How difficult is it being a writer firstly, a crime writer secondly?

Difficult isn’t the word I’d use, more like compulsive. I’ve written ever since I was at primary school. I started out with funny short stories and articles (which I sold to Titbits & Reveille), record reviews and pop music interviews for NME etc., but the first book I had out was a collection of poems written whilst touring the country as a DJ. However, I’d always wanted to write crime after I graduated from Enid Blyton’s Find-Outer series to Edgar Wallace and Agatha Christie.

How important is Liverpool to you not only as a source of inspiration but also as a point of reference in your life?

Liverpool is the most important element in my Johnny Ace books. I want the reader to feel he is in the city when he reads the books so I put in loads of real people, places and events and set the book in real time as I’m writing. I managed beat groups in Liverpool in the Merseybeat days, DJ’d round all the clubs and on the Mersey ferries, studied for my librarianship degree there, owned student houses, so you could say it has been an inspiration.

The mystery genre continually churns out an enormous amount of authors. Not only have some of the most famous world writers in one form or another touched the subject but also former tennis champions. How can a writer emerge from this sea and what does he/she need? A movie, TV series, award, web site or just plain luck?

Luck can get you there but you also need self promotion to get you noticed. Persistence is vital, talent without persistence means nothing. Never give up and the lucky break will come but, remember, only talent will keep you there. But a TV series/film leads to the serious money. I’d love to get Johnny Ace on TV and Liverpool is an ideal city for filming. I’m very hopeful about The Singing Dead which is out in September. It would make a great film.

Which is the first mystery book do you think someone should read?

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.

Which book has surprised you more either positively or negatively?

The devil knows you’re dead by Lawrence Block. I had to review it for a newspaper and I’d never liked U.S. crime but I was captivated by the sense of place. New York came alive for me. I went out and bought every Matt Scudder book and I’ve tried to do for Liverpool in my Johnny Ace books what Block did for The Big Apple.

What five books would you take with you to a desert island?

The Ringer by Edgar Wallace - Great melodrama; Sergeant Cluff (any) by Gil North - so atmospheric of Yorkshire Dales; The devil knows you’re dead by Lawrence Block - inspiring; Dangerous Davies by Leslie Thomas - wonderful black humour; The hanging garden by Ian Rankin - Rebus is ‘The Outsider’ of noir.

What countries/cultures fascinate you more?

The Deep South of America for the blues, country and rock’n’roll.

Please forgive the classic "What do you think of the Bastulli Mystery Library?" question at the end.

The Bastulli site is fantastic. I’ve asked David Stuart Davies to list it in Red Herrings, the British CWA magazine, and I’ve told lots of people about it.

Thank you very much.

© Copyright Bastulli Mystery Library 2000