1.How did your journey as an Author begin?
JA: I was a young Member of Parliament in London, made a disastrous investment and lost all my money, so I resigned from the House and had to find another job. I’d never considered writing before, but suddenly I thought the idea of how I lost my money would make a good novel – Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less – and that’s exactly how it all began.
2. Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not?
JA: No – I’m very happy with the name Jeffrey Archer, and I’m happy for people to know I have written the books!
3. How long did it take to finish Over my dead body ?
JA: Writing a first draft of a novel takes around a thousand hours, and during that time I do fourteen drafts, and a year later I’ve finished.
4. Please tell us about some anecdotes that were a part of the writing process of Over my dead body ?
JA: I rely a great deal on the expertise of my two chief researchers, ex-chief superintendent John Sutherland and ex-detective sergeant Michelle Roycroft, who come up with anecdotes that took place in their careers, with perhaps a little embellishment.
5. How would you describe your Book’s Ideal reader ?
JA: I consider myself a storyteller rather than a writer, so aim to make the books unputdownable. But only the public can decide if one has achieved that.
6. Tell us about the future literary projects that you are working on.
JA: This month sees the publication of the paperback of Over My Dead Body, then in September my new William Warwick novel, Next in Line, will be in the shops, and I’m now working on the next book in the series, for 2023 – but I can’t reveal either the theme or the title just yet! Can I send every one of you in your amazing book club, my very best wishes and thank you for your support over the years. It will not come as a surprise that 60% of my readers are women.