Author interview - K A Richardson

Today I'm delighted to welcome crime novelist K A Richardson to my blog. She is the best-selling author of the North East Police series, and has recently clinched a publishing deal with Bloodhound Books. It's great to have her here, so let's get going with the questions!

Tell us about the North East Police Series. Will each book feature a different crime investigator?
 
Each book features overlapping characters which enables me to use different main characters for each book – I love getting to know my characters and watching them blow my socks off. They all pop in and out over forthcoming novels so readers get to keep up to date on what’s happening with them.
 
Can you drop some hints about the next book in the series? How many do you have planned?
 
The next book in the series is book 4 – Watch You Burn – this is due out in May 2017 and features Fire Investigator Edina Blaze, and old character Kevin Lang who is a crime scene manager. It’s hot, fiery and definitely not for the faint hearted!
 
I’m also working currently on book 5 which is as yet untitled, but features new character Jackson Doherty as a crime scene investigator (you meet him in book 4) and also old character TJ Tulley (Jacob’s sister from I’ve Been Watching You) – it’s shaping up nicely and features one of the deadliest killers yet.
 
I’ve just recently been signed again with Bloodhound for another 3 book deal so there’ll be at least 7 in the series! Tell us how your BSC in Crime Scene Science and your work in the forensics field have shaped your crime writing.
 
I think having the crime scene knowledge and the overall knowledge of policing allows me to write procedural novels without them being too procedurey. I love developing the story lines and using forensics to show a different aspect of police procedure. The methodology behind forensic investigation can put interesting spins on my stories and sometimes I can introduce an unusual crime aspect that allows me to use the forensics and highlight something that readers might not have known about previously.
 
Do you prefer to read e-books or paper books?
 
I tend to read both but I love paperbacks. You can’t beat the smell of a good book – my most prized possessions are actual books – a 1928 edition of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and a first edition Enid Blyton are among them. What have you written to date?
 
My first official publication is my short story, Escape, which has a heavy theme of domestic violence throughout – it’s actually a prequel to the first novel, With Deadly Intent. It came about as when I finished With Deadly Intent, I realised Cass’s back story wasn’t complete and needed exploring in further detail. I’ve Been Watching You is book 2 in the north east police series, then comes Time to Play. Book 4, Watch You Burn, is due out in May 2017. I was also honoured to be included in a crime anthology, Dark Minds, which features some fantastic authors – all proceeds from this novel go to Sophie’s Appeal and Hospice UK.
 
In which genre(s) do you write? Would you consider writing in different genres and if so, which ones?
 
I currently write in the crime genre but I have also started a supernatural trilogy which I’d love to get finished – it features demons, angels and a young woman who finds out rather scarily that demons exist.
 
Do you write every day? For how long at a time?
 
I don’t write every day – I wish I could – and fully agree with Stephen King that writers should write every day – unfortunately for me the day job gets in the way. I am now part- time though and able to focus much more time on the craft. I will add though, that though I don’t physically write every day, I do do something writing related every day. Whether that be thinking about my characters, noting inspirational things I see etc.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to see where an idea takes you?
 
I’m definitely a ‘see where the idea takes me’ kind of writer. I love to plan out my characters before I start and get to know them before I start writing but the novel overall will begin with just a general idea and I go from there. I love it when a book surprises me and throws random things at me.
 
What was the first book to make you cry?
 
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck – it’s one of the most powerfully written short novels ever written in my opinion – I first came across it as part of my English class at school. And unashamedly cried in front of my peers in class on multiple occasions. It still makes me fill up now even just thinking about it.
 
If you could have been written any book, what would it have been and why?
 
I’d have loved to have written The Treatment by Mo Hayder – purely because I love the wandering man character – I love what he brings to her novels and the insights he provides. Also she’s a kick ass writer with an amazing ability to write darkness with a hint of vulnerability. Absolutely love her work.

Thank you! It's been great having you on my blog.
 
Want to find out more about K A Richardson and her books? Try these links:
Author website
Amazon author page
Facebook author page
Twitter - @kerryann77
UK readers, check out the North East police series on Amazon!
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