Ask the Author: Steve Robinson
Answered Questions (29)
Steve Robinson
Hi Judith, It's lovely to hear that you've enjoyed reading my Jefferson Tayte books. Thank you! I'm afraid I've stopped writing them now though, so it's unlikely that there will be. any more. All the best to you. Steve
Steve Robinson
Given the current COVID pandemic, I'd travel into the world of Robinson Crusoe. That Island would be a lovely break from being locked down, and I'd only have Mr Crusoe himself to keep socially distanced from - until Mr Friday showed up. We'd have to quarantine him though, of course, and then create boundaries and rules and... Hang on, I could soon be back where I started!
Steve Robinson
Hi, unfortunately I don't know of any plans to translate more of the books the series into Spanish at the moment. Really sorry about that. Perhaps there will be in the future, so do have a look from time to time.
Steve Robinson
Hi, and thanks for the question. It's great to hear that you've been enjoying my Jefferson Tayte books. I'm hoping to write more of both types and have a new Jefferson Tayte book coming soon. It's going to be more novella length at around 50,000 words as opposed to 100,000 words, which the books in the main series are. This is going to be a stand-alone read, and I hope it will be out next spring. If you follow me on Amazon you'll be notified automatically, or if you're on Facebook you can follow me there (SteveRobinson01) for my latest updates.
Steve Robinson
Hi Matt, thanks for the question. My books are all published by Amazon Publishing under their Thomas & Mercer mystery thriller imprint, so I doubt Amazon would release them for Kobo. At least, I've not seen them do that with any other of their titles to date. You don't have to buy them from Amazon though. They're available to order from Waterstones and many other outlets in paperback and audiobook. The ebooks can be read on any Android or Apple device via the free Kindle app if you prefer ebooks. Just not for Kobo, I'm afraid.
Steve Robinson
Hi Jan, and thanks for the question. Letters from the Dead has been listed on Goodreads, although there's no image yet for the Kindle edition. You can still add it to you TBR list though, as I see others have. Here's a link: https://www.goodreads.com/work/editio...
Steve Robinson
Hi Stef,
Thanks for recommending me to you friends. The first book, In the Blood, has been out in the German language for a few years now, and I'm sorry to say that I've not heard anything from my publisher about translations of the rest of the series. The German translation hasn't sold particularly for some reason, which is probably why they've not translated the others. It's going well in other languages, so I can't think why things aren't going so well in Germany. It's possible though that this may change in the future, especially if sales of the German edition pick up and popularity grows.
Thanks for recommending me to you friends. The first book, In the Blood, has been out in the German language for a few years now, and I'm sorry to say that I've not heard anything from my publisher about translations of the rest of the series. The German translation hasn't sold particularly for some reason, which is probably why they've not translated the others. It's going well in other languages, so I can't think why things aren't going so well in Germany. It's possible though that this may change in the future, especially if sales of the German edition pick up and popularity grows.
Steve Robinson
Hi Rebecca, and thanks for the question. I'm glad you're enjoying the series so far. Do look out for book 7 later this year.
Regarding the use of British-English words, as a Brit living in England, where most of the books are set, I have to write in British-English for my home market. This doesn't apply to any American character's dialogue, such as Jefferson Tayte's, of course, which should be true to character. You won't actually hear JT saying British-English words where there's an American variant. I try very hard, along with my editors, to make sure he sounds like an American when he's actually speaking. So, while the narrative might say 'Tayte flicked on his torch' for example, which is perfectly correct for a book written by a Brit in British-English, in his dialogue he'd say things like, 'Hand me that flashlight, would you?'' A foreign translation into American-English would change things, but that rarely happens as the languages are already so similar. I hope that helps to clarify things.
I'd love to see this series on the big screen. Jack Black could make a great JT, and I think Ben Affleck would also be a good choice. Hang on, he produces his own movies, doesn't he? Now where did I put my contact list? :)
Regarding the use of British-English words, as a Brit living in England, where most of the books are set, I have to write in British-English for my home market. This doesn't apply to any American character's dialogue, such as Jefferson Tayte's, of course, which should be true to character. You won't actually hear JT saying British-English words where there's an American variant. I try very hard, along with my editors, to make sure he sounds like an American when he's actually speaking. So, while the narrative might say 'Tayte flicked on his torch' for example, which is perfectly correct for a book written by a Brit in British-English, in his dialogue he'd say things like, 'Hand me that flashlight, would you?'' A foreign translation into American-English would change things, but that rarely happens as the languages are already so similar. I hope that helps to clarify things.
I'd love to see this series on the big screen. Jack Black could make a great JT, and I think Ben Affleck would also be a good choice. Hang on, he produces his own movies, doesn't he? Now where did I put my contact list? :)
Steve Robinson
'Get a proper job!'
That's a piece of advice I heard more than a few times after I was made redundant and decided to have another go at my life-long dream of becoming an author. Even when I didn't hear people saying it, I knew they were thinking it. There I was, out of work with no money coming in, scribbling away each day for close to seven years before my first book, In the Blood, was published. It took a lot of patience, particularly from my wife, who supported me through this uncertain time. We never stopped believing it was possible, and in my opinion that's the first place any aspiring writer has to start. Believe in yourself and keep going, because the only certainty is that you absolutely will not get there if you give up. And never stop aspiring, even after that first book is out there. You not only owe it to yourself now to write the best material you can, you owe it to the readers who helped to make your dream a reality.
