Chris
You have written horror, children’s novels and now Crime. Which
genre do you prefer to work in?
Colin
Ideas sort of come at me from all over. What genre they end up in depends
on the idea. I love words. The rhythm of a good sentence or line of dialogue.
And characters. Once I've got a good cast and a story line I don't really
change my style for the genre. Maybe take out the swearing for a kids'
book. For now, I'm really enjoying the crime side of things. I will probably
stick with that for the time being, although there are at least two more
children’s books bubbling up.
Chris
Through The Ruins Of Midnight has been optioned for television. How are
things progressing on the adaptation front? Do you have a date for transmission
yet? Who will be playing Mick?
Colin
The option for "Midnight" was sold to an independent producer
in London a year ago. From New York. She has been working on the script
with my help; mainly keeping it straight with the dialogue and procedures.
It was originally going to be a six-part drama but that's been tightened
to two. Much sharper for that. The script is done now. Going to actors
and TV companies soon. Ray Winston and Shane Ritchie are possibilities
for Mick Habergham. No date for filming yet.
Chris
Of what does a normal writing day consist?
Colin
For the last 30 years I've been a front line copper; fifteen in scenes
of crime. I have just retired this February but, until then, writing had
to fit around my shifts. Now, I can do it whenever. I prefer to write
in the mornings. All morning. After breakfast I lock myself in the study
and type away. I hate interruptions. Remember Jack Nicholson in The Shining?
Don't let me near an axe if someone disturbs me.
Chris
Do you read in the genre you are writing in? What are you currently reading?
Colin
I read a broad section of fiction. Mostly American crime fiction because,
having been a policeman, I can't get into English procedurals because
I see the cracks. Stephen King’s my horror guru. I like Larry McMurtry
and Chris Offutt who write very good character stuff. I am a late comer
to Michael Connelly since someone compared my book to Harry Bosch and
Wambaugh’s The Choirboys. And Lee Child since I met him and he promised
to read "Midnight." Currently I’m reading Lee's, Killing
Floor, and the King's, Cell.
Chris
What got you writing in the first place and what gives you more pleasure,
finishing the book OR seeing it on the shelf for the first time?
Colin
I have loved writing since being at school. My English teacher used to
encourage
my fiction. He was also my Religious teacher so, realising I wasn't going
to be too Godly, let me write in that lesson too. I left school and had
to work for a living, being a working class Yorkshireman and all that.
Got back into writing in a James Bond short story competition. Slaved
over that before the magazine had to shelve it for copyright reasons,
but I was hooked. I wrote a few short stories for practice and then a
novel, convinced I'd be a millionaire this time next year. I’m still
not. Reality bites. Ten novels
later, though, I am finally making headway; four published. I get a real
buzz when picking them up after a while and realise I wrote something
pretty good. The bookshelf? That's good too because it means people have
a chance to enjoy what I’ve written … I hope.
Chris
How much of Mick is there in Colin Campbell and vice versa?
Colin
Probably quite a bit of me in Mick. But Mick is a real person. I “stole” his
name when I was working with him. A complete gentleman who never falls
out with anyone. So there's a lot of him in there too. The police elements
are all based on real jobs I dealt with or knew about. Happy or sad it's
all there. The gallows humour just helps you through the shift. And the
cameraderie. There doesn't seem to be anyone writing about the front line
copper in uniform. Not detective superintendants chasing serial killers
but
the real nitty-gritty, in the trenches stuff. Not since Joseph Wambaugh's
The Choirboys in America. I like to think my crime books, so far, are
a tribute to the boys in blue.
Chris
What do you do to relax?
Colin
I love films and have a home cinema in the attic; curtains, the lot. And
I play tennis. Yorkshire league. Local tournaments. I play for West Yorkshire
Police nationally, and in the World/Police Fire Games around the world,
in my age group.
Chris
How do you feel about HMV (Waterstones) being given permission to bid
for Ottakars with regards to new authors wishing to break into the market?
Colin
Ottakars are great for helping writers with events. Waterstones used to
be the same, with local managers allowed to organise events. Now you have
to go through head office. which makes it more difficult. Borders are
very good too. But if Waterstones take over Ottakars there will be less
opportunity to cover the field except with independent booksellers. Mid
list authors like myself will find it hard to get books stocked nationally
without a big publisher.
Chris
What’s next for Colin Campbell? Are you due to appear at any Festivals
this year?
Colin
I’ve just finished the first draft of another crime book, Blue Knight,
White Cross, and I’m halfway through another children's book and
touching base with the TV script once that progresses to actors. I will
be visiting The Harrogate Crime Festival, but not on a panel. I've been
overloaded with events recently – Bristol LCC, Dublin CWA, and London
Diamond Dagger lunch, so I need to concentrate on writing now. But I may
do LCC Seattle next Feb, and Bouchercon, Alaska, in 2007.
Colin’s next book, The Ballad Of The One Legged Man, is published
by Pen Press in July 2006. For more information, go to: www.campbellfiction.com
Read Chris’s review of Through the Ruins of Midnight |
ABOUT OUR INTERVIEWER
Formerly a Chef, publican, shop manager, supermarket shelf-filler,
library employee and deliverer of lambs, Chris High now dedicates
most of his time to writing and journalism. He has successfully collaborated
with singer Chris de Burgh on a collection of song based short stories
available from his Website,
and is currently in the process of completing his first Crime novel.
Chris lives on Merseyside, England, with his cat Tigger and his dog,
Duke.
|
