A multi million pound Football betting scam appears to be a front for something much more sinister when a brutally tortured body is discovered. Twelve years earlier Europe’s Chinese Communities reported a large increase in crime and disorder and now it’s happening all over again. DS Oscar Smiles, returning from compassionate leave, must deal with the ghosts from his past and put aside his personal worries as a notorious underworld figure battles with a Triad gang to control the dragon Gate area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
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Q&A
When and where do you prefer to write?
I have a desk set up in the dining room where the majority of my writing is done, but i can write anywhere as long as i have a pen and paper with me.
Do you need peace and quiet when you are wrting?
No not particularly, I sometimes find background noise, be it music, tv or radio helpful, however I need peace and quiet when editing or reading.
If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?
I would love to co-write a book with Ian Rankin (author of the Rebus novels). I could see Rebus helping out Tyneside CID in a joint investigation.
Say someone asks if they can use your name in a book. Would you rather be the ‘good one’ or the ‘bad one’?
The bad character would possibly be more interesting, but I think I would just be so pleased that somebody wanted to use my name that either would be OK.
Who would you like/have liked to interview?
I’m a big admirer of the Hollywood director Quentin Tarrantino. I would love to interview him to get some kind of insight into how his mind works when writing screenplays, character interaction and dialogue.
Where can I find you when you are reading?
More often than not sat on the sofa with a large mug of tea and my dog sat on my lap.
Where can I find you wen you are not writing/reading?
In the summer months I love to be out tidying the garden or walking the dog. I also enjoy watching snooker and find it quite relaxing. I also enjoy watching Crime shows on tv like Criminal minds and CSI New York.
What goes through your mind when you hold your new book in your hands for the first time?
A massive sense of achievement, that I have finally finished it and all the toil and effort of hours of writing, editing and re-reading had finally paid off.
How do you come up with a title for your book?
The Gathering of the seven Stars was not the original title of my debut novel. It was originally going to be called ‘The Rise of the Dragon Head’ but I felt that just didn’t work. The Gathering of the seven Stars is the name of the end game of a form of ancient Chinese Chess, a bit like ‘Checkmate’, and with that being a vital part of the plot it also fitted better.
How do you pick a cover for your book?
I basically trawled the internet for images of Chinatown in Newcastle and found this fantastic photo by a Gateshead based photographer Adam Lang. I was so pleased when I contacted him and he said I could use it.
Thank you, Andrew James Graham
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About the author
Andrew James Graham was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1966.
The working class son of a former proud shipyard worker he began writing comedy plays and sketches which were performed in local church halls.
Having worked as a Housing Officer in the most deprived area of North Tyneside for almost 2 decades, his writing is heavilly influenced by the characters and situations he witnessed first hand during that time.
The Gathering of the seven Stars is his first self-published crime novel featuring DS Oscar Smiles and is set in and around the ChinaTown area of Newcastle.
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Author Links
Website: andrewgraham0591.wixsite.com/website
Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrewjames.graham.94
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Book Link
B for Bookreview 