Howard Linskey was originally from Ferryhill in County Durham, which made us practically neighbours, although he's moved around a fair bit since then and now lives with his wife and daughter in Hertfordshire. He has worked as a barman, journalist, catering manager and marketing manager for a celebrity chef, as well as in a variety of sales and account management jobs. He has written for newspapers, magazines and web sites on a number of subjects.
Howard's debut novel, The Drop, was one of my top five reads of last year. The follow-up has just been published, and he was kind enough to stop by and talk about it.
Howard's debut novel, The Drop, was one of my top five reads of last year. The follow-up has just been published, and he was kind enough to stop by and talk about it.
Tell me about your book.
My new book is The Damage, published on April 2nd, which is the follow up to my debut novel The Drop. It follows reluctant Geordie crime firm boss, David Blake, as he tries to avoid becoming the victim of a gangland hit.
What was your motivation for writing it?
I wanted to write a story that showed the reality of life as a gangster. It’s not that glamorous and it must involve huge stress, with the constant fear of imprisonment, injury or death.
How long did it take you to complete?
This one took me a year.
What's your favourite part of the creative process?
The fine tuning when you are almost there and you finally like what you have produced. I tend to not be so keen on the first draft of anything I write because I am pretty hard on myself. Starting a new book is always hard, knowing that you have about a year of hard slog and 90,000 words to go!
How much difference does an editor make?
A huge difference. That second set of eyes is really important to me. They make me question everything and cut out anything that slows down the turning of pages. I was lucky to work with Keshini Naidoo on The Damage because she is a great editor.
How important is a good title?
Along with the cover it’s the first thing you notice, so I guess it needs to be both catchy and evocative. That way someone might actually take the time and trouble to read the blurb on the back cover and hopefully you can reel them in.
How important is a good cover?
I did an event at ‘Wordfest’ the other day and members of the audience all admitted that they really do judge a book by its cover, so it seems they are hugely important. I’ve been lucky with mine though. Alan Forster’s cover designs for The Drop and The Damage are superb.
My new book is The Damage, published on April 2nd, which is the follow up to my debut novel The Drop. It follows reluctant Geordie crime firm boss, David Blake, as he tries to avoid becoming the victim of a gangland hit.
What was your motivation for writing it?
I wanted to write a story that showed the reality of life as a gangster. It’s not that glamorous and it must involve huge stress, with the constant fear of imprisonment, injury or death.
How long did it take you to complete?
This one took me a year.
What's your favourite part of the creative process?
The fine tuning when you are almost there and you finally like what you have produced. I tend to not be so keen on the first draft of anything I write because I am pretty hard on myself. Starting a new book is always hard, knowing that you have about a year of hard slog and 90,000 words to go!
How much difference does an editor make?
A huge difference. That second set of eyes is really important to me. They make me question everything and cut out anything that slows down the turning of pages. I was lucky to work with Keshini Naidoo on The Damage because she is a great editor.
How important is a good title?
Along with the cover it’s the first thing you notice, so I guess it needs to be both catchy and evocative. That way someone might actually take the time and trouble to read the blurb on the back cover and hopefully you can reel them in.
How important is a good cover?
I did an event at ‘Wordfest’ the other day and members of the audience all admitted that they really do judge a book by its cover, so it seems they are hugely important. I’ve been lucky with mine though. Alan Forster’s cover designs for The Drop and The Damage are superb.
What are your views on e-book pricing?
It’s a bit all over the place at the moment but I am sure it will settle down eventually.
What aspects of marketing your book do you enjoy?
Anything that involves meeting people. It’s great to chat to crime fiction fans at signings and events. That’s what I enjoy the most.
How do you feel about interviews?
I quite enjoy them and I’m getting a bit more used to them second time around. I used to be a journalist, so I have interviewed stacks of people but I’d never been on the receiving end of the questions until The Drop was published last year.
How do you feel about reviews?
They were universally positive for The Drop, so there was nothing for me to get upset about but ask me again in a month after The Damage has been reviewed and I might feel differently! My attitude is you should bask in the afterglow of a good review but not take a bad one too seriously. Just keep on doing what you are doing. Writing is very subjective so I wouldn’t take a negative review too personally … I hope!
Where do you find out about new books?
I get recommendations from friends and read reviews but usually I do it the proper way, by browsing the shelves of my local book shops until I discover something I like the look of. To be honest I struggle to get the time just to read all of the books that friends have written these days, so I am always in a permanent state of guilt.
What are you reading now?
JJ Connolly’s Viva La Madness which is great so far. I bought it because he is adapting The Drop for TV and I was very keen to read his follow up to Layer Cake.
What makes you keep reading a book?
If the story is fast paced and I care about the characters enough to want to know what happens to them, I’ll keep turning the pages, particularly if I can’t actually spot the ending before I reach it.
It’s a bit all over the place at the moment but I am sure it will settle down eventually.
What aspects of marketing your book do you enjoy?
Anything that involves meeting people. It’s great to chat to crime fiction fans at signings and events. That’s what I enjoy the most.
How do you feel about interviews?
I quite enjoy them and I’m getting a bit more used to them second time around. I used to be a journalist, so I have interviewed stacks of people but I’d never been on the receiving end of the questions until The Drop was published last year.
How do you feel about reviews?
They were universally positive for The Drop, so there was nothing for me to get upset about but ask me again in a month after The Damage has been reviewed and I might feel differently! My attitude is you should bask in the afterglow of a good review but not take a bad one too seriously. Just keep on doing what you are doing. Writing is very subjective so I wouldn’t take a negative review too personally … I hope!
Where do you find out about new books?
I get recommendations from friends and read reviews but usually I do it the proper way, by browsing the shelves of my local book shops until I discover something I like the look of. To be honest I struggle to get the time just to read all of the books that friends have written these days, so I am always in a permanent state of guilt.
What are you reading now?
JJ Connolly’s Viva La Madness which is great so far. I bought it because he is adapting The Drop for TV and I was very keen to read his follow up to Layer Cake.
What makes you keep reading a book?
If the story is fast paced and I care about the characters enough to want to know what happens to them, I’ll keep turning the pages, particularly if I can’t actually spot the ending before I reach it.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve just finished a short story for Paul D Brazill’s Brit Grit Too which was interesting, as I had never written one before. I’m having a bit of a break from writing while I plot my next book.
How can we keep up to date with your news?
I have a really good page on my publisher’s site and I have my own web site too.
Other than writing/being published, do you have a claim to fame?
No, it’s only ever been writing with me. I’m afraid I’m a bit of a one-trick pony.
What would your epitaph be?
When I finally snuff it, all I really want carved on my tombstone is ‘Howard Linskey – Top Five Thriller Writer of the Year 2011 – The Times’. That’ll do me! Don’t even need any dates or a RIP. It’s my ‘they can’t take that away from me’ moment.
I’ve just finished a short story for Paul D Brazill’s Brit Grit Too which was interesting, as I had never written one before. I’m having a bit of a break from writing while I plot my next book.
How can we keep up to date with your news?
I have a really good page on my publisher’s site and I have my own web site too.
Other than writing/being published, do you have a claim to fame?
No, it’s only ever been writing with me. I’m afraid I’m a bit of a one-trick pony.
What would your epitaph be?
When I finally snuff it, all I really want carved on my tombstone is ‘Howard Linskey – Top Five Thriller Writer of the Year 2011 – The Times’. That’ll do me! Don’t even need any dates or a RIP. It’s my ‘they can’t take that away from me’ moment.