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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, author of Lies After Death, K.J. Dando, shares what inspired him to write his book and his creative writing process.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed K.J. Dando about his life and career, the story of his new book, Lies After Death, and what inspired his main characters.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
I live in Wales with my wife and two young daughters. I joined the British Army straight from school at the age of sixteen and actively engaged on operational duties in Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia. After leaving the Army I pursued careers in a multitude of industries, but now I’m following my passion – writing thrillers!
When did you first WANT to write a book?
Ever since I picked up my first Goosebumps book by R.L. Stine. I remember being fascinated that black and white words on a page could transport you and put you into what felt like a movie inside your head. It started my passion for reading and gave me the desire to create my own stories.
When did you take a step to start writing?
I wrote a novel while I was in my twenties, but I didn’t do anything with it. Looking back, it was a very immature story and had a weak plot, but it gave me experience and was good practice I suppose.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
Almost two years.
What made you want to write Lies After Death?
The character – Tom Crane. He’s lived in my head for many years, and I felt like it was time to let him out.
What were your biggest challenges with writing Lies After Death?
Time. As a debut author, trying to find writing time between a full-time job and a young family is extremely challenging.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
I wanted to create a protagonist that was tough and strong, yet relatable. Someone that was extremely capable but had vulnerabilities. And most importantly, someone with a strong moral compass.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
I simply wanted to create a character who was easy to hate. Someone who was detestable in every conceivable way.
What is the inciting incident of Lies After Death?
Crane’s wife is run off the road and killed. The killer was never found or brought to justice. Five years later, Crane receives a mysterious letter from someone claiming they know what happened on the night his wife died.
What is the main conflict of Lies After Death?
Crane’s search for the truth. Can he trust the mystery messenger, or is he being pulled into a dangerous game of cat and mouse as part of a larger conspiracy?
Did you plot Lies After Death in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
A bit of both. I like to have a skeleton of the story before I start writing, but I leave a lot of space to add things and link parts of the story when I’m fleshing it out.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Lies After Death need?
The first round of editing – the ‘developmental edit’ was fairly straightforward. Thankfully, there were no major plot holes to fill. It then went through two rounds of copy and line editing which were a little more challenging. I wrote the original manuscript on my phone, and when I transferred it to the laptop, I didn’t notice that the font used for all the punctuation marks was different and they all had to be corrected, which was time consuming. I also needed to add more body language and facial expressions during exchanges of dialogue.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
Just get started – you’ve got nothing to lose by giving it a go, and you can’t edit or perfect a blank page.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I’m currently writing the follow-up to Lies After Death.
And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
100%. To be able to hold my own book in my hands is a lifelong dream come true. Well worth the blood, sweat and tears!
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Apple Books: https://apple.co/4dl1fU2
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4dmqpS5
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4fKnWSW
TWITTER/X: @kjdandoauthor
FACEBOOK: K.J. Dando – Author
INSTAGRAM: k.j.dando
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