I’m delighted to welcome David Evans to the blog today. David’s new book, Disposal, is recently released and marks the start of a new series. I was lucky enough to get an early read of this one and if you enjoy a good police procedural, with twists and turns aplenty, this is the book for you! David joins us on the blog today to tell us a little more about it.
Can you describe your new novel in one succinct but sensual sentence?
The story of two men, completely contrasting characters, who are forced to work together to solve the crimes they are faced with and how each reacts and adjusts to the other as their relationship develops.
Who is your favourite character and why?
I really enjoyed writing both my main characters, Cyril and Barton, once it was up and running. Cyril because he has so much going on in his head (or is it?) and Barton because he can say exactly what he likes! There was one section I was writing where Barton was driving the car with Cyril in the passenger seat. When they set off, I had no idea what they were going to say or what they were going to do. It was as if I was in the back seat listening in and taking notes. In the end, Barton stopped for a pint, so I enjoyed that.
I also loved writing Doris. What a brilliant neighbour to have, and great fun on a night out!
Which authors have been your main inspirations?
Obviously Ian Rankin who created the Rebus novels set in my home city of Edinburgh was the first crime writer I loved reading. His writing is so accomplished and you can see how it has improved over the course of the series.
Another little known writer I thoroughly enjoyed was Ron Ellis who wrote about a private eye in Liverpool by the name of Johnny Ace. The under-played humour throughout his books is something I appreciated. In my view, humour is essential to reflect the light and shade of true life.
A third writer whom I greatly admire and has undoubtedly influenced me is Gordon Ferris. His Glasgow Quartet set in 1946/1947 (starting with The Hanging Shed) is superb. The writing is just so seamless as he takes us on the investigative journeys of Douglas Brodie.
How does your writing process work; confusion and paper flying everywhere, or calm and ordered?
I usually like to have two or three threads running through my books. I do like to review regularly and keep track of where each is going, otherwise it would be confusion. I suppose with my background in construction, I’m used to working logically with some form of plan. With my last four books (including the two I have in progress), I tend to approach the projects using ideas pinched from screenwriters. I have one or two threads which I will start writing about with the characters I’ve developed previously (except for Disposal which was a totally new venture). I’ll get to around the 10,000 words stage, by which point I can tell if it ‘has legs’. I’ll pause and develop a synopsis. I will use this as a rough guide to take things forward. It won’t be rigid as that could stifle some creativity. At regular intervals I will ‘tweak’ the synopsis to bring it into line with what has been written and adjust anything necessary going forward. That way, I find that as I complete the first draft, there should only be one minor edit required to complete the synopsis which, as I and many others have found, can be more difficult to write than the book!
What is your guilty pleasure when writing? (Chocolate, wine, coffee …)
Generally when writing usually a tea. But sometimes if the mood takes me, it’s a beer.
Oddly enough they could both be the same – Tetley!
Please share your blurb.
From the author of the International Best Selling Wakefield Series comes DISPOSAL, the first of a completely new crime series.
August 1976 and it seems as though the long hot summer will never end. Early morning at Clacton on the north Essex coast, a light aircraft takes off from the airstrip but struggles for height and crashes into the sea. First on the scene, Sgt Cyril Claydon pulls the pilot’s body from the wreckage. But something else catches his eye. A bulky package wrapped in black plastic is on the passenger seat. Returning to investigate, he makes a grim discovery – another body. And so begins a series of events that puts him and others in danger as he is drawn into the investigation, having to work alongside DI ‘Dick’ Barton, a man with totally alien attitudes.
Can they work together?
Thanks so much, David! You can purchase Disposal here.
AUTHOR BIO
David Evans is a Scots-born writer who, after graduating from Manchester University, had a successful career as a professional in the construction industry.
In 2012, he decided to concentrate on what he’d been doing for many years – write. The following year, his second novel, TORMENT, was shortlisted for the prestigious CWA Debut Dagger. This was to be the second of the three novels so far in The Wakefield Series.
In 2016 he signed a 3-book deal with Bloodhound Books for TROPHIES, TORMENT and TALISMAN. In June 2017 THE WAKEFIELD SERIES became an International Bestseller with success in Canada and Australia as well as the UK. But now, whilst the Wakefield Series awaits the next installment, David has written DISPOSAL, the first in THE TENDRING SERIES, a completely new detective series set in north Essex in the late 1970s.
Currently in progress is a fourth in The Wakefield Series, TAINTED as well as the second Tendring Series novel, DISTRESSED.