Great Interview Piece
The following was published on the Collar and Elbow site.
‘Blood Red Turns Dollar Green’ author talks about hard-hitting sequel
By Ben Veal
If you’re a wrestling fan and you haven’t yet discovered the work of Paul O’Brien, you’re in for a very big treat.
34-year-old O’Brien, from Wexford, Ireland, is a writer of crime fiction with fifteen years’ theatrical experience already under his belt. What relevance has that to us here at CollarAndElbow.com, you may ask? Well, as long-time readers will know, O’Brien is also the author of the Blood Red Turns Dollar Green series, the first fictional account of the world of professional wrestling.
Last year, our very own Chris Pilkington was one of the first to offer a glowing review of O’Brien’s debut novel, describing it as “an instant classic … a captivating read from start to finish” (read the full review here). Following a hugely positive response to his first outing from fans and critics alike, the author is shortly set to return with the follow-up – unsurprisingly titled Blood Red Turns Dollar Green Volume 2 – which will be available to buy, both in paperback and digital form – from 26 April 2013.
Prior to the book’s release, we had the opportunity to sit down with O’Brien and ask him all about what we should expect from the second installment, where the inspiration for the story came from, and just how that Mick Foley endorsement came about…
So Paul, Blood Red Turns Dollar Green is out right now, and Volume 2 follows very soon. Our glowing review aside, why should anyone take the time to read your book?
I’d say because it’s a crime novel set in a world that few, if any, crime novels have ever been set in. It works on both levels – and for wrestling fans, there are hundreds of little nods, or ‘Easter Eggs’, waiting for them throughout.
I’ve had some great feedback from wrestling fans, and Volume 2 is definitely going to be the ‘Empire Strikes Back’ of the series – there’s lots of pay off.
At its heart, this is a crime novel and wrestling’s just the vehicle; in much the same way that Black Swan wasn’t a movie about ballet. So it appeals to fans of both genres.
You can read the full interview here.
