The Janus Run book launch

So it would appear that a week is my default time for reporting back on book events, which is too long frankly, but, you know, life. And adulting. And alcohol was involved again - this time I was dragged to the pub after the event. Dragged, I tell you, dear reader! And at my age, recovery takes longer! But it was such a brilliant night for a fantastic book, I'm still going to talk about it.

Anyway, last Thursday evening saw the Glasgow launch of The Janus Run by Douglas Skelton. It was a busy night in Waterstones on Argyle Street, as we gathered to see Douglas being grilled by fellow crime writer Neil Broadfoot. Now these two are firm friends, not that either of them would admit to it, and the banter (and insults) between them was fabulous and funny.

The Janus Run is the seventh novel from Douglas, but the first set outside of Scotland. In fact all the way over in the USA, New York specifically.  So it was something very different for him, but he is steeped in American films, and basically wanted to write an action movie in a book. I, for one, think he's achieved it.

Here's a wee clip of Douglas talking about the book.

He explains that it is about people not necessarily being who you think they are. He used himself and Neil as examples. He pointed out that we might see him as a debonair (he forgot some of us actually know him!), gregarious chap, but he's actually quite shy - hmm. And while Neil has the 'whole Jason Statham thing going on', he's more like 'John Inman on HRT'. Just to be clear, those were Douglas' words, not mine!

Neil asked him how he managed to capture the energy and pace of New York. Douglas has visited once for four days, and otherwise has used Google Maps, but he still worries about his accuracy. The American mafia also plays a big part in this book, but Douglas loves mafia movies and also watched a couple of documentaries and used these as the basis of his research.

Although some of his previous books haven't had that much dialogue in them, he found all the dialogue in this one easy to write. He tends towards humour in his writing, and has to tone it down for this book, but it's still there.

Douglas was asked what his favourite part of the writing process was - he quipped that it was the royalty cheque! He tends to work visually, and doesn't plan. It doesn't work for him. He gets bored if he tries to plan, and figures if he's bored, then the reader will be too. There is violence in The Janus Run, and a huge body count, but it's never terribly explicit. As he pointed out, this is very different from Neil's books which are like 'snuff movies on paper'!

He was asked if there would be a follow up to The Janus Run. This could be a possibility, as the book ends in such a way that the story could continue, anywhere in the US. But it will depend on sales - so get buying, people! In the meantime, up next for Douglas is the publication of his next book Thunder Bay, which will be out in March next year. It is set on a fictional Scottish island, and is darker as more thoughtful than most of the other books he's written. More details nearer publication day.

It was a brilliant night, and even included wine! But not the promised crisp, I noticed. The Janus Run is a fantastic, fast paced, action packed thriller, and if you haven't read it yet, I urge you to remedy that at the earliest opportunity. You can find buying links below, together with the link to my review of the book on this blog.

You can purchase The Janus Run from Waterstones, Amazon and other good bookshops. My review can be found here.

He almost smiled! Yay!