Peter Robinson

What led you to a life of crime?

Poverty and desperation

You first introduced us to Inspector Banks in Gallows View (1987), 20 years later and the character is still going strong, gaining in popularity with each new book, did you ever expect him to have such longevity?

Short answer is no ... I thought I had maybe 2 or 3 books lined up for Alan Banks and then I would move on. But he kind of stuck with me. It is his twentieth birthday this year!

Having won many accolades over the years, which one means the most?

Any praise from ones peers is always exciting - and I was particularly pleased to discover that Stephen King and Pete Townshend read my books.

Playing with Fire was translated into 15 languages. Have you ever been in some far flung destination and seen your books on sale, it must be a pretty amazing experience, if so.

Mostly people tell me about having seen my books in obscure African or Far Eastern bookshops - but I have to say I have recenlty come back from South America and not seen many there ! I did see some in a little bookshop in the Barossa Valley, in Australia, though.

In your novels you depict the landscape of the Yorkshire Dales perfectly (indeed, they do tend to make me a little homesick [bar the crime, obviously! -J). Does writing about the area ever make you want to return.

I think I started writing about the Yorkshire Dales out of nostalgia and now my wife and I have bought a small flat in Richmond, so I have returned there - which is lovely.

Over the years Inspector Banks has become increasingly somber, which adds depth to each new book, giving them a real sense of development. We wondered if you find any difficulty in making him evolve as a character?

No. I think that as he ages, he evolves; as things happen to him in his life and job, he evolves quite naturally. It feels like a perfectly simple process to me.

Piece of my Heart is due out in paperback on March 8th, we thought it a thrilling read and another Inspector Banks classic. For any crime fans yet to discover your work, how would you convince them to give you a try?

I'm passing this to my publisher to answer ! 'We think that Peter is up with the best of the home-grown crime-writing talent in the market place today. It is with great delight that we are watching his sales grow and I think it is because the public are discovering how engrossing a clever and good writer can be. Alan Banks and Annie Cabbot are first class characters - and Peter's writing is also very visual ... if only the television programmers would wake up !'

Your books contain numerous musical references and (being DJs ourselves) we've got to say this is a welcome addition to the novels. You choose quite an eclectic mix, how do you make the selection?

Often the music selection is what I happen to be listening to at the time I write. However, sometimes I have to search through my ITunes music library for something to fit the right mood.

We were somewhat intrigued (and possibly slightly jealous) to learn that, while studying in Canada, one of your tutors was Joyce Carol Oates. What influence did she have on your writing?

Mostly Joyce Carol Oates encouraged me and created a situation where it was possible to feel that writing was more than a hobby - more of a vocation. But I was writing poetry then ...

We are interested to know about your next novel. How's it going and do you need any characters called Joe and Megan?

The new one is finished ... all I can tell you is that it harks back to two previous novels, AFTERMATH and CAEDMON'S SONG, and that Banks finally gets a new girlfriend - which, incidentally, lessens his sombreness considerably... you might say it puts a spring in his step. And I can always use names for characters - so don't be surprised if Joe and Megan turn up in a future book !