The Writing Life of: Steve Griffiths
Steve Griffiths
This week I am thrilled to be interviewing author Steve Griffiths, who will be sharing with us details of his writing life, telling us all about his book ‘Kill Sequence‘, which was released on 6th March 2022 and answering a few fun questions. This post contains affiliate links.
Steve Griffiths hails from the North-West of England, where he’s worked in technology and hardware for almost thirty years. He lives in Lancaster with his gorgeous wife Sarah, his awesome son Luke, and two bonkers cats.
1) Did you enjoy writing when you were a child?
Yes, I loved writing. My head was always filled with wacky adventures (and still is) and I needed to get them onto the page somehow. I even drew my own comic books. ‘SuperEgg’ and ‘Barrels Bond’ will forever hold special places in my heart. Whoever you’re guessing those characters are, you’re almost certainly right.
2) Which author shaped your childhood?
Stephen King. I was reading ‘The Dead Zone’ when I thought, “he wrote this for me”. Before then, I believed I was just weird. I still remember the shock of discovering I wasn’t the only one.
3) What motivated you to begin your first novel?
I was 47 before I started ‘Kill Sequence’ (I guess real life had gotten in the way). When I saw my 48th birthday on the horizon, it hit me hard that I could run out of time. I didn’t want to wind up on my deathbed, regretting that I hadn’t chased my biggest dream. So, I got on with it, and loved every minute. I only wish I’d made that decision thirty years ago.
4) Do you plot your book, or are you a pantser?
A pantser. I don’t plot anything out, but I do tend to have three or four specific scenes and plot points in mind that I aim for. The only problem is the characters almost always go off and do their own things. I’d love to say it’s like joining the dots, but in reality it’s more like herding cats. I confess I’ve lost sleep over it.
5) What is your average writing day?
On weekdays, I write in the evenings. On weekends, it’s mornings. I’ll aim for a chapter in each session, which can be anything from 1,200 to 3,500 words.
6) What is the best thing about being an author?
When I hear other people talk about the characters that began life in my mind, it’s an indescribable thrill.
Publisher – Conservatarian Press
Pages – 469
Release Date – 6th March 2022
ISBN 13 – 978-1957586038
Format – ebook, paperback
Synopsis
After the trauma of his wife Liz’s murder, Shawn Nash wanted vengeance. He never expected to be hunted.
A stranger’s knock at his door plunges Shawn into a strange underworld of digital espionage, false identities, and violent mayhem. His mysterious benefactor Michael seems to be equal parts guardian angel and trickster, and Shawn has a growing awareness of connection with something else in his mind.
Hunted by hitmen, haunted by memories, and hidden from digital surveillance, Shawn must discover what really happened the night his wife died — and then find a way to save the world from the monster she inadvertently created.
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7) How did you go about researching the content for your book?
For the most part, I really didn’t need to. The locations are all based on places I’ve spent some time in, and I’ve been in the technology and hardware business for years. There were a few things though, like the layout of a certain aircraft, for which I consulted with Google. And, as I’m English, my American editor Tom Weiss helped me with some key firearm details – he’s ex-military.
8) How long did it take to go from the ideas stage to writing the last word?
The first draft took about six months. The whole process overall, from first word to querying, took about thirteen months.
9) What made you choose the genre you write in?
In the case of Kill Sequence, it kind of chose itself! I had these characters in my head, and I knew there was something up with Michael, something slightly inhuman, but it took a couple of chapters until I saw for myself what on earth was actually going on.
I think Terry Pratchett said, “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story”, and that’s exactly how it went with Kill Sequence.
10) How did you come up with the name(s) for your lead character(s)?
I borrowed ‘Shawn’ from a barman I know. I’ve worked with two ‘Xanders’ in my time (both short for Alexander), and my dentist is called ‘Tolson’ (it’s no coincidence that the Tolson in my book is also paid for dispensing discomfort.)
11) Can you give us an insight into your characters?
Shawn Nash is our everyman hero, struggling with the loss of his wife and haunted by painfully confused memories. He could be described as a ‘loner’ but, in truth, he’s really never alone.
Michael is a charmer, about whom I must say nothing more.
12) How did you feel when you had completed your book?
Breathless. Elated. Terrified to let it out into the world!
And completely unprepared for the querying process. I received plenty of form rejections before I had two offers to publish, so if anyone is reading this and losing heart at querying – please hang in there.
Fun Questions
1) Do you have a favourite quote?
Probably a boring answer but ‘live and let live’ serves me well.
2) Do you have any pets?
Two cats. I’m pretty sure they hate me. (And each other, despite being siblings.) I love them, though, whether they like it or not.
3) What are you currently reading?
I’m about to start ‘The Exorcist’, then it’ll be Jack Holloway’s ‘Master in his Tomb’, and then either a Coben, a Connelly, or maybe a Steve Hamilton. Or a Koontz. Mind you, I still haven’t read ‘Under the Dome’ by King.
Before any of those, I’m finishing ‘Happy Holidays’ by CR Barnes, which is just about the funniest thing I’ve read in years.
4) Your book has been made into a movie, you’ve been offered a cameo role, what will you be doing?
There’s a depressed airline pilot. Can I be him?
5) If you could travel to a fictional world from any book for the day, which would you choose?
The Overlook Hotel, provided it’s just the ONE day.
6) There’s a penguin sitting in your chair, what’s the first thing he says to you?
“Those two cats? They love you, too.”
A big thank you to Steve Griffiths for sharing his writing life with us and for a wonderful interview.
Author links
Goodreads
