Confessions

So the inimitable Steph Broadribb (aka CrimeThrillerGirl aka crime writing author of the soon to be released 'Deep Down Dead' aka 'Keeper of the Taser') nominated me for this a while back. Took me ages to get it done, mainly because I couldn't figure out how to upload it to my website (yes I am au fait with technology thank you). And I loved the concept-I have a secret ambition to go into a confessional in a cathedral, and this was...ok nothing like it at all I'm sure but still...anyway, so here goes, confessions of a crime writer.

Have you ever damaged a book?

Never. I read books without letting a single crease appear on the spine. I have a bit of OCD about it. I remember one summer a cousin stayed and creased up all my Roald Dahls. I was devastated. Oh ok fine, I might accidentally have ripped pages out of one book to make paper airplanes. Yes fine it was Macbeth. I know. Philistine. Leave me be. It was my GCSE text, and I ended up loving it. Oh and Shogun. I read that so many times the pages unglued themselves!

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Have you ever damaged a borrowed book?

I have OCD. I find it very difficult to read books other people have read before me. Not sure when that happened, as a child and teenager I was a shelf in my local library. That’s age for you. Or the slide into insanity.

How long does it take you to read a book?

I’m terrible, takes me ages to read anything. It took me a whole summer to read Lord of the Rings. I can read crime fiction or thrillers in a week maybe, and now I can read on my phone during my daily commute that helps. Although I read Between You and Me by Lisa Hall and Evil Games by Angela Marsons in like two days or something. I couldn’t stop reading them!

Books you haven’t finished?

Did I mention I have OCD? Once I start I can’t not finish. Oh no I’m lying. I couldn’t finish War and Peace. Oh no, I just remembered, I also ripped and accidentally set fire to my copy as well. Next! [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]

Hyped/Popular books you didn’t like?

I’m a sucker for a marketing campaign, so probably not. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]

Is there a book you wouldn’t tell anyone you were reading?

I’m partial to a steamy bonkbuster every now and then, so definitely won’t tell anyone when I’m reading one of those. Although Steph Broadribb (aka CrimeThrillerGirl) already knows about my Jilly Cooper ‘Polo’ addiction.

Are you a fast/slow reader?

Really slow! It’s why the Bloggers impress the hell out of me, when they read a book a day or two or three books a week. I wish I had that superpower!

Do you like to buddy read?

So I googled this (mainly to check it wasn’t a cult or something weird I was admitting to), and essentially it’s a book club. And are you kidding me? I love book clubs and hell yeah I buddy read. It’s so much fun asking people ‘have you got to that bit yet’ and having someone to share ‘wow’ moments with without giving away spoilers. I also binge read. So I’ll find a new author and devour everything they’ve ever written. Donna Leon and Tess Gerritsen are two such relatively recent discoveries.

Do you read better in your head/out loud?

I hate the sound of my voice so never aloud. Although I do whisper read my own work. You really do notice things reading it out that you don’t on the page, so that’s definitely a writing tip I’d share. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]

If you were only allowed to own one book, what would it be and why?

Ha, this is a joke right? One book? Are you crazy? It would have to be an anthology. Maybe the complete works of Agatha Christie. Or A Suitable Boy or Lord of the Rings. They’d keep me going for ages. Or War and Peace. I might finally finish it!

Now it’s my turn to tag some people so I pick: This is tricky, a lot of people I want to pick have already been tagged. I think of the ones that haven’t I shall tag Angela Marsons, Lisa Hall, Keshini Naidoo, Marnie Riches, G J Minett and Colette Dartford.

And in the meantime check out Steph Broadribb's post here.