QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Whenever I give talks, I always say at the start that I don’t want to go on about things that might not be of interest to the people there. The same applies on this website. It’s why there’s no biographical page. People aren’t interested in me except insofar as I wrote the books that brought them here. So this space is your chance to ask any questions you like about crime writing, writing in general, or anything to which you think I might be able to contribute an opinion.

I have strong political views but I won’t be expressing them here, nor will I get involved in any slanging matches. The idea is just to provide a forum where we can talk about writing and reading with, I suppose, a bias towards crime fiction.

I’m happy to give advice to budding writers but I don’t have time to read manuscripts. And I’d rather not get into the sort of conversation where I’m not qualified to express an opinion. Like the time when I was warden of a hall of residence and, during the vacation, when we were hosts to some Saga holidaymakers, my name was displayed in the central building as Duty Warden. There it was – DR KIRTON – the “Dr” courtesy of my PhD on the theatre of Victor Hugo. A gentleman called for me and, before I could stop him, told me he’d forgotten to bring his prescription and asked if I’d write one for a urethral condition. He would brook no interruptions and I had to endure a list of urinary tract symptoms which almost led me to forego breakfast.

So, if you want to ask a question, make a comment or praise or criticise one or more of my books, this is your chance – but please, no requests for prescriptions.

bill@bill-kirton.co.uk