Games People Play (Volume 1)

Games People Play (Volume 1)

By   Publisher  CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN  1519126352

ANSI  1519126352

Published in   Crime Criminals, Fiction, Mystery Thrillers,
Buy Now


Synopsis

On a warm summer’s evening thirteen month old Lily Hamilton is abducted from Ayr beach in Scotland, taken while her parents are yards away. Three days later, the distraught father turns up at Glasgow PI Charlie Cameron’s office and begs him to help. Mark Hamilton believes he knows who has stolen his daughter. And why. Against his better judgement Charlie gets involved in a case he would be better off without. But when a child’s body is discovered on Fenwick Moor, then another in St Andrews, the awful truth dawns: there is a serial killer out there whose work has gone undetected for decades. Baby Lily may be the latest victim of a madman. For Charlie it’s too late, he can’t let go. His demons won’t let him. The stunning first novel in a gripping mystery series. Games People Play will have you guessing to the very last line.

What is the Tag Line for your book? (A short description of your book in a sentence or two)

A gritty, gripping Scottish crime thriller. Tartan noir with plenty of noir.

Do you write full time or part time

I write full time

How do you structure your day when you write

I aim for a minimum of 1000 words per day and try not to stop until that has been achieved. Normally I start working around 9 a.m. and work till I'm satisfied or until 'life' gets in the way.

Why do you write? (Example; For fun, to make extra money, a personal experience you want to share with the public)

Initially it was to make money but very quickly it just became 'who I am'. I can't imagine not writing now.

What are you working on right now / or your most recent work

Quite a lot because of social media; it makes the whole thing a very personal experience.

What inspired you to create this book

My wife Christine...she's always in there for me. When I became very deflated that agents wanted to 'trap' me into writing about Scotland because I am Scottish she convinced me that I could write something I felt good about and not feel 'boxed in'

What genre do you write in and why did you choose it

Crime/thriller/mystery because I love it. It's what I read (when I get a chance these days) and it's what I watch on tv.

How much research did you do on your book? (If it applies)

Tons of research. Even if I know an area/subject well I revisit because things change so quickly. I also use several 'insiders'.

How do you think you have evolved creatively from when you first started writing until now

I am an entirely different species from the guy who first booted up the computer to see what he could produce. I have spent many happy hours in bookshops checking everything I could - I learned many how to's and how not to's along the way

What was the hardest thing about writing this book for you

Becoming convince that this was an area I would enjoy; I wanted to write about exotic locations (travel is a passion of mine).

What was the most rewarding

The way my books have been received - it's terrific.

If you had to start over, is there anything you would do different

I would start much much sooner.

Are you a planner type person, or do you prefer to dive right in when you write

I am a mixture, I like to have the opening/ending before I start; then I just have to worry about that pesky bit in the middle!

Do they influence your writing

Yes and no - if someone makes a fair point that isn't about subjectivity I am absolutely interested.

Do you recommend being a part of a support groups to help you with your writing

I think it depends on the individual, it hasn't been my experience. I am however part of a group of writers who support each other with info/assistance with publishing issues. I am not a 'techy' person so this is very helpful.

Do you work with an editor If so, how much input do they have

Christine is my editor and she has lots to say...very valuable as she can really distance herself from the fact that I wrote it. I of course also have a copy editor and he too is a real asset.

Was there anyone in your past that you think influenced your writing

Stephen King...but who can't say that?

Do you have any tips or useful resources on marketing

Yes join Fiction Authors Resource group on Facebook; someone there will always have the experience/info you need

How are you publishing this book? (Indie / self-published, traditional)

Indie, and although it wasn't my first choice I am very happy with the independence and freedom it affords me.

What are your thoughts on book series

As long as they don't drag past the authors ability to keep it fresh I think they are great.

How long do you think a book should be? (Pages or words)

I think around 80,000 kind of fits the bill.

Do you have a strategy for finding reviewers

I always try to pick someone who is compatible to me.

What advice would you give to your younger self today

Don't give up on the music and start writing.

What is your favorite book or film

Favourite film is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - think they are all genius in it.

If you don’t already have one, do you have plans to have a book trailer and what are your thoughts on them overall

Working on a trailer because I think they are the way forward...more interesting than just looking at endless book covers. A book shop is tactile that is it's strength so online we need a way for people to feel they can connect.

When you get frustrated, how do you deal with it

Try to 'write' my way through it.

What advice would you give a writer that is just starting out

Get up, show up, and don't give up.

About the Author

Owen Mullen

OWEN MULLEN'S debut novel Games People Play has been long-listed for Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Crime Book Of The Year 2017 School was a waste of time for me. Or rather, I wasted time; my own and every teacher’s who tried to get me to work. It took twenty years to appreciate what they were telling me. Life has rules. They aren’t written down but they exist nevertheless. I got that. Eventually. But by then I was thirty five. Along the way I missed an important clue. At ten I won a national primary schools short story competition – and didn’t write anything else for forty years. SMART BOY WANTED APPLY WITHIN As a teenager my big obsession was music. Early on I realised if I was successful I would probably be rich and famous and pull lots of girls. So how did that turn out? Well, you haven’t heard of me, have you? And this morning I caught myself worrying about the electricity bill. So the short answer is: one out of three ain’t bad. Running around the country in a Transit van with your mates is fun. It’s your very own gang. You against the world. Until you fall out and the dream lies bleeding on the dressing-room floor. When that happened I went to London [everybody from Scotland goes to London, it’s like first footing at New Year, or ten pints of lager and a vindaloo on a Friday night; a sacred tradition] and became a session singer. I also started gigging with different bands on the circuit. Back in Scotland - most of us come back with wild tales of great success, none of them true - I wondered what I should do with myself and didn’t have to wait long for the answer. Her name was Christine. We got married, I went to Strathclyde Uni and got a bunch of letters after my name, and toughing it out at Shotts Miner’s Welfare, or dodging flying beer cans at the Café Club in Baillieston, was in the past. The long hair was short now, I wore a suit and pretended to like people I didn’t like because we were ‘colleagues’. After many adventures I started my own marketing and design business and did alright. Christine and I were very happy, we travelled all over the place; India, Brazil, Botswana, Nepal, Borneo, Japan. One day I suggested we move. To the Greek islands. So we did. We bought land and built a beautiful villa overlooking the Mediterranean. Then the pan global financial crash happened, years of fiscal carelessness finally caught up with Greece; the exchange rate dived and the cost of living in Paradise went through the roof. I had to do something. Then I remembered the short story competition. I had been good at writing, hadn’t I? I wrote another short story called The King Is Dead…the first thing I’d written since primary school. When I typed the last word [Christine taught me to type] I held the pages in my hand then started to read. An hour and a half, rooted to the chair unable to believe what was in front of my eyes. For four decades I had shunned a god given gift. And as I read I started to understand why. It was awful. Not just bad. Bloody terrible. But I kept going. And now, eight years and seven books later, three literary agents plus two I turned down [they were reading a different book] I am a writer. My books are on Amazon. People buy them and come back for more. One seasoned London agent has predicted I am destined to be ‘a major new force in British crime fiction.’ Yeah! So is the moral: follow my example, find something you’re good at and stick with it. Hardly. I didn’t, did I? Do it your own way; it’s your life. If you enjoy reading my novels please leave a review, it is immensely helpful