I’d say Care & Control has been bubbling away in my mind for the last decade. It’s built on the energies of people and places I’ve encountered over the course of my career. I also wanted to bring in my knowledge of forensic psychology and behavioural analysis to create a memorable villain. I really wanted to portray our public services in a positive light through characters that represent the grit and determination of these amazing people.

Definitely anyone who enjoys crime fiction, particularly those who enjoy the police procedural aspect of it. I’m keen to add diversity to the genre as well. Many of my central characters buck against the ‘straight white male’ stereotype. I’ve loved bringing people from different ethnic backgrounds and from the LGBTQ+ community to the fore. And, of course, some kick-ass female characters! I hope it appeals to a diverse audience.

Authenticity. My readers get a unique perspective into the world of safeguarding and criminal investigation. Much of what I write about is based on my own experience as a social worker and a detective. I’ve read many crime novels and watched drama series on TV over the years where I’ve thought, “That would just never happen.”
I’ve tried to be true to the procedural elements as much as possible to keep the stories and characters authentic. Of course, there has to be some dramatic licence, but I’ve had feedback from colleagues who feel the portrayals are accurate.

Connor, without a doubt. When I first started writing Care & Control, I didn’t anticipate him becoming such an integral part to the story. He quickly developed into this complex, gritty yet lovable and cheeky lad. He represents the resilience of so many kids I’ve worked with, who thrive in spite of the hardship they experience. He’s clearly been a big hit with my readers as well. I can’t wait to develop him further in future books!

The emotional impact. Once I started writing, it was like popping a cork. I wrote the first draft in two weeks but I was literally a wreck for that fortnight. I was channelling a lot of complex emotions and dark themes to build the story. I would come to bed in the early hours of the morning and lie awake with all these ideas bouncing round my head. There was a lot of joy as well, particularly writing about the positive aspects of the characters’ relationships and some of the general silliness. It was an exhausting, intense process but I can’t wait to do it again!

Many of the main characters represent a different energy or personality trait. I joke now and say I have five other people living rent-free in my head. I think Louis has helped me find a new love for my career and has reminded me to be bold. Luke and Sharlene remind me of some great people from my patrol days. Damien and Elliott….well, that’s complicated! Thanks to Connor, I’m back in touch with my rebellious streak.

Definitely. Smell is such an evocative sense that can transport us anywhere. Smell can make us feel safe, scared, turned on, revolted…. I try to build it in wherever I can to make the characters and locations as three-dimensional as possible.

James Hetfield from Metallica, or Suranne Jones of Scott & Bailey fame.

As much as I think both of them would be able to help me out of a sticky situation, I’m going to say Damien. He has a Taser and a response driving permit so would probably get there quicker!

There’s something so magical about them. When I worked nights, I used to see foxes in the early hours in the city. To see those eyes suddenly appear out of the darkness, it was so eerie yet beautiful. Foxes sum up what Connor says about the city being different at night.

a) Some of Connor’s cheeky one-liners make me giggle, but I think it’s the team meal break at the beginning of the book. There’s something about Sharlene feeding Luke some chips that makes me smile because it’s so sweet and silly.

b) Writing the flashback of Connor’s history made me cry. I hadn’t expected to write it but it just flowed and I went with it. After I finished, I went to make some lunch and listened to an interview with Joe Wicks on Elizabeth Day’s ‘How to Fail’ podcast as I ate. He related some similar issues to what I’d just written and I ended up crying into my ramen noodles.

c) The final scenes where the villain is arrested, interviewed and charged. Charging someone, for me anyway, has always been one of the best parts of the job. It means that you’ve done a good investigation, often under pressure, and persuaded a CPS lawyer to authorise charges.

Coming up with the broad strokes of a plot is great, but my favourite part is working out the fine-grain detail. I often find myself wrestling with the psychology of why the characters do what they do and what brought them to that point. Then trying to make that fit with safeguarding and policing practice. And finally, making sure it fits in with shift patterns and the right day of the week. There’s nothing worse than coming up with a brilliant scene set in a school, only to discover that it falls on a weekend based on your existing timeline. It can be incredibly frustrating, but when I finally crack it, it’s an amazing feeling.

As much as I’d like to say Connor, he would probably tell me in no uncertain terms to jog on. I’d actually like to meet Damien. There’s so much to explore with him, not least his background. What is a Glaswegian lad doing in the north of England working as a police officer? And that’s before we start digging into his relationships with the main characters in the book. I see this meeting taking place in a trendy, dimly-lit bar over a bottle of Laphroaig whisky.

When I’m writing properly, music plays an important part. I have playlists of songs that help me channel the vibes I’m going for. Outside of that, I sometimes write short scenes or bits of backstory. I liken it to an artist who sketches – they might not feature in the final work but they play an important role nevertheless. I’ve also started going to a writer’s space once a week at my local library to spend some focussed time on my writing. I draw inspiration from day-to-day events and scenes. Sometimes, even my daily commute can spark ideas. At the more extravagant end, a trip to Glasgow never fails to inspire me.

I try to incorporate psychology and mystery into my plots. The joy of Care & Control is that it encompasses the characters’ wider lives, not just the crime aspect. This allows me to indulge the romance writer in me as well. However, I’m fascinated by Ancient Greek Gods, magic, voodoo and sci-fi; I’d love to experiment with some of those themes in the future.

I’m currently working on the sequel to Care & Control. I’d always planned to write a series that follows Louis through his policing career. Having written the first book, I can see characters like Aliyah, Sabina, Damien and Elliott returning. Connor was supposed to be a one-off character but he’s now taken on a life of his own and is clearly a favourite of my readers! The sequel will find Louis in the next stage of career; he and the other key characters will be dealing with a new investigation as well as coming to terms with the events that took place in Care & Control. I can’t wait to share it with you!