Tough Days In Paradise
Every profession/job has its good and bad parts and the life of an author is no exception. Loneliness, deadlines, writer's block and the fear of bad reviews are just some of the clouds that cast dark shadows on our lives. But, there are some great upsides, too. For me one of the very best is that I can work anywhere, so long as I have my trusty Mac laptop. I often find, in particular when nearing the end of a book, that going away gives me both the solitude I need, and the stimulus that comes from a change of scenery.So welcome to my current office, in the Turks and Caicos islands (500 miles south of Miami, close to the Caymans, Jamaica and Haiti) where I have just completed the first draft of my 6th Roy Grace novel, "Dead Like You". There are still months of work ahead on it, editing, checking facts, in particular all aspects involving the police, and also the very sensitive subject of how rape victims are interviewed and treated.
This novel is about a serial rapist, nicknamed Shoe Man by the Police, who attacked a number of women in Brighton in 1997, taking their shoes on each occasion, and then mysteriously stopped. Now, 12 years on, someone is doing the same thing again. The difficult question for Roy Grace and his team is whether this is a copycat offender, or whether Shoe Man is back.
For those of you keen to know more about Sandy, you will learn some insights into their marriage - there are scenes in this novel set back in 1997, when Roy and Sandy were still very much together - and for the first time you will read about their relationship from her perspective...
As you will see in the photo below, in keeping with my location I have exchanged my traditional 6pm vodka martini for a Margarita. Cheers!
15 Comments:
At 2:52 PM ,
Jacqueline Twamley said...
Your 'finishing the book' location looks wonderful, the book sounds a bit scary but you are a crime writer so I should be used to it by now having read all of your Roy Grace novels and some of your others. I understand there are down sides to being a writer but it looks like the upsides are good too. Love your twitter posts. Take care Jacqueline
At 9:01 PM ,
David Hewson said...
It's a tough life, Peter! Enjoy the rest of your holiday er... I mean... er... assignment.
At 10:18 PM ,
Peter James said...
Thanks Jacqueline!
David, thanks, too. Holiday? Did you ever meet a writer who actually had a holiday? I don't think our brains ever switch off.... Who was it who said that to be creative is not a gift, but a curse.....
Still, I can think of worse curses!
At 1:05 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Dear Curse man
Arghhhhhhhhhhh green with envy and in that location I would welcome a curse.
Your next book sounds as if it is a difficult subject.
Have a few more margaretas, I am sure they will give some inspiration.
Cheers
From cold and miserable England
Jane-mary
At 10:26 PM ,
Peter James said...
Thanks Jane-Mary!!!!
At 2:28 PM ,
Rosalind Marshall said...
What a superb place to complete your sixth Roy Grace book!!! Good luck to you, Peter!!! Keep up the excellent work!!! You deserve to be where you are because England is ghastly, simply ghastly at the moment!!! Talk about growing webbed feet!!! Take care. From a "fed-up with England fan!!!"
At 6:18 PM ,
charlotte said...
WOW PETER, what a place to have to work in. geez!!!! i should have become a writer. darn. with a setting like that you should be able to write more than one book about grace. come on. i need another "fix", my friend from oregon says she won't buy another book til your next one comes out. she has plenty read in the meantime. just loved that dest of yours. the top looks so rich. and i loved the idea of the bookcase in front. may have my hubby make one for me too. thanks for your info. charlotte whitney lazaro
At 6:27 PM ,
Peter James said...
Hey, Charlotte - lovely to hear from you! Thanks for such hugely kind words! All my best, Peter
At 10:13 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Happy new year Peter, the sixth roy grace book sounds like a real gripping story can't wait until june althou brian jonstone rockers and rollers should keep me entertained for a while just finished a copy of sweetheart and about to start twilight amazon has been a great site for finding your earlier books keep up the fantastic work - neil
At 3:33 PM ,
Peter James said...
Thanks so much - and a really Happy New Year to you too! All best, Peter
At 5:46 PM ,
Anonymous said...
oh peter. are you still on that island? you really do have "thelife".. i am reading ian rankin's exit music and for some reason, i just can't get into it. rebus is not a "grace". just hurry up and complete your latest one. i am running out of good stuff to read. charlotte
At 5:49 PM ,
Anonymous said...
oops peter, forgot. HAPPY NEW YEAR AND FINISH THAT BOOK. CHARLOTTE
At 9:08 AM ,
Peter James said...
Thanks for that huge compliment, Charotte! No have escaped from the island and finished the book, just waiting for the proofs.... Also have a novella out on March 4th, "The Perfect Murder". Not a Roy Grace but hope you will enjoy it. Next RG is out in June.
Currently in Meribel in France, dreaming up a future plot of a terrible murder in a ski resort.....
All best for 2010!
At 11:44 PM ,
Anonymous said...
hi peter. i have a question....why is it your books aren't readily available here in the usa? not even in book clubs. this ticks me off. what can we do here to get them inlistings of authors? my friend in oregon has already checked out your new book in england. she's just waiting for it to become available. but why do we have to go to england to order? tell me why. charlotte
At 9:39 PM ,
Peter James said...
Hi Charlotte
Thanks so much for your interest. The problem stems from my previous US publishers, Carrol & Graf, being closed down. I have now moved to the Minotaur imprint of St Martins, who are very fine publishers and sister publishers to my UK and German publishers and hopefully things will be very different now. They are publishing the 6th Roy Grace novel, Dead Like You at the end of November.
All best
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