Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Ian Honeysett and I write historical crime fiction with an old college friend, Pete Stevens, with whom I wrote a number of reviews when we were students at the Kent College for the Careers Service. Pete tells me that we said that, when we retired, we would write books together. And that is what we have done. We share a love of history and murder (purely theoretical of course). Together we have written 4 historical novels set during the French Revolution and I’ve written a free novella (The Odd Fellow). I am also part of a writers’ group based in my home-town of Godalming (Surrey, England) which has produced 2 books of short stories: Godalming Tales 1 & 2.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Our latest book is “Dead Radical” and is the fourth in the “Bastille Series”. Our inspiration is to write stories of crime and suspense set during one of the most turbulent and dramatic periods in history: the French Revolution. We wanted to mix our three fictional lead characters, Inspector Rouget Maison, Abbe Pierre Reynard and Christine Gilbert with real figures such as Georges Danton and Camille Desmoulins.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
We are co-authors, so that is fairly unusual! We try to agree the outline of the plot and who will write which chapters and then amend them. And then amend the amendments. And so on till we are happy with the outcome! This can take some time. And quite a few lunches. But we try to avoid undue violence (at least between ourselves).
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ian : In terms of detective novels, there are so many but I particularly enjoy Robert B Parker, Jeffery Deaver, James Lee Burke, Janet Ivanovich, Michael Connelly and Sam Eastland. And GK Chesterton of course.
Pete : Hilary Mantel – she might well have a future. Agatha Christie and Willkie Collins have some interesting ideas on murder. Simon Sharma has a basic concept of history. Brideshead Revisited? Wonderful book, shame about the author.
What are you working on now?
Ian: I’m always looking for ideas for short stories for what might well be called Godalming Tales 3. And we’re working on book 5 of the Bastille Mysteries which might involve the death of Mozart amongst others. Obviously there will be others.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
We’ve relied mainly on Twitter and a wide variety of Facebook sites. We try not to overdo it or Friends and Followers might complain! For Godalming Tales, we’ve appeared on local radio and TV and had articles in various local magazines. We’re hoping to do a book-signing shortly.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just get writing. And review what you’ve written the following day.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“The best time to plan a book is when you’re doing the dishes.” (Agatha Christie).
What are you reading now?
Ian: A history of the First World War: “1914” by Max Hastings. Pete: “The Seven Years War” by Julian S Corbett.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Ian: I am working with fellow members of the Godalming Writers’ Group on adapting our short stories for radio. Since we’re only allowed 15 minutes for each one, we’ve had to do quite a lot of editing. But making the recordings has been great fun- especially the accents.
Pete: I’m working on book 5 of the Bastille Mysteries now that we’ve (virtually) agreed the plot.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Ian: Baden-Powell’s “Scouting for Boys” of course. GK Chesterton’s “Fr Brown” stories & Conan-Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes’ short stories. And one of Jeffery Deaver’s novels.
Pete: an Agatha Christie compendium, “Brideshead Revisited” by Evelyn Waugh and “A Place of Greater Safety” by Hilary Mantel.
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