So, here's my question and answer session!
What is the title of your next book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Being a lifelong martial artist, I've always had a fascination with the mind set of the Samurai warrior, and some of the rules of conduct they followed, and one of those was the intriguing 'burden of obligation' or 'Giri'. For some time, some of my readers have been calling out for a tale centred upon Hunter's brother-in-arms, Jared 'Rink' Rington, and i felt the time was right to investigate Rink's past. But more than that, i wanted to involve Rink's family - being part Japanese I couldn't resist including 'Giri', but in a story that readers might find different to others they'd read. It was tempting to involve the yakuza and ninja and stuff, but I resisted.
What genre does your book fall under?
Crime/action thriller.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
There is some interest being shown by various TV and movie companies, but to date no one has slapped a deal on the table, but I remain hopeful. I always worry about naming actors, because I don't want to place an image in a readers mind. They might not agree with my choices and could indeed turn them off the idea, but, hey, ho. In for a penny, in for a pound, eh? For Joe Hunter I'd go with Max Martini, for Rink it'd have to be Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Some rules may never be broken....
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I am represented by London based agent Luigi Bonomi of Luigi Bonomi Associates, and in New York by George Lucas of Inkwell Management. For translation rights I'm represented by ILA of London, and for movie/TV rights I'm with Knight hall Agency Ltd. The Joe Hunter thrillers are published internationally by Hodder and Stoughton and by Harper Collins in the USA.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Usually it takes around three months to write the first rough draft, and then a further three months or so to tidy it up and do corrections. i usually aim to complete two books per year.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I'm not fully sure. My books are often compared with those of Lee Child, Robert Crais, or closer to home to Andy Mcnab or Chris Ryan. personally I think they have as many differences as they have similarities. But I'm not complaining, I'm a fan of all the aforementioned and very happy to be mentioned in any of their company.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
After the previous Joe hunter thriller - No Going back - I received some great reviews and feedback but some readers bemoaned the fact that Rink was a minor player in the book. I decided to pay back my readers' interest in Rink in giving him a huge part in Rules of Honour. It's very much a Rink book, as narrated by Hunter.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
It is a story that looks at how events of the past can have repercussions on the here and now, and also looks into a little known facet of WW2 history that is deemed shameful now.
I'm now supposed to tag five more authors to continue this meme. I'm not the type to do so unsolicited, but if five of my friends should like to continue then please do so.
