Richard Godwin is a British poet, fiction
writer, and playwright. His dark crime
short stories and poetry have appeared in many magazines, such as A Twist of Noir, Crime Factory, and Needle
Magazine of Noir, and anthologies, such as Back in 5 Minutes and Lyrotica.
His play The Cure-All has been
produced on the London stage. His first crime novel, Apostle Rising, was published in 2011, and this extremely dark psychological
thriller has been lauded for its tight, complex plot, vivid characterization,
and disturbing yet lyrical prose. A compelling police procedural and psychological
thriller about a psychopathic serial killer who crucifies politicians and
prostitutes, Apostle Rising pits
police detectives Frank Castle and Jacki Stone against this evil while their
own lives unravel around them—and in Castle’s case, his sanity perhaps.
Godwin
is a writer with great promise, and readers of his first novel will eagerly
await his second, Mr. Glamour, due
out from Black Jackal Books in April. Here are links to purchase his book.
Richard Godwin is the author of
crime novel Apostle Rising, in which a serial killer is crucifying politicians
and recreating the murder scenes of an original case. The novel has received
great reviews http://www.richardgodwin.net/media
It has just sold foreign rights to the largest publisher in Hungary.
He is widely published in many magazines and anthologies and also writes horror
and Bizarro as well as literary fiction and poetry. You can find out more about
him here http://richardgodwin.net. His
Chin Wags At The Slaughterhouse are popular and penetrating interviews he
conducts with other authors at his Blog http://www.richardgodwin.net/blog.
His second crime novel Mr. Glamour will be published in April of 2012 by Black
Jackal Books as a paperback. It can be pre ordered from Black Jackal Books and
Amazon in March.
What was your inspiration for Apostle Rising? Had you always wanted to
be a writer?
Apostle Rising was born out of my interest with the
intersection between crime and horror. I believe that real horror exists in the
things humans do to one another. I was also interested in identity and what
that means. I wrote it in a style that alternates between what has been called
my dark poetry and crime, which reviewers quickly said was unusual and
effective. It received excellent reviews. It is also about the corrosive effect
of evil on those who come into contact with it. It has just sold foreign rights
to one of the largest publishers in Europe.
I wanted to be a writer since I was a teenager.
How would you describe Apostle Rising to someone who has not
read it?
A beautifully written, layered novel about why humans do the things they
do. It has the biggest surprise in it; no one guessed the ending.
What's your writing process? What
is a typical writing day like for you? Do you keep to a set schedule? What are
your writing habits?
I write every day. I see it like practicing my tennis serve.
What projects, literary or
otherwise, are occupying you at the moment?
My second novel, Mr. Glamour,
is being published by Black Jackal Books as a paperback this April. It is a mystery
novel about a dark intruder in a Glamorous world. I also have many stories
going into anthologies, among them “Tales of the Mustard Man” with Pulp Metal Magazine as an E Book. The
Mustard Man is a character with a series of stores based on him. There are some
new ones in this, and it will be out in the next few weeks.
Who were your literary influences
growing up? Are there any authors (living or dead) that you would name as
influences?
The main two would be Dostoyevsky and Dickens. There are many others, too
many to mention.
Do you belong to a critique group
of other authors. Do you find it helpful? In what ways?
No.
What is your advice to aspiring
writers? How important is it for a young writer to be a reader? What would you
recommend they read?
Write every day and read. When you are reading, try to see how writers
achieve their effects.
What is the most surprising thing
you’ve learned in your writing career? What has been the hardest part about
being a writer?
I am rarely surprised. I love writing, so it is not hard. It is a process,
and the beautiful thing about it is you keep learning—there is no ceiling.
