your latest book.
The latest book to appear in the US is TheSwedish Girl, although the latest in the UK (my fourteenth in the Lorimer series)
is Still Dark.
The Swedish Girl involves the investigation
by Kirsty Wilson when her student flat mate, the beautiful Eva Magnusson from
Stockholm, is found murdered. A fellow flat mate is arrested and placed in HM
Barlinnie prison on remand, something Kirsty feels is all wrong. She enlists
the help of her father’s boss, DCI Lorimer and the case takes several twists
and turns with Kirsty acting as an amateur sleuth, sometimes guided by her new
mentor.
What
marketing methods are you using to promote your book?
I am very fortunate to have my publishers
in the US giving my books blog tours at the moment and so I am using social
media to promote my books. In the UK I carry out real tours of bookstores and
attend many literary festivals throughout the year.
What
formats is the book available in?
All of my books are available in hardback,
trade paperback, paperback, audio, large print and Braille.
Who
are your favorite authors?
Louise Penny, Alexander McCall Smith, PD
James, Ann Cleeves, Chris Brookmyre, William McIlvanney, John Le Carre, George
Mackay Brown, Alanna Knight, J R R Tolkien, William Shakespeare, Geoffrey
Chaucer, Jane Austen.
What
advice do you have for other writers?
Believe in yourself, persevere and edit,
edit, edit.
What’s
your favorite quote about writing/for writers?
“We like the plot, Miss Austen, but all
this effing and blinding will have to go”!
What’s
the best thing about being a writer?
Oh, a hard question! Two answers I think to
this. Firstly the freedom to work as and when I can but just as important the
best thing for me is the friendships I have made of other writers throughout
the world. That is such a blessing.
Where
can people find out more about you and your writing?
Who
is your favorite character in your book and why?
The Swedish Girl was written with Kirsty
high on my list of favorite characters but Lorimer probably comes equal first!
Why? Well, Kirsty is a keen observer of human nature and an all round decent
person and it was refreshing to see a crime scene from the eyes of someone
outside the police as well as to maintain Lorimer’s perspective on things. I
love Lorimer for his sense of justice and his determination to see the
perpetrator of crimes brought to book.
Why
do you think readers are going to enjoy your book?
It is different from most crime novels in
that it centers around Glasgow student life, involves police procedural as well
as an amateur sleuth (which does not happen in any of my other novels to
date) and also shows the reader what it
is like in one of the most famous prisons in the UK. The cast of characters is
intriguing as many of them have a motive for killing Eva and I hope that the
final outcome is a surprise! The book also depicts Glasgow in some detail,
something readers always tell me they enjoy.
How
long did it take you to write your book?
I really cannot remember the exact amount
of time but it would be about nine months from start to finished ms.
Who
designed the cover?
The art department at William Morrow;
clever folk there!
Did
you learn anything from writing your book that was unexpected?
I did a huge amount of research in
Barlinnie and was surprised to find that Christmas can be a lot of fun for
inmates as they have a lot of sporting competitions. The chapel there is also a
place of peace and tranquility.
Where
can a reader purchase your book?
The US and UK Kindle editions can be
purchased online and UK hard copy editions can be found in any good bookstore
here in the UK, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada.
What
are you doing to market the book?
Lots of interviews, blog tour and comments
on Twitter and Facebook. You can follow me @alexincrimeland on Twitter for
example.
Who
inspires you?
Alanna Knight, MBE, my dear friend and
fellow crime writer. At almost 95 years of age she is about to produce her 80th
novel. Alanna is wonderful. She is so organized and has a perfect life work
balance. Her age is just a number and those of us who love her admire her red
hair, perfectly manicured nails and little leather biker jackets as well as her
enthusiasm and energy. She is one of life’s givers and has helped numerous
writers over the years, conscious of the need to “pour the wine back into the
soil” as she often says.
How
do you research your books?
Very meticulously! I have lots of police
and forensic contacts and I go to them for advice all the time. I begin from a
stand of knowing nothing so I go out and talk to experts; armed with ten good
questions, I can return home with twenty good answers and lots of great
stories! Meeting and interviewing real people and going to places brings my
books alive. I do not labor the research material however, using just enough to
authenticate the story.
What
is your work in progress. Tell us about it.
Ah, that is impossible. I do not talk about
a work in progress. All I can say is that I am about a fifth way through book 16 in the Lorimer series and
it should be published in Spring 2019, DV.
What
are your thoughts on self-publishing versus traditional publishing?
I have friends who have successfully
self-published but I have also seen some books from self published authors that
are in woeful need of a good editor. I think the hard work and determination
needed to secure a traditional publisher pays off greatly but I do admire those
who market their own work successfully. Their energy is amazing!
Who
or what inspired you to become a writer?
Heaven alone knows! I have been writing
since I could. Aged five or six? My primary four teacher told my parents I
would become an author. I was eight at the time.
Being a writer was always what I knew I
wanted to be though the need to earn a living took me down other routes first.
That was not a bad thing as I bought life experience to bear in my subsequent
writing.
Does
your family support you in your writing career? How?
Very much so, both in practical terms and
in moral support and encouragement. My husband, Donnie, is retired now and is
my official roadie, taking me all over the country. My family all turn out for
every book launch and are enthusiastic readers of every book. One lovely story
to illustrate this involves my granddaughter when, aged three, she spotted one
of my books in a bookstore. She was waiting in line with her daddy and called
out, “There’s one of Grandma’s books!” The store assistant smiled and said,
“Oh, does your Grandma have one of Alex Gray’s books?”
And my son-in-law proudly replied, “Grandma
wrote that book. Grandma IS Alex Gray!”
What
are you currently reading?
I am between books right now but have just
read Lin Anderson’s brilliant “Follow the Dead”
What
books or authors have most influenced your life?
The book that has most influenced my life
in the Holy Bible. The authors that have influenced my life? That is trickier.
Possibly John Le Carre, Fyodor Dostoevsky and CS Lewis.
When
you’re not writing how do you spend your time?
Well I just love reading! I am also a keen
bird watcher (like Lorimer!) and I love to cook and bake. As we live in the countryside
I do enjoy walking for fresh air and glorious scenery. We have a large garden
and I do enjoy working in it when I am fit! A lot of time is also taken up with
book festivals and I am co-founder of Bloody Scotland. www.bloodyscotland.com
Do come over and see me there!
Alex Gray
author interview
books
Interview
interview feature
Jo Linsdell
partners in crime tours
The Swedish Girl
writing
2 Comments
I enjoy reading interviews after reading the book and this was a good one. I am addicted to this series so glad to see that more titles are on the horizon!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading this interview that is part of the blog tour for The Swedish Girl. It’s lovely to be sitting here on a dull Scottish January day imagining readers all across the US finding my books! As the new year begins may I wish all of my readers joy in their choices of books. Where would we be without them! Happy reading and best wishes, Alex
ReplyDeleteI love to hear from you. So feel free to comment, but keep in mind the basics of blog etiquette — no spam, no profanity, no slander, etc.
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