All authors, at some point in their lives, feel compelled to put words to paper and tell stories. When did the story telling bug bite you and what led you to actually write and publish your first novel?

I remember writing stories as a child, but I never managed get further than chapter one. By which time I’d told the entire story.

I then began to write again in 2012. I was living in Dubai at the time and was sitting on my balcony in the marina and had an idea for a post-apoc book. I managed eight or nine chapters this time. I loved the experience. I loved the way writing transports the writer (and hopefully the reader) to a different world.

In 2015 I decided I would actually do it. I rolled up my sleeves, poked out my tongue and wrote the very first chapter of my very first novel. I started my Masters degree at the same time and somehow managed to balance a full-time job, completing my degree and writing the book. I finished the book a month before I finished my dissertation 2.5 years later. The book was titled, Where the Mountains Kiss the Sun.

But I was hooked.

I set to work writing book two and have not stopped.

Your Stone Cold series extends now to twelve novels. Harvey Stone is a unique protagonist in that he is an ex-assassin who had a long, successful history as a hit-man prior to becoming what could be described as a crime fighting vigilante. Could you describe how the idea for creating the Stone character came about?

After writing the first two novels and realizing that nobody wanted to read them, I ventured into the world of publishing and had an ah-ha moment. If I wanted people to read what I had written, then I needed to write what people want to read.

I know that sounds obvious, but back then all I wanted to do was write. I enjoy Jack Reacher, Clive Cussler, Wilbur Smith and David Baldacci and aimed to follow in their footsteps. However, I wanted my main character to be slightly different. I always like the anti-hero. The guy that makes the wrong choices in life. The guy that you shouldn’t love but do.

I grew up in East London & Essex. I was in the wrong crowds more then I was in the right ones. I took inspiration from those memories and carved out the first four books. Had I known Harvey was going to be so successful I would have mapped out the entire twelve-book series.

By the time I had written the first Stone Cold novel, Harvey was a living breathing entity.

Revenge is a theme that seems to run through your stories as well as corruption in all of its forms. Yet, there is also a theme of redemption as well. How do you successfully balance these two conflicting concepts in your stories?

I think the two work well together. Revenge can be desired for all the wrong reasons. But by the time the story has played out, those reasons can either be justified or the whole plot can turn on its head with a major twist. As long as the character who gets the revenge in the end actually deserves it, then I think it works.

Everybody loves a nice, warm slice of revenge.

Each Stone Cold story has its own unique story line. How do you come up with your unique story lines and develop them?

There are a thousand answers to this question.

Sometimes I get an idea of a theme that I flesh out.

Sometimes I imagine a final scene and work backwards.

Sometimes I just write the first chapter and stare at it for a few weeks.

On rare occasions, I map the whole story out in my head and just write it. Those are the gems.

I have a two-metre whiteboard next to my desk that I map plots out on. In an ideal scenario, I split the plot into three acts and add in the major plot points. Call to action, rejection, acceptance- end of act one. If I can detail all the major plot points I can usually fill the gaps with the information needed. I use colours to denote tension and points of view.

I also have another desk on the other side of my desk. I often write the headline of each scene on post-it notes and use a similar process to the whiteboard with the major plot points set out. I find the change in format can shed a new light on the story.

If all that fails, I just write the damn book and call in the big guns. I’ll get to the end act two with a trail of disaster behind me and then send it to my editor to read through. Once she has read it, we’ll have a video call and she can tell me what she thinks and where the strengths and weaknesses are. If I agree with her, I’ll set out the whiteboard or the post-it notes and write it for real.

The truth is that to be productive you must write. You don’t have to publish what you write. But you have to move forward somehow.

Every author has books, films, or music that inspires them and often serves as a muse for the development of their stories. What authors, books, films, etc. have served as inspiration for you?

I like stories with a strong arc. Wilbur Smith’s When The Lions Feed was the main inspiration for my first novels. It’s honeslty hard to pinpoint another film that has inspired one of my books.

However, when I’m writing a scene of intense emotion, such as Harvey in the midst of a kill, I find classical music extremely helpful in placing me there as a spectator. I like to see what Harvey is seeing, I like to smell what he smells and feel what he feels. A decent pair of headphones and Canon in D usually puts me there.

There are lots of authors who are excellent storytellers who have not had the success you’ve had. In your opinion, what sets your work apart from all the others that has allowed you to achieve success?

I’m not sure I can say what makes my work stand out from others or if it stands out at all. I prefer to think myself as part of a group of authors at a similar level. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

I do however strive for one theme in all my books and that is emotion. I like to immerse myself in each chapter and each point of view. I enjoy writing from the heart. When writing an action scene, I often feel my heart rate increase just as if I was immersed in a good movie. But that feeling is not something you can turn on or off. It takes me thirty-minutes or so to get into that mindset and then I feel as if I’m actually there. I’d like to think that’s why people enjoy my books. I hope those emotions come through.

What aspects of storytelling do you find most challenging?

Language. My characters are often down and dirty Londoners. The language in real life can be quite colourful in those circles but that does not always appeal to a wide audience. So, I have to strike a balance between authenticity and appeal.

I remember the opening line of one of my books was: “What the f**king hell are we doing out here, Les?”

That didn’t sell well so I had to change it. The line amused me, and I’m sure appealed to some. But on the whole, you shouldn’t have to use bad language to get the story across.

What aspects of storytelling do you enjoy the most?

Language. I love the push and pull of dialogue. Two characters in a heated debate with a proverbial ticking clock. I love it. I love the build of tension and the climax of a twist that comes out of nowhere. There’s nothing better than finishing a scene and having to take five-minutes to recover.

What advice would you give to anyone considering taking the plunge and becoming an author?

1. Take your time.
2. Don’t just plan the novel, plan the next few novels.
3. Don’t just plan the stories, plan the tertiary tasks too. Give yourself a deadline for every item. Plan the cover design, the blurb, the marketing, and the launch. Plan it all and write that plan down. You must be accountable for every single item.
4. Choose your mentors. When it comes to marketing, I take advice mainly from one guy. When it comes to cover design, I take advice from another guy. When it comes to blurbs, I take advice from a third guy. I listen to others of course, but I choose to stick with a plan that I have formed on the advice of people I respect for their experience and knowledge. 
5. Enjoy it. It’s a wonderful process and I’m blessed to be able to do what I do.
6. Love you readers. I receive emails from readers nearly every day and there’s no bigger reward that a stranger telling you how you cheered them up or entertained them enough for them to reach out and say thanks. What an amazing thing writing is.

About J.D.Weston

Award-winning author and creator of the hugely successful, Stone Cold Thriller series and The Frankie Black Files, J.D.Weston was born in London, England, and after more than a decade of living in the Middle East, now enjoys a tranquil life in Lincolnshire with his wife.

With a thirst for creativity, he spent much of his younger years seeking a career in music, eventually hanging up his guitar for a little peace and quiet and venturing into writing and photography.

His writing is action-packed and fueled by the unique feeling a story brings as it unfolds at his fingertips; a feeling that never fades; even after penning close to 20 books.

Best known for the best-selling Stone Cold Thriller series, J.D.Weston seeks to shock and thrill readers with brutal and honest stories that keep the readers turning page after page. There’s rarely a dull moment in any of the Stone Cold Thrillers, so if you’re looking for action, suspense with characters you can feel and grow to love, you came to the right place.

When he is not writing or taking photographs, you’ll find John outdoors somewhere, breathing fresh air, smiling and dreaming up new journeys to take his readers on.

He craves a simple life.

Coming August 11th!