Influence
Because I'm a thriller writer, writing about seemingly normal people who carry out sinister deeds doesn't mean things don't affect me. All life experiences do – births, deaths, weddings and all the rest. At some stage I will use them. As I will an uplifting piece of music, a painting, an emotional experience – happy or sad – a breathtaking landscape, something someone says in a pub and an article in a newspaper. I try and store them all up and revisit when I need them. I spend a lot of time looking, listening and watching what people do. I'm naturally nosey and inquisitive, wanting to know why people do things, their relationships, clothing, habits, likes and dislikes and anything that makes people tick. I guess if I just let life go by without taking any notice, I would find writing hard.
I like
Movies.
The TV programme The Wire – sadly ended
Music, mainly contemporary, some jazz, a little classical
Cities, particularly multi-cultural ones
Interesting, tasty food
Art, mainly modern
Cooking for friends and family
A bit of football, particularly the European and World Cup
Six Nations Rugby and the World Cup Rugby
Cricket, above all when we win the Ashes
Occasional sailing
Old buildings
News, boring – but I'm interested
Beautiful, interesting gardens
Windy, desolate landscapes
Whales and Dolphins
Endangered species
Social media
face twitter buddy