That's a piece of advice I heard more than a few times after I was made redundant and decided to have another go at my life-long dream of becoming an author. Even when I didn't hear people saying it, I knew they were thinking it. There I was, out of work with no money coming in, scribbling away each day for close to seven years before my first book, In the Blood, was published. It took a lot of patience, particularly from my wife, who supported me through this uncertain time. We never stopped believing it was possible, and in my opinion that's the first place any aspiring writer has to start. Believe in yourself and keep going, because the only certainty is that you absolutely will not get there if you give up. And never stop aspiring, even after that first book is out there. You not only owe it to yourself now to write the best material you can, you owe it to the readers who helped to make your dream a reality.
Steve Robinson
Preparation. If I can't write it's usually because I've not properly worked out what to write, so I go back to plotting and flesh the scene out until it's well-formed in my mind. Then I get back to writing and it usually flows much better. If I'm really stuck, I find it good to start writing the dialogue first, then I have something to build on.
Steve Robinson
This answer contains spoilers…
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Steve Robinson
Hi Jackie,
I'm glad you enjoyed reading Dying Games, and thanks for letting me know. I chose Sandridge and St Albans simply because the location fitted the story. I was perhaps drawn to St Albans though because it's familiar to me, being not far from where I live.
I'm glad you enjoyed reading Dying Games, and thanks for letting me know. I chose Sandridge and St Albans simply because the location fitted the story. I was perhaps drawn to St Albans though because it's familiar to me, being not far from where I live.
Steve Robinson
I'm glad you liked it, Thomas. Thanks for letting me know.
Steve Robinson
The mystery in my own life, which in this case actually has inspired me to write one of my books, is that of my previously unknown GI grandfather. I've touched on this in my author biography. He met my maternal grandmother during WW2, fathered two children with her: my mother and uncle. Then for reasons I think will always remain unknown to me, he went back to the US, leaving my grandmother and her two young children behind. I often wonder at the circumstances that led him to do that, as I wonder how any man could just up and leave such a young family. I suspect, though, that there were other issues to consider on my grandmother's side. Perhaps he yearned to return to his homeland and my grandmother didn't want to go with him, or was not allowed to. History is a great place to hide secrets, and never more so than when they concern family. As my GI grandfather died in 1990, having been identified too late for any kind of reunion or answers, as I've said, I'll likely never know. Their story is possibly the reason I started writing genealogical mysteries, on a subconscious level at least. It's definitely the inspiration for the second book in my Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Mystery series, To the Grave.
Steve Robinson
Hi Patrick, and thanks for the question. We learn early on that Eliza was adopted, and this is how she comes to be in America as her adoptive parents would have been American. I hope that helps without going into too much detail as I don't want to add spoilers. I hope you enjoyed the book.
Steve Robinson
Hi Soňa,
Thanks for the question. I'm glad you're enjoying the series. I saw on the Facebook page for Mystery Press who publish the Czech editions that they're hoping to release two more books in the series next yet. It's not official yet as far as I know, but fingers crossed. I'm still adding to the series with book 6 coming out in the English language next spring.
All the best,
Steve
Thanks for the question. I'm glad you're enjoying the series. I saw on the Facebook page for Mystery Press who publish the Czech editions that they're hoping to release two more books in the series next yet. It's not official yet as far as I know, but fingers crossed. I'm still adding to the series with book 6 coming out in the English language next spring.
All the best,
Steve
Steve Robinson
I'm glad you enjoyed Kindred so much, Thomas. Thanks for getting in touch to let me know. :o)
Steve Robinson
Hi Jackie, I'm so glad you enjoyed reading Kindred. I really wanted this book to be a good read because it's about JT's own family history - so an important story in the series. The next book should hopefully be out around this time next year. That's a long wait, I know, but I'll do my best to make sure it's worth the wait. :o)
Steve Robinson
Hi Karen,
I'm glad you're enjoying the series, and thanks for letting me know. Kindred is being offered through Netgalley. Maybe it's just being added as I can't find it through a search on Netgalley, but it shows when I google it. Here's a link: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
Do let me know if you have any problems.
I'm glad you're enjoying the series, and thanks for letting me know. Kindred is being offered through Netgalley. Maybe it's just being added as I can't find it through a search on Netgalley, but it shows when I google it. Here's a link: https://s2.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
Do let me know if you have any problems.
Steve Robinson
Hi Kati,
I wrote the following in answer to part of someone else question here on Goodreads:
'This book wasn't so much for my GI grandfather specifically, but for both of my maternal grandparents, particularly my nan, and all the nan's, to which I feel the WW2 era truly belongs.'
That sums up the meaning of the dedication. I guess you should translate it to something that literally translates to 'for all our grandmothers' - Pro všechny našich babiček.
I wrote the following in answer to part of someone else question here on Goodreads:
'This book wasn't so much for my GI grandfather specifically, but for both of my maternal grandparents, particularly my nan, and all the nan's, to which I feel the WW2 era truly belongs.'
That sums up the meaning of the dedication. I guess you should translate it to something that literally translates to 'for all our grandmothers' - Pro všechny našich babiček.
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