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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Nigel Dyer shares the inspiration behind his new book, Wigs, Lies And Alibis, and his creative writing process.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Nigel Dyer about his life and career, what inspired him to start writing, and the story of his new book, Wigs, Lies And Alibis.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
Now retired, I spent most of my working life in the general insurance industry and then set up our marketing consultancy specialising in the financial services, legal and IT sectors. I am a freeman of the City of London an institution established around 1237 and a member of the Livery Company – The Worshipful Company of Insurers since 1994.
I was a regular contributor of articles for the financial media and had several books published on financial services marketing all of which was a totally different experience to writing Wigs, Lies and Alibis – my first venture into fiction!
I have a catholic taste in reading – Napoleonic and Tudor eras, WW1/WW2 and a myriad of crime authors. I’m passionate about classic cars, owning and having owned and restored several, and am a dedicated Francophile.
When did you first want to write a book?
Around 15 years ago.
When did you take a step to start writing?
I seriously got down to it about 6 to 7 years back but stalled a few times.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
5 or 6 years. I never thought it might become a published book until around 3 years ago. I’m still amazed!
What made you want to write Wigs, Lies And Alibis?
It was a combination of experiences, particularly from my working life, and three films that really had an impact on me: an old black and white film ‘Went the Day Well’; Jack Higgins’s ’The Eagle has Landed’ (which seemed to plagiarise ‘Went the Day Well’) and ‘The Anderson Tapes’ starring Sean Connery. All three gave me a feeling that a complicated crime could be the core of a novel.
What were your biggest challenges with writing Wigs, Lies And Alibis?
Self-discipline, not having sufficient time but equally chasing away excuses which were too easy to make. I’m not the sort to sit down every day at the same time and write for three or four hours! I need to be in the right mood to be creative. Also, I initially experienced writer’s block, but then I read a novel by Joel Dicker called ‘The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair’ which should be a ‘must read’ for anyone entering the creative writing arena featuring a similar problem, as it does.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
Elements of characters and characteristics of people I’ve worked with and worked for over the years. I think ‘people watching’ can be an inspiration – looking for idiosyncrasies and anecdotes which could create vignettes and shape many of the characters in a novel.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
The same again, ie bits of characters and characteristics of people I’ve known and come across. Working in insurance, I saw the good, the bad and the ugly. In any industry there’s fraudulent and criminal activity and I’ve used that as one of the basic elements in the plot line of Wigs, Lies and Alibis.
What is the inciting incident of Wigs, Lies And Alibis?
The body in the hot tub!
What is the main conflict of Wigs, Lies And Alibis?
Lies, false alibis and misdirection. Many characters are not what they seem.
Did you plot Wigs, Lies And Alibis in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
A bit of both. For example, I didn’t create one of the characters until near the end of the book which meant going back to earlier in the book to weave in that character.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Wigs, Lies And Alibis need?
The publisher’s proof reader gave paid me a compliment by saying:
‘This was an absolute pleasure to read. The writing generally was of exceptionally high quality……………… you have written a very engaging and compellingly written detective story. I look forward to seeing it published!’
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
You need to make a start – that’s the difficult bit! Just write and make notes until you feel you have sufficiency of ideas and then start to bring them together. They say everyone has a book in them.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I’ve started a sequel using some of the characters from Wigs, Lies and Alibis and some more life experiences. Across the European insurance market there are many examples of fraud and dishonesty as well as good things. After all, insurance touches the lives of most people one way or another.
And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
Proud – yes. Was it worth the effort – definitely! Financially – its early days.
Who knows perhaps others will enthuse and develop the book and its characters to other dizzy heights. I’m pleased by the reaction of people who’ve bought Wigs, Lies and Alibis. It’s a good feeling that others like it. The very positive reviews and comments received from readers so far give a real sense of achievement. Particularly as this is the first time I’ve created a novel.
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