Interview with A.J. Griffiths-Jones

Today I’m talking to the talking to the wonderful mystery writer, A.J. Griffiths-Jones. Thanks for talking to me today.

If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?

I’ve been researching the crimes of ‘Jack the Ripper’ for over thirty years, so naturally I would like to go back to Whitechapel in 1888, the time of his infamous murders. There are dozens of suspects and yet still the crimes remain unsolved, so I would like to be the one to identify ‘Jack’ and find out why he committed such awful deeds.

Is your ‘being an author’ a goal achieved or accident?

It’s a bit of both really. I’ve always wanted to write but life and circumstances always seemed to get in the way. When you work full-time and feel too tired to be creative at the end of a long day it’s hard to stay focussed. However, in 2014 I suffered quite a severe stroke and was unable to work, which was the time when my husband suggested I start writing as a type of healing process. It worked and I’ve never looked back.

Any idols? How much is your work influenced by his or her work?

I adore the work of Alexander McCall Smith & I think his books have definitely taught me about character building. His stories always have vibrant lively characters that the reader can really connect with & that’s what I’ve tried to follow, especially with my cosy mystery series.

How did you come up with the idea for ‘Black Sparrow?’

It was purely accidental. We were waiting for our luggage in a Turkish airport when two identical suitcases came gliding down the carousel side by side. One was picked up by an English gentleman in a suit & the other by a Muslim woman in a hijab, both obviously from very different backgrounds. I wondered what would have happened if they’d picked up the wrong suitcases & suddenly a story developed.

Tell us about your writing process & the way you brainstorm story ideas.

After finishing each book, I take a holiday & that’s the time when I sit and think about new storylines & characters. I’m very lucky that ideas come easily & quickly, therefore I always have a draw full of notes that I can go to for the next project. When I’ve settled upon which book to write, I firstly create a ‘mood board’ where I sketch out a plan or map of the book’s location. After that, I outline each chapter & the clues or points that need to be included. Next I create profiles of each character, their likes & dislikes, how they dress, what they look like & their family connections, pets etc. Finally, I sit down to write.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing?

I write full-time & work from home. I have to be very strict with myself & set the hours that I’m going to sit at my desk. Being at home it’s very easy to get distracted by household chores, seeing what my cat is up to or answering phone calls, so Monday to Friday I’m very strict and work until I’ve finished a specific number of words.

What projects are you working on at present?

I’m half-way through the first book in a detective series. It’s a relatively new genre for me & feels really exciting as the characters are just developing. I’m also simultaneously writing a series of children’s books that will be illustrated by my aunt & cousin. On Sundays I spend a few hours researching too, helping people with ancestry queries, looking at cold cases and assisting other authors with crime-related publications.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?

I love Sheila Hannigan, the clairvoyant in my mystery book ‘The Circus.’ It’s set in the 1980’s and Sheila enjoys life set against a backdrop of pop music and camaraderie. She doesn’t give a hoot what other people think about her but, despite her bad habits, is always there to lend a helping hand or sympathetic ear. Sheila has a romantic side too and yearns to fall in love, she’s a dreamer, a rascal and a loveable bundle of joy.

Favourite book?

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. I could read that book over and over. It’s historical fiction set in Iceland and is based on the true story of a murderer who is sent to live with a farming family until her trial. It’s so moving, and the characters are perfectly moulded, drawing the reader into the tale bit by bit until your heart is in your mouth.

Is being a writer a gift or a curse?

Dare I say, a bit of both. It’s a gift to be able to have so many stories to tell and to share with readers. It’s also a blessing to be able to work at your own pace, not many jobs allow you the perks of going back and editing out your mistakes, writing is a joy in that sense. However, it’s partly a curse for me as I suffer from terrible insomnia due to the ideas in my head never ceasing. I often write in the middle of the night or get up to alter chapters after getting sudden inspiration.

Buy links

https://amzn.to/2YjxX5S

International buy link – takes you to your local Amazon page mybook.to/Blacksparrow

At Heathrow airport, a hired assassin is boarding a plane to Paris. On the same plane is young Uzma Rafiq, heading for a new life with her French lover. The passengers carry identical suitcases, but their motives for traveling to the European city couldn’t be further apart.

When they accidentally pick up the wrong luggage on arrival, a deadly series of events is set in motion. As a sinister twist brings them together, they will dictate each other’s destinies.

Against a backdrop of The City of Lights, who will survive?

★★★★★ – “A classy thriller.”

★★★★★ – “Black Sparrow is a thrilling and well-paced tale. I loved the portrait of Paris in the story too.”

Interview with A.J. Griffiths-Jones

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