Interview With Author JJ Richards
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a writer and musician based in the UK, best known for the DCI Walker Crime Thriller series — a set of gritty, character-driven police procedurals set in Lancashire. I’ve always been fascinated by the psychology of crime and the hidden emotions that drive people to extremes, and that’s something I try to explore through every story I write.
So far, I’ve written five books in the DCI Walker series, with more planned, as well as a separate science fiction series that plays with ideas of time, consciousness, and simulated reality. Whether it’s crime or sci-fi, my focus is always on human motivation — what makes people break, what makes them hope, and what they do when pushed to the edge.
To date, I’ve written 8 novels and one book of short stories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is The Castle, a psychological crime thriller set around Lancaster Castle — one of the most atmospheric and historically rich locations in England. The story opens with a murder staged inside the castle walls, echoing the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, and draws the detective into a case that blurs the line between history, revenge, and obsession.
The idea came from my fascination with how the past lingers in certain places — especially in Lancashire, where so much of the landscape carries its own dark folklore. I wanted to explore how that weight of history can twist people’s sense of justice and morality, and how trauma from centuries ago can still echo in the present.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m very routined and get down a certain number of words per day at a certain time, no matter what.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
JD Kirk made me realise that indie authors can make it, so I had a go. Two years later, I’ve already sold 100,000 copies.
What are you working on now?
The ideas for Book 6 of the DCI Walker series are now forming and I’ll start writing it soon.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Various – Bookbub, promo sites, Facebook ads, Bookbub ads, Amazon ads… A combination of approaches tends to work best for me.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Edit. Make it the best it can be. And then move on to the next one.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Yesterday, from my wife. And tomorrow I’ll probably have the same answer. She’s wise. Wiser than me. But that advice… I’m keeping for myself!
What are you reading now?
The Picture Exchange Communication System Training Manual, to help my son. I don’t have much time for reading fiction these days. I’d rather write than read.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan a 12 book series arc for the DCI Walker series, and then I might start a spin off with his policing partner, DC Briggs.
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?
Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers by Grant Naylor (for a laugh!), Ishmael by Daniel Quinn (for wisdom), and a couple of books on nature and islands so I can learn how to hunt and know what to eat!
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