Ask the Author: Derek Fee
Answered Questions (13)
Derek Fee
I liked the protagonist in the TV series Happy Valley and I wanted someone like her, hard boiled and feisty. I have no idea why I made her a lesbian, I think it was because I wanted her to have a traumatic background and I didn't want to write about family life. I'm a pantser so half the time I have no idea where characters and story are going. I may not have answered your question but the process is organic.
Derek Fee
Hi Po,
Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the books. I'm a little embarrassed about the making decent money. I don't think there are many authors making 'decent' money these days. The market is flooded. In 2019, my revenue was $17,000 and my cost of production (editing and covers) was $5,000. I spent $3,000 on Facebook adds. You can do the calculation yourself. I may not be typical of all authors but those are my figures I promise you.
Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the books. I'm a little embarrassed about the making decent money. I don't think there are many authors making 'decent' money these days. The market is flooded. In 2019, my revenue was $17,000 and my cost of production (editing and covers) was $5,000. I spent $3,000 on Facebook adds. You can do the calculation yourself. I may not be typical of all authors but those are my figures I promise you.
Derek Fee
I can't say for the moment. I'm writing a new series that may work or not. Given the situation we find ourselves in at the moment, my planning is quite fluid. I was planning a Wilson novella for the Autumn but we'll see. Sorry to be so vague but it is what it is.
Stay safe
Derek
Stay safe
Derek
Derek Fee
I have an ambitious programme this summer. Mt two favourite writers are Denis Lehane and James Lee Burke so I have Lehane's World Gone By and Burke's Wayfaring Stranger and House of the Rising Sun. In literature I'm rereading Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath and Faulkner's As I lay Dying. For new stuff I have Toni Morrison's A Mercy and Marilynne Robinson's Lila. I like history so I've got a copy of Lawrence James's Raj. If I manage to get through all those by September I'll be happy.
Derek Fee
When I lived in Kenya, a friend who was a Catholic priest was hacked to death during the night. Although there were many motives put forward for the death, we never really found out why he had been murdered or who did it.
Derek Fee
I loved the early books of Denis Lehane (and also the latest ones). So Kenzie and Gennaro were my favourites. They were a hand-boiled and clever couple who took on difficult cases. It's a pity that Lehane stopped the series so early but when you look at the rest of his output who would give up Mystic River and Shutter Island. I also love James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell. If you haven't tried his books, please do. They are out of this world.
Derek Fee
Hi Dee,
Thanks for the question. The first draft of No 6 is already done and there will be some contacts with the Circle. I have outlines for the next two and while the Circle doesn't appear in either I never know what will happen until I start typing. I can assure you that he will not come to the end of the trail with the Circle in 6.
Thanks for the question. The first draft of No 6 is already done and there will be some contacts with the Circle. I have outlines for the next two and while the Circle doesn't appear in either I never know what will happen until I start typing. I can assure you that he will not come to the end of the trail with the Circle in 6.
Derek Fee
Learn to love the process. If you don't love it you won't succeed.
Derek Fee
It keeps the brain active and there's a great sense of accomplishment when you have a manuscript finished.
Derek Fee
I've just finished my fourth Wilson book in draft. I'm currently moving away from the Wilson series to write a book about people trafficking through the eyes of two very different brothers who have joined forces to search for a young Polish boy who has been trafficked for sex.
Derek Fee
I love writing. I started with non-fiction and I've already published 7 books with major publishers. However, that didn't help with fiction. I just love the whole process of getting the story down on paper.
Derek Fee
My character, Ian Wilson, is the head of the Belfast Murder Squad so I usually use some political event as the starting point for the crime. My latest book (which will be out shortly, Death to Pay is based loosely on the murder of a woman in Belfast during the 1980's.
Derek Fee
So far it's not a problem.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more