Meeting Ann Bloxwich

Ann, mad as a box of frogs, very lovely and a extremely talented writer.

I'm a short, tattooed author, who loves cats, rock music, tea and cardigans. I live in the South West of Scotland with my family, having moved up from the Midlands a few years ago so I could pursue my dreams of becoming a best-selling crime writer (still working on that!). I'm the creator of the D.I. Alex Peachey series, which are contemporary, character-led police procedurals set in and around Wolverhampton. I'm currently working on the third in the series, and am also tinkering with a couple of standalones, one set in Scotland and the other in various places around the UK (and possibly abroad).

When I'm not writing I can usually be found at crime writing festivals, buying yet more books. Former jobs have included working with male strippers and drag artistes, and as an Oompa Loompa in a chocolate factory.

                                                                   

Many Americans read this blog, do British Police Officers drink tea all the time? And where did the character of DI Peachey come from?

I don’t know about British Police Officers, but folk from the Midlands drink gallons of tea, so it seems reasonable that they do, too. Let’s face it, a cup of tea makes everything better, doesn’t it?

Alex started out loosely based on my husband, Paul. He’s tall, has joints that crack, plays online roleplaying games like Skyrim, and also pen and paper roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons etc. Also, Paul is hugely supportive, will go out of his way to help someone in distress, and hates prejudice of any kind. Unlike my husband, Alex looks like Sean Bean as he was in Sharpe, but that’s just for my own gratification. Alex’s son, Joel, is based on my own son, who has the same disabilities. I’d never encountered a regular policeman with real-life personal issues such as this (apart from Mrs Taggart, who’s in a wheelchair).

                                                     

                                                            From her facebook page!

Although he’s the main character of your series, there are many other characters that steal the show from him. Is that easy to write?

Yes it is. As you know yourself, it’s important to have good supporting characters that work well together, and most of mine are based on people I know, which makes it easier. The plan is to focus on a different one in each book, to show their strengths and weaknesses.

The horrors of the survivors in this book read as very blunt and very authentic. No frills, that’s what happened. In the acknowledgments you say that some of it was based on your own life experience. How easy was that to write about?

It was very cathartic, but it brought back a lot of memories I’d buried, so it was also very harrowing. I felt that by writing about it, I was exorcising some of those memories, and showing others that we should never feel ashamed about what happened to us. The blame and shame belongs to those who committed the crimes. I also got to kill my own abuser on paper, something I’m not allowed to do in real life.

In your books a fair haired tall Glaswegian judge called Ramsay makes an appearance. She’s easily bribed by marmite and has a flatulent Staffordshire bull terrier called Mathilda. Is she base on anybody you know? Does she appear again? Does she win the lottery in your next book?

Judge Ramsay only had a small part, but she seems very popular, so I think she may appear in future books. She’s based on a fabulous, brilliant author I respect and admire. I’ll see what I can do with regards to her winning the lottery!

I’ve blogged on here about Crime and Publishment how has that helped you personally in your writing?

Crime and Publishment was the key to starting me taking my writing seriously. Up until then, I seriously doubted I’d ever produce anything good enough to get published, but the support, encouragement and help was the reason I decided to try. I still go along every year, as there is always something new to learn, and I think it’s important to pay forward the help and support to new writers.

I always think of you as one of the gang of four (or five, known collectively as the Twisted Sisters!.)  What support have they been to you in your writing career?

Quite simply, they are the reason I moved from the Midlands to Scotland. I’d never had that level of support, nor been taken seriously before, so it was wonderful to find my tribe, so to speak. We meet up at least twice a month, once at Moffat Crime Writers Plus, and in between times for coffee, general chat and so on. Three of us have just set up the Tuesday Murder Club, where we get together and write all morning. It gives us the push we need to get words down on paper.

                                                         

Am I right in thinking that all of you now have publishing contracts?

I’ve been previously published by two different Indie publishers, but am now self-published, so am working to get my books into libraries and shops, something that never happened before as my books were only available via Amazon. It’s not easy, but at least I know what’s happening at every step, and I get to choose my own titles and covers. I’ve just struck a deal with a brilliant narrator, so Alex and his team will soon be available in audiobook. Irene Paterson, who writes as May Rinaldi, has a deal with Black Spring Press, and the others are all still submitting.

Ann,  a woman who once gave me a personalised jar of Marmite!

Cheers

Ann and Caro