(re-published from Write On! magazine with permission)
Ensconced in Howard Linskey’s ridiculously comfortable sofa, I cast an appraising eye over the stack of DVDs, a pre-release copy of his new book Alice Teal is Missing and of course, the wonderfully stuffed bookcase hinting at delicious home cooking, World War II histories and naturally, crime fiction.
I’ve travelled two hours to meet with crime writer Howard Linskey. A recent Achilles tendon break has left him sporting a leg brace. Quite apt really, as our issue theme is all about what needs to be broken to create good writing. I’m here to find out what boundaries he has broken in his writing career to date. So, with his long-haired and incredibly vocal dachshund, Bonnie, joining in when she feels a bit of support is needed, we start our conversation.
I first met Howard in 2016, the inaugural year of the Pen to Print competition. I was an aspiring author and he was one of the judges. Howard’s generosity was immediately apparent as he freely gave advice on what to do once your book has been written, the intricacies of finding an agent and the importance of hanging on for dear life for that book deal.
Since then we’ve crossed paths a few times; I’ve congratulated him on subsequent Penguin book deals, and he’s agreed to be interviewed for my blog. We’ve also met at a number of Pen to Print events and will, from time to time, swap a Tweet or Facebook message. Along with an affable nature and generosity of spirit, it’s this approachable quality that sets Howard apart.
Am I even an author?
I steer our conversation towards the obstacles Howard has had to overcome in his writing career. As a young lad from the North East of England, a writing career seemed beyond reach. He blames this on the imposter syndrome which dogged him for a long time before his work was read and applauded by the publishing world. And it’s been a long road... For example, despite securing agent Phil Patterson with his historical novel pitch in the early 2000s, getting a publishing deal proved much more elusive. Eventually, Phil suggested Howard try ghostwriting crime novels for Harlequin and he jumped at the opportunity, which led to him finally being published in 2009. He remembers attending the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate with this one book in the bag but still riddled with self-doubt.
Since then Howard’s book, The Drop, was voted as Top 5 Thrillers of the Year by The Times and has been optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron. Unsurprisingly, his writing confidence has continued to grow, securing first a three-book then two, two-book deals from Penguin.
Bonnie barks at us from time to time, to remind us to throw her favourite toy – a soft blue whale - and helps to keep me on track with the interview. I could listen to, and be inspired by, Howard’s writing journey all day long but I really want to find out more about his writing habits. We move topics.
Quality is key
Howard’s first crime novel, Streetwise was penned under the name, Chris Freeman. It was about a Nigerian detective who’d fled his war-torn country to become a cabbie in the Bronx. Harlequin had provided the pre-set topic; one Howard freely admits did not sit in his comfort zone or immediate knowledge base. Despite this, he set to researching everything he possibly could. Even though this wasn’t his story of choice, Howard decided to write the best book he possibly could; his mantra for every subsequent novel.
The first draft of The Drop, book one of his David Blake thriller series, was so highly polished that it was snapped up by independent press, No Exit Press. These days the first draft sent in to his editor might not be quite so polished, but the depth of research remains the same and the quality of writing is still evident.
“An important thing to bear in mind for writers looking to be picked up,” says Howard, “Even though you may have to change it, it’s crucial you make what you submit as polished as you possibly can. When you’ve built a relationship, the polishing process is a joint one with the editor, but until then you’re on your own.”
So why crime?
Lulled by Howard’s northern accent, Bonnie snoozes on the floor as I ask him why he chose to write crime fiction novels in the first place. His answer is simple; “I wanted to read something that was more film-based, with a grittier underworld.”
Unencumbered by the rules of writing crime or bogged down by trying to avoid tropes and clichés, he tells me he has continued to write what he wants to write – interesting characters, a good dialogue and conflict for the characters to resolve.
“A Howard Linskey book is about quality of writing.”
He wants his readers to be certain that they can expect the same workmanship every time they pick up something he has written, no matter what the genre.
His focus is currently split as he is working on three different projects. He tells me this is proving tough, especially with the highly demanding Bonnie and of course family life with his wife and daughter. Howard feels though, that his somewhat different writing style keeps him on track in terms of his 1000-word daily count. He usually sits down to write after the school run in the week and carves time out on weekends. Avoiding the temptation of social media is also important, as he writes individual scenes rather than sequential prose. Howard begins each book with a pre-determined beginning and ending so that all the clues and foreshadowing can be worked into each mystery as each scene is revealed. As a writer, I was suitably impressed. Howard did confess though, that trying to fit these separate scenes into one cohesive story was an interesting process in itself.
Boxed In or Boxed Out?
Howard has always taken charge of his author identity and writing career. He stopped pursuing the ghostwriting because he didn’t want to be the ‘Nigerian crime guy’. Deciding that three books in the gritty, white-collar, underworld gangster, David Blake series were enough he moved book type again to create a North-East of England crime series, gaining him Penguin as a publisher. To them, of course, he has become that ‘North East crime bloke’.
Despite his successes, Howard refused to be boxed in. Seventeen years after writing the first draft, Howard went back to his historical fiction novel, Hunting the Hangman, featuring high-ranking German SS official, Reinhard Heydrich. Penguin had first refusal but interestingly enough No Exit Press wanted it and offered him a publishing deal. Hunting the Hangman will also be published in America along with his second WWII novel, Ungentlemanly Warfare. Howard feels that working with multiple publishers allows him to take greater creative risks; meaning he can write what he wants to write.
Penguin are also revisiting the ‘box’ they assigned to Howard. His latest novel is being published under H. A. Linskey. Howard tells me this is a typical publisher ploy; playing to the supermarkets' love of a debut book and rebranding him in the process.
Sadly, all conversations must come to an end and while our attempts to get Bonnie up on the sofa for a photo were an abject failure (she posed after we left!), we did have a wonderful conversation. Howard’s single-minded, unshakeable belief in his dream of being an author is something that can inspire us all, it certainly did me!
Connect with Howard on Twitter @HowardLinskey and visit his website www.howardlinskey.co.uk for more details about his books. Ungentlemanly Warfare came out in June 2019 and Alice Teal is Missing comes out in November 2019.
Find out more about Pen to Print and Write On! magazine at www.pentoprint.org.
Claire Buss is a multi-genre author and poet, completely addicted to cake. Find all her books on Amazon. Join the discussion in her Facebook group Buss's Book Stop.
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