I have a day job – as a police officer
I have been a frontline police officer in the UK for nearly a decade. I started as a uniform cop answering response calls, then specialised, working on a search and strike team and now I work as a detective, investigating serious crimes.
Bodily Harm
I had a wonderful childhood
When I joined the police my eyes were suddenly opened to the world. I had a sheltered upbringing, a village life with wonderful friends and family around me. I thought everyone had that. I was wrong. This contrast in how people live was what started me writing seriously. I find the best way to understand addicts or the ultra-violent for example, is to create a character with those traits and then go through something with them.
I grew up reading Roald Dahl
Didn’t we all! The world always needs people like him. He could see the good and the beauty in anyone. He made me realise that the best job in the world must be one where you get to make up whole, impossible worlds – where anyone can be the hero.
I have a lot of women in my life
Three actually. My wife and our two little girls. My life has changed immeasurably in the last five years. From living on my own, spending my days going to the gym and playing a lot of football, I now live in a house that is gradually turning pink and I have a favourite Disney Princess.
My favourite Disney princess is Rapunzel
That’s an important one. I think you can tell a lot about a man by his favourite Disney princess. She’s got real spirit.
My best mate is an English Springer Spaniel
If you’ve ever spent any time with one you’ll know why. He’s such a good listener. Just about every word I’ve ever written was constructed and marinated in my mind while out walking the Spaniel.
I don’t like my wife’s cat
He lives in the shadows of our home. He’s the grumpiest living thing I have ever met. He scratches me in the night. My wife doesn’t believe me.
I think everyone should write
Yes it’s a bit of a passion for me and I know we’re all different, but people should give it a go. I see a lot of stressed people bottling up emotions and bad days. Let them out on the page!
Helen Webb is my favourite character to write
She’s beautiful, underestimated, ambitious and utterly ruthless. If she makes it through this series of four books, she might just get her own spin-off.
I don’t think I plan my books like many authors do
Usually I'll be out walking my spaniel with some decent guitar music on and I'll suddenly picture a scene and I think 'great ending!' Then I sort of write towards it. It's like being a very amateur captain of a big ship: you point it at a destination, go off course loads, abandon parts of it along the way, but end up getting where you want. It’s worked tremendously well for me (I hope!).
CHARLIE GALLAGHER’S CRIME THRILLER, BODILY HARM, IS RELEASED BY JOFFE BOOKS ON JANUARY 24 AVAILABLE ON AMAZON IN PAPERBACK AND EBOOK. BECAUSE HE IS A SERVING POLICE DETECTIVE CHARLIE WRITES UNDER A PEN NAME.