 | Today, Danny Kemp, a writer specializing in murder and mayhem, is here to share his work and thoughts with us. Danny Kemp is an ex-London Police Officer who was once arrested for attempted murder. He's been a tenant of three public houses (pubs) and is currently a Licensed London Taxi Driver. His debut novel, The Desolate Garden, a story of murder and espionage, is currently under its fourth consecutive years paid option to be rendered into a $30,000,000 movie by a London-based Film Production Company. |
Is there anything you can share that your bio doesn't?
My bath time has been ruined by my two-year-old grandson who has taken the yellow, plastic duck that I used to serenade whilst bathing. I've lost my singing voice as a result!
Please tell us about your latest work.
The title is Percy Crow. It's the follow-up to my first published novel The Desolate Garden published in March 2012. In May 2012, that novel was optioned for filming by a London Film Production Company to become a $30 million movie. It is still under their paid option until 2016, however, problems with the distribution may hamper that coming about.
Percy Crow carries the original story forward to the present day using characters I established previously, but can equally stand on its own as a tale of murder, mystery and deceit.
Where did you gain inspiration for Percy Crow?
I think all my stories simply came from a love of writing and an overworked imagination.
Why did you become a writer?
At the time I started there was nothing else I could do. I had suffered a road traffic accident and was effectively out of work for almost four years. It was during that time that I began. After hundreds of inquiry letters sent to literary agents, one telephoned me and offered representation on the strength of a synopsis along with three chapters I had sent him. That story was never published, but he encouraged me to write another with The Desolate Garden being the result.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I'm lucky in having a ten-foot by eight-foot garden shed which is my office. There is a desktop running the whole length of one side where I can spread out and write. I use a storyboard for most things I do, and the space I have is ideal for such a thing. There is heat and light in there.
Can you pick a favorite among your own works?
I can't, Mike. I do sometimes read the opening lines of a work and wonder who wrote the book with my name on the cover.
What are you working on right now?
A relevant point! I was writing another espionage story titled "What Happened in Vienna, Jack?" putting the first four chapters out as a teaser on Kindle, but I have decided to stop writing for any foreseeable future. I'm disillusioned by it all.
Initially, I enjoyed the promotion, being invited to many Waterstones bookshops for signing events and even appearing on national television, but nowadays I find insincerity and dishonesty everywhere I look. Promotion on social media is hard and can become unrelenting. At one stage it took over my life with little result. I don't believe that writing for profit is viable in today's world unless one is really lucky. If the filming of The Desolate Garden does take place, then I've been lucky; no more than that!
What is your favorite genre to write and why?
Espionage, with all of what that genre can offer a fervent imagination.
What do you like to read?
Everything of John le Carre.
How can readers connect with you?
All about me can be found at my about.me page: http://about.me/DannyKemp
Where can we buy your books?
My bath time has been ruined by my two-year-old grandson who has taken the yellow, plastic duck that I used to serenade whilst bathing. I've lost my singing voice as a result!
Please tell us about your latest work.
The title is Percy Crow. It's the follow-up to my first published novel The Desolate Garden published in March 2012. In May 2012, that novel was optioned for filming by a London Film Production Company to become a $30 million movie. It is still under their paid option until 2016, however, problems with the distribution may hamper that coming about.
Percy Crow carries the original story forward to the present day using characters I established previously, but can equally stand on its own as a tale of murder, mystery and deceit.
Where did you gain inspiration for Percy Crow?
I think all my stories simply came from a love of writing and an overworked imagination.
Why did you become a writer?
At the time I started there was nothing else I could do. I had suffered a road traffic accident and was effectively out of work for almost four years. It was during that time that I began. After hundreds of inquiry letters sent to literary agents, one telephoned me and offered representation on the strength of a synopsis along with three chapters I had sent him. That story was never published, but he encouraged me to write another with The Desolate Garden being the result.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I'm lucky in having a ten-foot by eight-foot garden shed which is my office. There is a desktop running the whole length of one side where I can spread out and write. I use a storyboard for most things I do, and the space I have is ideal for such a thing. There is heat and light in there.
Can you pick a favorite among your own works?
I can't, Mike. I do sometimes read the opening lines of a work and wonder who wrote the book with my name on the cover.
What are you working on right now?
A relevant point! I was writing another espionage story titled "What Happened in Vienna, Jack?" putting the first four chapters out as a teaser on Kindle, but I have decided to stop writing for any foreseeable future. I'm disillusioned by it all.
Initially, I enjoyed the promotion, being invited to many Waterstones bookshops for signing events and even appearing on national television, but nowadays I find insincerity and dishonesty everywhere I look. Promotion on social media is hard and can become unrelenting. At one stage it took over my life with little result. I don't believe that writing for profit is viable in today's world unless one is really lucky. If the filming of The Desolate Garden does take place, then I've been lucky; no more than that!
What is your favorite genre to write and why?
Espionage, with all of what that genre can offer a fervent imagination.
What do you like to read?
Everything of John le Carre.
How can readers connect with you?
All about me can be found at my about.me page: http://about.me/DannyKemp
Where can we buy your books?
| On various internet sites and in national UK bookshops including independents such as Daunts and Heywood Hill. Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Danny-Kemp/e/B001KC3VSU/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Danny-Kemp/e/B001KC3VSU/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 | |
Thank you for joining us and sharing your work and world with us, Danny.
Thank you for inviting me to this interview, Mike. I wish you success in all that you do.
Thank you for inviting me to this interview, Mike. I wish you success in all that you do.
RSS Feed