A day at the beach.
A momentary lapse in supervision.
A parent’s worst fears realised.
Andrew Wicks would do anything for his family. When tragedy strikes, he is forced to make a split-second decision, one that is layered with deception, desperation and self-preservation. As a tenacious police officer unravels his web of lies and exposes the truth, worlds collide.
There is no greater pain than losing a child. There is no greater torment than knowing it was avoidable.
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Q&A
When and where do you prefer to write?
I am a winter writer. I own a coffee shop in the harbour of Ramsgate and work seven days a week in the summer, but then have the winter off. That’s my time for getting pen to paper (or tapping keys on a keyboard, but you get my gist!). In terms of the ‘where’, I can work anywhere, as long as I have a good cup of coffee and my writing head on!
Do you need peace and quiet when you are writing?
I have two young children (Florence is four and Sully is one). I am counting down the days until I can have a solid block of quiet time to write without being crawled over and poked in the head. Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way! But in answer to the question, no, I don’t need peace and quiet when writing!
If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?
It might sound a bit corny, but I used to work with Charlie Gallagher (we were both police officers together). He has gone on to do really great things, firstly in the ebook world, and now in the publishing world. He has given me a lot of pointers and encouragement with my first steps on this journey, and so it would have to be him. Also, go check his books out. They’re brilliant!
Say someone asks if they can use your name in a book. Would you rather be the ‘good one’ or the ‘bad one’?
Goodies are boring, right!? Baddies have so much more depth and – having been a police officer – it’s okay to be a little bit contrary isn’t it? Definitely a baddie, all day long!
Who would you like/have liked to interview?
What a great question! And a really difficult one to answer. I think the person who would have the most interesting stories and would engage articulately would have to be Stephen Fry. He’s a genius in many different ways and can effortlessly turn his hand to anything. So, yeah, I’m going with him!
Where can I find you when you are reading?
I have a magical two hours each day when I can get my nose into a book, and that is between 20:30 and 22:30. The kids have just gone to sleep, my wife is downstairs watching TV and I will read until I fall asleep. Bliss!
Where can I find you wen you are not writing/reading?
Up until ten years ago, I would have said I’d be on a cricket pitch, a golf course, a tennis court, or anything sport related. Unfortunately, in 2011 I was suddenly diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable heart condition following several suspected cardiac arrests (I’m very lucky to still be here – my condition is normally diagnosed post-mortem). I had to retire from the police at the ripe old age of 29, and give up all my sports. I have had various gadgets and gizmos inserted into my heart, and am now paced and defibrillated when necessary. So you definitely won’t find me participating on a sports field now! I love to walk, and I watch as much live sport as I can (I was at Wimbledon last week and am at The Open golf this week). Apart from that, I’ll be found in most local coffee shops, drinking and eating. That’s what life is all about, right?
What goes through your mind when you hold your new book in your hands for the first time?
It’s only happened once to me, but it was a feeling off euphoria that I can’t explain. I made myself a promise that I was going to do it all those years ago when ill health struck, and to actually have the product in my hand was a feeling a can’t quite describe.
How do you come up with a title for your book?
A Parent Apart was the only thing I ever wanted to call it. It is about a parent falling apart, about the complete breakdown of their life and it seemed such a fitting title.
How do you pick a cover for your book?
I made it myself! Confession: This is the third cover, but I am happy with it now. The first two didn’t quite sit right with me but I’m happy with how it looks now. A grey sky, a stormy sea and the rear view of a parent looking out over it. Perfect
Thank you, Gary Wright
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Author Bio
I was a police officer for ten years, until I was diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable disease of the heart at the age of 29. I had to retire from the police and was fitted with a pretty nifty device that paces my heart and will restart it if it goes bang again (an ICD to those in the know).
I loved policing. Absolutely loved it. Writing my debut novel – A Parent Apart – allowed me to channel that passion into a project that I am so proud of, and one that I am receiving so many positive comments about. Truly, it was and is a life changing thing to write a book. I loved doing it, and it ignited a desire within me to do a whole lot more. Watch this space – there is much more to come.
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Author Link
Twitter: gaz_wright83
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Book Link
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parent-Apart-Gary-Wright-ebook/dp/B097WZ5GXS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1EJ746IN07E2U&dchild=1&keywords=a+parent+apart+gary+wright&qid=1626246947&s=digital-text&sprefix=a+parent+apart%2Cdigital-text%2C175&sr=1-1
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