DI Hunter Wilson never has just one problem to solve.
Three elderly women he knows have died in mysterious circumstances. Hunter appears to be the only link.
A little girl goes missing on a cold winter’s night. When his team discovers cocaine hidden at the farm where she was living, the search becomes even more urgent.
Why did the women die? And what did the child witness?
Hunter must find the answers to these questions to ensure his family and his city are safe.
Q&A
– When and where do you prefer to write?
I prefer to write in the afternoons. I have never been a morning person and prefer to do mindless things like housework, replying to emails, cuddling the cats and drinking tea in the morning. After lunch I sit down in my writing den where it is quiet and write. I say it is quiet, but I get so immersed in my writing that I do not hear what is going on around about me. Even if somebody speaks directly to me, I may not notice when I am in the zone.
– Do you have a certain ritual?
I read what I wrote the previous day (and then re-write most of it!) I make my plans and notes in an old red A4 notebook, but I write my books on the computer. It is so much easier to make changes.
– Is there a drink of some food that keeps you company while you write?
I drink green tea in the winter and fizzy water in the summer. I tend not to eat when I am working because my fingers might get sticky or greasy and make my computer keys all messy. I wouldn’t like that.
– What is your favourite book?
My favourite book changes whenever I read another book that I like. My favourite book of 2018 was He Sais/She Said by Erin Kelly. In 2019 my favourite book was The Suspects by Katharine Johnson and this year, so far, my favourite book is The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale. I am fickle when it comes to favourite books!
– Do you consider writing a different genre in the future?
My series, The Edinburgh Crime Mysteries, forms a police procedural crime thriller series of novels. They are set in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. However, in Edinburgh, there is an area called Hunter’s Tryst. I plan to write a romantic prequel to the series set there.
– Do you sometimes base your characters on people you know?
I couldn’t possibly comment! I suppose, realistically, everybody I meet may have a mannerism or expression that I may adopt or borrow for one of my characters, but I never base them on real people. When I am writing crime fiction, it is important that readers know all the characters in my novels are imaginary, not real.
– Do you take a notebook everywhere in order to write down ideas that pop up?
I have a notebook in every handbag I own, and I do like bags. I also have one in every room in the house: a little one in the kitchen, bathroom and each of the bedrooms. A big one in the livngroom, diningroom and my writing den. I live in Scotland, where it does rain quite a lot and one of the best presents I was ever given was a small, waterproof notebook that a friend gave me for my birthday. It is a most useful item. I keep it in my jacket pocket so I can even make notes outside in the rain.
– Which genre do you not like at all?
There is not any genre that I would not read. The genres that I am least drawn to are sci-fi and horror novels but it is badly written books, of any genre, that offend me.
– If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?
I get asked this quite a lot and I really do not understand the concept of seeking to co-write a novel. I suppose I am too possessive about my work to want to share. I think the authors that it would be most fun to write with would be Amit Dhand or Linwood Barclay, but even then, I think sparks would fly.
– If you should travel to a foreign country to do research, which one would you chose and why?
Oh, this is such a hard question. I love to travel and there are so many places on my bucket list. However, based on my present characters I think I would choose to visit India to research Dr Meera Sharma’s background or Ethiopia to research Bear Zewedu’s childhood or Canada where Tim and Ailsa Myerscough like to go skiing. I feel excited just thinking about these trips!
Thank you so much for having me to visit your blog. I hope your readers enjoy the article and also enjoy the new crime thriller, Hunter’s Force.
Thank you, Val Penny and Rachel’s Random Resources
About the author
Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats. She has a Law degree from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, lawyer, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer. However, she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels. Her crime novels, ‘Hunter’s Chase’ Hunter’s Revenge, Hunter’s Force and Hunter’s Blood are set in Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Crooked Cat Books. The fifth book in the series, Hunter’s Secret, follows shortly.
Author Links
http://www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739
www.facebook.com/groups/296295777444303
https://twitter.com/valeriepenny
Book Links
myBook.to/HuntersChase
myBook.to/HuntersRevenge
mybook.to/huntersforce
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hunters-Blood-Edinburgh-Crime-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07ZZ2P5NR/
US – https://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Blood-Edinburgh-Crime-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07ZZ2P5NR/
B for Bookreview 