Ask the Author: Leigh Turner
Answered Questions (10)
Leigh Turner
Different things inspire me. But place often plays a role. My novel "Palladium" was very much inspired by Istanbul. My novel "Blood Summit" was inspired by working on counter-terrorism in the Foreign Office, then visiting the Reichstag in Berlin.
My novel "Eternal Life", on the other hand, simply came to me while I was waiting for my girlfriend to arrive on a date in Vienna!
I've written a bit about "where writing ideas come from" on my writing blog - see here: https://rleighturner.com/where-ideas-....
My novel "Eternal Life", on the other hand, simply came to me while I was waiting for my girlfriend to arrive on a date in Vienna!
I've written a bit about "where writing ideas come from" on my writing blog - see here: https://rleighturner.com/where-ideas-....
Leigh Turner
The key moment of joy with writing is when you create a story, and characters, for the first time. Suddenly something that didn't exist before, exists. Other people can share in that, and explore the world you have created. That is a wonderful feeling.
Sometimes characters really do take on a life of their own. You write late at night (I usually write a first draft in longhand, then transcribe to a computer later, see my blog here: https://rleighturner.com/pen-and-pape...) then review what you've written in the morning. Suddenly, things are happening! What can be more thrilling than that?
Sometimes characters really do take on a life of their own. You write late at night (I usually write a first draft in longhand, then transcribe to a computer later, see my blog here: https://rleighturner.com/pen-and-pape...) then review what you've written in the morning. Suddenly, things are happening! What can be more thrilling than that?
Leigh Turner
I love to write about people and what motivate them - whether those people are spies, police officers, politicians or hotel employees (note: all these expressions are gender-neutral - I always try to write strong women characters). The mystery is, what parts of me are in which characters? Someone told me the other day that they detected parts of me in "Palladium" - but not in which main characters! Let it not be John Savage...
Leigh Turner
I have always been fascinated by the imaginary worlds of science fiction - including "Golden Age" sci-fi of the 1950s and 60s. From the dark weirdness of Philip K Dick's "Second Variety" to the "best of all possible worlds" in C L Moore's outstanding "Vintage Season" (see my blog on this: https://rleighturner.com/vintage-season/) they all contained philosophical insights and visceral shocks. I long to plunge again into those strange, fantastic worlds and see my own turned upside-down once more. Recommendations welcome!
Leigh Turner
Every writer writes differently. So what works for one may not work for another. But I do think it is worth aspiring writers working on their craft: by reading about writing, by going on writing courses, or by seeking feedback eg in a writing group. For more tips, see the "writing tips" section in my writing blog: https://rleighturner.com/writing-tips...
Leigh Turner
All writers have days when it's hard to create something new. I have evolved five steps to beat writer's block, including "morning pages" and the Stephen King method. You can see more at my blog "5 ways to beat writer's block", here: https://rleighturner.com/ways-to-beat...
Leigh Turner
"We'll put you in the spare room. The lock is broken."
Seriously, I love horror stories. My "Hotel Stories" series was originally sub-titled "Hotel Horror", although recently they have evolved more into dark comedy. For a free short horror story see "Fixing it", here: https://rleighturner.com/fixing-it-a-... Am I breaking a taboo? You decide.
Seriously, I love horror stories. My "Hotel Stories" series was originally sub-titled "Hotel Horror", although recently they have evolved more into dark comedy. For a free short horror story see "Fixing it", here: https://rleighturner.com/fixing-it-a-... Am I breaking a taboo? You decide.
Leigh Turner
I am currently reading a swathe of books from up-and-coming authors such as Tina Orr Munro, Rosemary Hennigan, N A Cooper, Elaine Stock and Ann Sei Lin. It's thrilling to discover new talent - I can't wait to dig in further.
Leigh Turner
My next book is my international thriller "Palladium", due for release on 17 May. You can put the book on your "to read" list on Goodreads!
In 2011 I visited Istanbul. At the time I was British Ambassador in Kyiv, Ukraine. The gulls swooped over the Bosphorus; the great dome of the Aya Sophia caught the sun; the throb of giant tankers echoed from waterfront yalis. Great ocean steamers lined the strait.
I thought: I must write a thriller set here.
In 2012 I moved to Istanbul, as British Consul-General. I saw the 15th century Bodrum Mosque, built in the 10thC as a Greek church, the Myrelaion.
I also visited the Valide Han, an ancient trading house whose domed roof gives a spectacular view over the city.
What, I thought, if an archaeologist racing to excavate a site ahead of the construction of a new skyscraper dug up an ancient relic that played into contemporary fears? Perhaps the novel might flash back to historic events? What if people believed the relic protected the city from harm? What catastrophe might threaten?
With the help of friends in Istanbul, I came up with a terrific idea for a cataclysmic threat. This in turn owes something to a previous job of mine, as the Director of Overseas Territories – but since that involves a key twist in the plot, I shall not refer to it here.
I then set out to weave all of these elements into a novel. The result was Palladium, which features the Myrelaion and its cistern; the Theodosian Walls of Istanbul; the Bosphorus; the Aya Sophia; the Valide Han; a building site; ocean liners; and much, much more of Istanbul.
Where do ideas come from? In the case of Palladium, it it all came back to those first, magnificent views of one of the most beautiful cities on earth – the sense of place.
In 2011 I visited Istanbul. At the time I was British Ambassador in Kyiv, Ukraine. The gulls swooped over the Bosphorus; the great dome of the Aya Sophia caught the sun; the throb of giant tankers echoed from waterfront yalis. Great ocean steamers lined the strait.
I thought: I must write a thriller set here.
In 2012 I moved to Istanbul, as British Consul-General. I saw the 15th century Bodrum Mosque, built in the 10thC as a Greek church, the Myrelaion.
I also visited the Valide Han, an ancient trading house whose domed roof gives a spectacular view over the city.
What, I thought, if an archaeologist racing to excavate a site ahead of the construction of a new skyscraper dug up an ancient relic that played into contemporary fears? Perhaps the novel might flash back to historic events? What if people believed the relic protected the city from harm? What catastrophe might threaten?
With the help of friends in Istanbul, I came up with a terrific idea for a cataclysmic threat. This in turn owes something to a previous job of mine, as the Director of Overseas Territories – but since that involves a key twist in the plot, I shall not refer to it here.
I then set out to weave all of these elements into a novel. The result was Palladium, which features the Myrelaion and its cistern; the Theodosian Walls of Istanbul; the Bosphorus; the Aya Sophia; the Valide Han; a building site; ocean liners; and much, much more of Istanbul.
Where do ideas come from? In the case of Palladium, it it all came back to those first, magnificent views of one of the most beautiful cities on earth – the sense of place.
Leigh Turner
As of end-February 2022, I'm working hard on pre-publication promotion for my Istanbul thriller "Palladium". Immortal Works publishers will publish it on 17 May so I'm awaiting that big day with bated breath.
My other big project is my spring 2023 publication of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Diplomacy". Life lessons and advice from my 42 years as a diplomat. I'm writing it now - about 50% of the way through the first draft. Wish me luck! Thoughts and questions welcome.
My other big project is my spring 2023 publication of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Diplomacy". Life lessons and advice from my 42 years as a diplomat. I'm writing it now - about 50% of the way through the first draft. Wish me luck! Thoughts and questions welcome.
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