Today, we’re talking with David Pearson about his book, The Farmyard Mystery
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
I have written twenty-five crime fiction novels set in Ireland, published since 2018. Before writing crime fiction, my job entailed writing very long and detailed procedural manuals for the financial services industry for licensing purposes. I also wrote for an IT trade magazine in the 1980s. But neither of these led me into crime fiction novels. I’m a keen amateur photographer, and love shooting landscapes in the West of Ireland. It’s a very special place to me.
Why do you write?
The ideas keep flowing – I have a need to put them down on paper and share them with readers.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
From the beautiful scenery around Westport in Connemara. The locale is a character in all of my books, and adds to the story.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
There’s an endless font of ideas available, and sometimes, fiction is stranger than truth!
How would you describe your writing process?
I have no set timetable, but I try to get at least 1000 words a day written when I’m in the zone. I try to write three books a year, if possible.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
A wider spread in terms of publicity. Interaction with readers. Connection with other authors, and identification of trends in the market.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Just write – lots and lots. Don’t overthink it, and don’t bring in too many characters to your story. That can confuse readers very easily. Keep at it – don’t procrastinate – just write!
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
I get the covers professionally designed, and the titles tend to follow a theme, such as Murder on/in/at ….. or The XXX Mystery. Titles are very important. They impact sales a lot. I’m not delighted with all of the titles that have been used on my work, but those were decided by my publisher.
What’s your next step?
I want to write more of the current series, and maybe revisit some of the previous series that were very successful, such as The Galway Homicides, which has 15 books in all, or The Dublin Homicides, which has six books.
What book do you wish you’d written?
Books by Ian Rankin in the Rebus series or the IMP___ series by Ray Clarke. Wonderfully crafted and great stories too.
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
I’m thankful to everyone who takes the time to review the books – even the negative reviews. I can learn from them, too, though, thankfully, they have been few and far between.
