Author interview with John Holt

Today, I have crime fiction writer John Holt on my blog.  Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day.  So, let’s get started.

What inspired you to start writing?

I suppose in a way I’ve always been a writer. I mean at school you had to writes essays about some subject or other. As a teenager I did write a story about Australia oddly enough. It spanned a period of a hundred years and told the story of the development of a small settlement into a town. It covered ten A5 sheets of hand writing. For some reason it was never published, and I’m still waiting for someone to snap up the film rights. I actually came into writing very late in life. I had always wanted to write a novel, but could never think of a decent, original, plot.

What’s your favorite book you’ve written and why?

To date I have written nine novels, and three novellas. The majority are crime novels, featuring my private detective Tom Kendall, or Jack Daniels. But my favourite book is The Thackery Journal – I started The Thackery Journal over ten years ago. I had a fairly good couple of opening chapters, a few nice pieces in the middle, and a good final chapter. I was then utterly stuck. I wrote five other novels. Then quite suddenly it all came together and I knew exactly what I wanted to write. I finished the book three months later. In essence it is a what-if novel concerning the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. It supposes that the assassination was planned by his own generals. It also supposes that the plot was financed by stolen confederate gold. It is also the story of two lifelong friends who find themselves on opposite sides during the Civil War, and how their lives become involved in the assassination plot.

On the night of April 14th 1865 President Abraham Lincoln attended a performance at The Ford Theatre, in Washington. A single shot fired by John Wilkes Booth hit the President in the back of the head. He slumped to the floor, and died a few hours later without regaining consciousness. Was Booth a lone assassin? Or was he part of a wider conspiracy? A plot hatched by his own generals to replace Lincoln with General Ulysses S. Grant.

What are the best and worst aspects of writing?

The best thing about writing is when someone reads your story, and then tells you what it meant to them. How much they enjoyed it. Reviews like this one for The Thackery Journal – I think this book was special I actually loved the story and the development it was very enjoyable and interesting a wonderful book.

There are three worst aspects of writing – editing, marketing, and getting a bad review. Not everyone will like your writing. You cannot please everyone and some will hate it, and will tell you so in no uncertain terms.

How do you balance marketing one book and writing the next?

I’ve always found marketing difficult. I know that people will never buy my books if they didn’t know about them. I know that I should really advertise, but that could be expensive. The only marketing I do is on Facebook. Sadly the sales are not good. A few years ago I was selling fifty books per day. That has steadily declined year after year.

Regarding writing the next book. That really depends on whether I have something to write. My novel Diagnosis Murder was self-published in December 2016. I had no further ideas for a decent plot, until April 2019. Then I had the idea for The Art of Murder, and completed the book in four months, self-publishing on 6 August.

 

Are you an Indie Author or are you part of a publishing house?

I’m an Indie Author. I do my own book covers, my own editing, my own formatting, and I self-publish under my own publishing logo, Phoenix.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

I know that whatever I write, some people will love it, others, however, will consider it rubbish. You cannot please everyone, so I write merely to please myself. If I like it that is fine, if others like it that is a bonus. To receive a review, or a comment, saying that my story was great, really enjoyable, that’s what I enjoy. The fact that someone, a stranger, liked my work.

Do you read books in the genre you write?

I generally write murder mysteries, and certainly I read books in the genre. But I don’t like excessive violence; I don’t do bad language, I don’t see the need for it.

When you’re not writing, what do you do to recharge?

I enjoy watching movies, old movies. Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck. I also enjoy listening to music, generally classical, but I do have a wide taste, which certainly includes Rock ‘n’ Roll – Presley, Chuck Berry; Fats Domino, etc. And for some years I used to write for a Blues magazine (sadly no longer in business)

Besides being an author, do you have a second job?

No. I’m retired. For forty-six years I worked as a Surveyor, firstly in local Government, and for the twenty years, in my own practice, preparing architectural drawings, and carrying out property surveys.

What makes you laugh?

Firstly let me say that I am British. I liked many of the old British comedies on television. Many of whom my American friends have probably never heard of. Tony Hancock; Dads Army; Only Fools and Horses.

What (not who) would you take to a lonely island?

Apart from a boat you mean. That’s difficult. Clearly a radio would be out of the question. Maybe a book, one giving advice about surviving living on a lonely island.

Who would you like to invite for dinner?

My father, who sadly died 23 years ago, so that I can ask him about all of the things I should have mentioned when he was alive.

It’s time to meet one of your characters. Which book is your character from?

My character is from eight of my novels. He first appeared in The Mackenzie Dossier, a novel about political corruption. Some way through the book there is a murder which required investigation. I could not use the police, because the Police Chief was involved in the corruption. So I needed a private detective. He never went away and has so far featured in seven more books.

Who are you and what is your name?

Tom Kendall, and I’m a private detective.

Are you a fictional or historical figure?

Fictional

What should we know about you?

I guess I am stubborn. Some consider me to be irritating, because I never stop, you know. Once I get an idea in my head, wild horses couldn’t tear it from me. I’ll hang on to that idea until I’m proved wrong four different ways, and even then I’d be reluctant to change my mind. I’m also loyal, and determined. I’m methodical, I take my time. I mean what’s the rush. You need to be right. What do they say about acting in haste?

Tell us about your story. When and where is your tale set?

Just lately I’ve been working for an insurance company. A couple of paintings had gone missing. Valued at three million each. Can you imagine a little picture costing so much. I mean I like pictures, but come on. I’ve got a print of some yellow flowers, Sunflowers I think they are, some Dutch guy painted them. I got it in Walmart, nine ninety nine plus tax. Okay so the frame was a bit more. But it’s nice. Anyway these paintings have disappeared and I’m supposed to investigate, and get them back. That was the plan. Then somebody gets murdered, and then there’s another murder. Looks like somebody’s practicing The Art Of Murder.

What is your personal goal? What do you ultimately want?

Just to be a good person, you know. Do I have a moral code? Sure I do, doesn’t everyone? What is right is right, and what is wrong is wrong. I don’t do no harm to anybody, and I give to charity … well occasionally I give to charity, especially children and animals.

What is standing in your way? What conflict(s) do your face?

Good question. We all have problems to face don’t we? Money problems; health concerns; hopes and fears for other family members. Society’s opinions, and demands, don’t always help do they, especially if you disagree with something. But we struggle on, because we have to. We keep breathing, and we keep trying to do our best, not just for ourselves, but for others as well. Some have their religious beliefs to help them (as I do). So what else can you do?

Twelve of my books are also available as audiobooks –  I do have a number of free promo codes for use on Audible.com and audible.co.uk if anyone is interested please leave a comment and state US or UK and I’ll get back to you

Thanks for joining me today, John.  You can connect with him at: