Leigh Russell Interview
I had the privilege of interviewing Leigh and here is what was asked and answered.
When did
you first know you wanted to be a writer?
There was
never any Grand Plan for me to become an author. A few years ago I had an idea
for a story, began to write it down, and found I couldn't stop writing. I was
hooked, and have rarely gone a day without writing since then. My whole career
as an author evolved from that one idea, that one flash of inspiration. I wrote
compulsively in my spare time for six weeks, until the story had written itself
out.
What was
your journey to being published like?
Once that
first manuscript was finished, I realised I had actually written a book! With
no expectations of hearing back, I sent out the manuscript to a publishing
imprint that specialises in crime fiction. Two weeks later they telephoned me
to express interest, and invited me to a meeting. Six weeks after that, we were
signing a contract for a three book deal for a crime series featuring Detective
Inspector Geraldine Steel. Those few weeks were a whirlwind of excitement.
My
first manuscript was published as CUT SHORT, which went on to be shortlisted
for a major award. The first three books were duly published as CUT SHORT, ROAD
CLOSED and DEAD END. All were well reviewed and went on to become bestsellers
on amazon, as well as in the bookshops.
After that success, my publisher signed
me up for another three titles in the series, of which DEATH BED and STOP DEAD
are now published. This year my publisher has not only commissioned a further
three in the Geraldine Steel series, they have also signed me up for the first
three in a spin off series featuring Geraldine's sergeant, Ian Peterson, who
works with Geraldine in the first three titles in her series.
If you
got any rejections, how did you handle them?
I was
very lucky to find a publisher as quickly as I did, so I didn't have to deal
with any rejection. My experience isn't typical, and my advice to writers
seeking publication would be to keep trying. Make sure your manuscript is as
good as it possibly can be before you submit to agents and publishers. You only
have one chance to impress.
What was
your biggest surprise or honor in your career thus far?
There
have been quite a few surprises, and a few honours as well, in my writing
career so far. It's difficult to pick out one above all the others, but when
Cut Short was shortlisted for a Crime Writers Association New Blood Dagger
Award for Best First Novel, that was definitely a highlight.
Do you
have a writing ritual?
No.
People often ask me if I'm disciplined in my writing. To be honest, discipline
doesn't really figure in my life. I'm too disorganised. I write whenever and
wherever I can. Technology has made life easier. With an iPad, it's possible to
write anywhere, any time, in the car - but only in the passenger seat! - on the
train, literally anywhere. But what makes a book is not the physical act of
typing words, it's the thought and ideas that direct the words on the page.
What are
some of your promotion secrets?
There are
no secrets, but I do a fair amount of promotion. These days, I think all authors
are expected to take time off from writing to engage with their reading public.
I'm fortunate that I enjoy going out meeting people, talking at crime
festivals, in libraries, at universities and colleges, and connecting with
people online. I suppose my 'secret' is just to enjoy the promotion, and have
fun with it.
What's up
next for you?
The fifth
title in the Geraldine Steel series, STOP DEAD, has just hit the shelves in
print. The manuscript for the sixth is with the editor, for publication in
2014, and I'm planning the seventh. Meanwhile, the first title in the Ian
Peterson series, COLD SACRIFICE, will be out in print in September, available
as an ebook in June, and I'm half way through writing the second in the series.
I do some
creative writing teaching, and will be speaking at Bristol University this
month. In August, I'm looking forward to running a creative writing retreat on
the beautiful Greek island of Skyros, for the prestigious Writers Lab. Together
with talks in libraries, panels at literary festivals, and research, life is
hectic. But my main focus is writing, research into writing, thinking about
writing, and writing.
As for
what's next for me - more writing!
Bio:
Leigh
Russell began her writing career with the publication of her debut crime
thriller, Cut Short, in 2009. Inspired by an innocuous encounter with a
stranger in Leigh's local park, Cut Short went on to be short listed for the
prestigious CWA New Blood Dagger Award for Best First Crime Novel. Since then
the series has grown into a string of popular novels translated into several
languages, hitting best seller lists on amazon and WH Smith's, and reaching the
top 10 downloaded books on iTunes. In addition to glowing reviews in journals
as diverse as The Times and Star Magazine, Leigh's books have been included in
many lists including Top Read on Eurocrime, Best Crime Novel on Crime Time,
Best Fiction Book on the Miami Examiner, and Great Crime Sleuths on
Lovereading.
Book
blurb
When a
successful businessman is brutally murdered, the police suspect his glamorous
wife and her young lover. Then the victim's business partner suffers the same
gruesome fate. When yet another body is discovered, seemingly unrelated to the
first two, the police are baffled. The only clue is DNA that leads them to two
women: one dead, the other in prison. With a steady stream of bodies arriving
at the morgue, Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel is desperate to find the killer
before there is another deadly attack.
Thank you, Leigh, you are a new to me mystery author, I'm glad to meet you and your books sound great.
Marilyn
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