Ask the Author: Frank Malley
Answered Questions (5)
Frank Malley
‘I hate writing, but I love having written.’ That sentiment from Dorothy Parker is often quoted and probably most writers, including me, can identify with it at some time in their careers. The truth is writing is hard work, requiring discipline, application and meticulous care. It can be laborious and painful. It can also be wonderfully exhilarating. A soaring phrase. A shaft of humour. A satisfying chapter. Rather like connecting solidly and effortlessly with a golf ball once a round, there is always something to bring you back to the page.
Frank Malley
Don’t think about it, do it. A common misconception is that you need to have planned the entire story from prologue to ending before starting to write a book. Not true. Obviously you need a starting point, but why not start writing and see where it takes you. It can be daunting not having a structured plan but impromptu writing can also be satisfying and invigorating. There is nothing more enriching than starting with a blank page and hours later having created something which surprises even yourself.
Frank Malley
The Body in the River. A murder mystery inspired by characters from When the Mist Clears. When the body of a local landlord is found in the river with a shotgun wound, police believe it is a straightforward suicide, especially as a suicide note is found on a nearby narrow boat. Would-be reporter Jaz Sharkey is not convinced and during her investigations it slowly becomes apparent that all is not what it seems.
Frank Malley
I started in the newspaper world with tight deadlines and pressures of space where the prime objectives were clarity, brevity, accuracy and entertainment. Whether newspapers or books, however, I think it is the desire to tell the story which counts. Listen and watch the world around you. What stirs emotions? What sparks interest? What deviates from the norm? That is what inspires me to write.
Frank Malley
The idea for When the Mist Clears came from characters I met doing voluntary work that involved transporting cancer patients to hospital for radiotherapy treatment. They were courageous, positive, irreverent and full of down-to-earth humour. They looked out for each other and the way they formed strong bonds quickly and naturally was inspiring. It called out for a story in which courage and humour triumph over adversity.
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