FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS?
Live an interesting life, talk to interesting people, be engaged with the world, and you’ll never run short of ideas.

Name

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WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE
I’ve never felt bound to one world, and have been telling stories for as long as I can remember. I decided to become a professional writer after the unexpected death of my father. Life is finite. Devote it to something you love.

Peter James, Sunday Times Bestselling Author

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DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
Take your time. Test your idea, mull it over, look for ways to improve it. Apply the same principle to writing and editing. Time is a writer’s friend.

Mari Hannah, multi-award winning author on Black 13

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE NOVEL?
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas for its thrills and adventure. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell for its beauty and sheer scale of imagination. Fever by Deon Meyer for the immersive read. Pride and Prejudice for the emotion and artistry.

Daily Express on Black 13

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WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?
The absence of want. Whether it’s spending time with family, or enjoying a drink with friends; being content in the moment and not being distracted by the noise of life.

Anthony Horowitz, International Bestselling Author on Black 13

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WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?
That we pass a broken planet on to our children. We need to be better stewards for future generations.

James Patterson, International Bestselling Author

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WHAT IS THE TRAIT YOU MOST DEPLORE IN YOURSELF?
Perfectionism. It makes me impatient and intolerant of people who don’t try their best.

Jenny Blackhurst, International Bestselling Author

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WHAT IS THE TRAIT YOU MOST DEPLORE IN OTHERS?
Dishonesty.

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WHAT WOULD YOUR SUPERPOWER BE?
Dr Strange is pretty cool. Being able to manipulate time and reality beyond the pages of a book would be quite useful.

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IF YOU WEREN’T A WRITER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
I’d be doing something in biotech. New technology offers huge potential for advances in medical treatments and improving human health. 

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD?
Home.

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WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF WRITING ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Keep going.

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK?
Margarita with fresh lemon, agave nectar and salt.

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PLOTTER OR PANTSER?
Plotter. Once I have an idea I want to explore, I go from a 1-page synopsis to a 5-page outline, to a 20-page chapter breakdown.

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WHERE DO YOU WRITE?
Anywhere. I write my first drafts using a fountain pen and notepad, which I take everywhere. I then spend a few weeks in my home office transcribing the handwritten scrawl, a process that also acts as a first edit.

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DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE YOU WRITE?
Yes. It helps me shut out the world. I will tend to pick an album, playlist or single track and listen to it for the whole time I’m writing a book. The Other Side of Night was written to Bon Iver.

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WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?
The Big Lebowski captures the absurdity of life. The Godfather encapsulates the drama. I love the epic scale and atmosphere of Denis Villeneuve's Dune, and of course it's based on the novels by Frank Herbert, which were favourites of mine as a teenager.

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WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?
Lamb shawarma wrap from Ranoush Juice on Edgware Road.

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