Roger Bray served in the Navy, and he also served as a police officer. He is now medically retired and lives in Queensland. He writes literary suspense thrillers and is the author of Psychosis: When a Dream Turns Deadly, The Picture: When Greed Turns Deadly and Blood Ribbon: When there’s more than secrets buried, where do you start digging?

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What motivates you to write and how did you get started?

I have enjoyed writing since I was at school, but I didn’t really pursue it after school. It was only after I was seriously injured at work, as a police officer, and was medically retired that I had the opportunity to gain a bachelor and master degree. Being at university rekindled my love of writing and my first novel, The Picture, grew from that time. My motivation is wanting to tell stories people will enjoy reading. I enjoy writing about characters and places and the interaction between them.

What’s most rewarding about writing?

Sometimes it is hard, I have often been stuck in what I term a ‘bad’ idea loop where something isn’t really working, but I persevere. When finally I get the story back on track, and it really starts to come together. I also enjoy that, in some respects, the characters write their own stories from the personalities I have given them. The idea of how a character would react to a given situation comes from them.

What’s your favorite genre and why?

To read? I enjoy many genres, from non-fiction to science fiction and most in between. I am probably more engaged with the story and characters than the setting or the genre they are in.

To write? My first two novels The Picture and Psychosis were, according to my editor, the brilliant Emma Mitchell, leaning towards literary fiction with crime and thriller elements. If literary fiction is an emphasis on characters and interactions then that is what they are. They both are still crime / thrillers because that is the basis of the stories. My third novel, Blood Ribbon, to be published on 10 August 2018, is a psychological thriller with literary elements. I haven’t neglected characters or sense of place but have put them in a more dangerous environment.

Where do your characters come from?

They are definitely composites, sometimes of people I know or at least elements of those people, and my fabrications to fit the narrative and the needs of the story. I don’t think anyone could pick themselves from my characterizations, which is what I intend.

Who is an author who inspires you and why?

A very difficult question to answer and I could probably write a few pages on many authors and why I have been inspired by them. For the purpose of this interview, I would have to say Robert Harris. I thoroughly enjoy his work and how he effortlessly spans many genres and always managed to bring his characters to life.

What do you look for in other people’s books?

Good characters and believable plots. An enjoyable story which leaves a little sadness behind that it’s finished. Hates – Deus ex Machina plot lines that have me scratching my head.

What are you writing now?

My third novel, Blood Ribbon, is going to be released on 10 August 2018. and I have been busy getting ready for that. I have been writing notes for a couple of ideas for new novels. One of the story lines is firming up. and I will probably make a start on that after the launch of Blood Ribbon. The story line for this, that I have semi-mapped out for now is based in Manchester and Europe and concerns sex-trafficking.

What kind of book would you like to be known for?

A story people enjoy reading. Hopefully become engaged with the characters and care about their outcomes. Mainly that it’s an enjoyable read.

What has writing taught you about yourself?

To quote Dickens ‘Procrastination is the thief of time’ – that’s me in a nutshell. I love writing but often find myself down rabbit holes in the guise of ‘research’.

How has your life experience influenced your writing?

I was a police officer officer for many years, among other things, and I am often asked if that experience has helped. Yes it has, but more about seeing people’s reactions to events and situations rather than from a policing perspective. I have been fortunate from a writer’s viewpoint to have been able to observe people in myriad, often horrendous situations. It is that aspect which has been the most influencing.

What encouraging advice can you offer new writers?

Write, just write. It doesn’t matter if it’s rubbish it can be sorted out in editing. Obviously you need a good idea and a reasonable path for your story to take, but I have found if I keep writing the words will come.

Don’t wait for inspiration. It is a lazy sod, often missing in action.

Have your work professionally edited by an editor you trust or who is well regarded. Take their advice and don’t get offended by changes they recommend.

Have your cover professionally produced. Two things initially make your book attractive, the cover and the blurb. I’m still working on the second bit.

Help other authors. We are not in competition, we are all in this together. There is a huge market out there for books, of all genres. Help others and they will help you.

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