In April 2010, I retired from Essex Police. I enjoyed my twenty-seven years as a detective and had risen to senior rank. During that time, I encountered and investigated the very worst humanity is capable of and saw things no one should see or suffer. All this experience has given me a fund of stories to tell, and not all of them tall.
My retirement plan was straightforward. To fulfil a long-held ambition and write the book I had been itching to start but never had the time for.
I set myself two objectives. To sign a publishing contract and to be accepted into the Crime Writers Association. With an OU creative writing course under my belt and a fully formed character and plot ready to go, what could stop me?
I soon discovered things weren’t as rosy as I thought. Readers greeted the initial drafts with an embarrassed smile and advice not to write it like a police report. Literary agents quickly rejected early submissions to slush piles.
As time went on, self-doubt crept in, and I occasionally considered giving up. But I am passionate about my stories and enjoy the process, so I persevered. But continued rejection takes its toll.
Then my luck changed. Through a series of chance meetings and coincidences, I met several people in the world of crime writing. Some read my work and offered welcome and useful critiques. Others provided sage advice, practical help and gently encouraged me not to quit and self-publish. “We’ve all been where you are; don’t lose hope.”
I eventually signed the elusive deal with Sharpe Books. In 2023, they released my first book, Dark Shadow. It has been followed by Vengeance Day, 2023, Rough Justice, 2024, Persons of Interest, 2025 and Justice Served, 2025.
The series follows the adventures of Christian Dane, a Detective Superintendent and Senior Investigating Officer, as he leads a team of investigators hunting ruthless killers and terrorists. Along the way, he encounters trials, tribulations and finds a soulmate as his past threatens to destroy him. Around Dane is a cast of characters, some good and others not so helpful. The most notable being his favourite detective, Hayley Cross. She is a Black single mother who uses her remarkable skills to assist Dane and keep him focused. Together they make a formidable partnership.
All the plots in my books are completely fictional. I could never use an actual case to fill a storyline. So, I utilize my active imagination to devise suitable dastardly crimes, all with a healthy dollop of poetic licence. I apply my knowledge of police procedure, forensics and how to investigate a murder to bring a touch of realism to the story.
It has been a long journey, but I have achieved the primary aim. The spine-tingling experience of holding a book with my name on the cover for the very first time is difficult to describe. Perhaps only surpassed by being asked to sign a copy for a reader.
The CWA accepted my application to join, and I am now a full member. That has enabled me to meet many new friends within the detective fiction community. I am proud to say that I accomplished the first mission.
I won’t be resting on my laurels though; there is much more to come. My advice to any budding author is never to give up. But be prepared for a lengthy slog to achieve your ambitions.
I can state with some confidence that getting a book deal is harder than catching a serial killer.
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