About Sam Blake

Sam Blake

Whether you are a reader or a writer, or a reader with a secret itch to write, I hope these pages give you an insight into some of the world’s greatest crime writers, their writing process and what makes them unique.

Why do I write? Because I can’t stop. Because the ideas keep coming even (and usually) when I don’t have time to write them down.

I’m fascinated by what makes people tick, by how they interact and react, and by the thin, sometimes blurred line between good and evil. What makes someone kill? Is it nature or nurture, passion, anger – or revenge?

Writing crime fiction is like creating a crossword puzzle. Characters intersect, their actions causing events that become as entangled as the black and white squares on the page. An idea starts with a headline, or an overheard snatch of conversation, an ‘ooh, now that’s interesting’ moment, and a lightbulb goes on in your head. Joining the lightbulb moments togther, giving the characters time to reveal themselves and their part in the drama is the most exciting part of the process. Like looking at the empty squares in the crossword and slowly filling  in the blanks.

Why crime? Perhaps because I’m naturally curious, perhaps because I’m interested more by what is going on inside someone’s head than by their outward appearence, perhaps because I’m married to a ex-cop….recently retired from the Crime and Security branch of An Garda Siochana.

Are criminals any different from you and me? Every day ordinary citizens break the law – use their mobile phone in the car, drive that little bit too fast to get to a meeting – are they criminals? Could they go one step further?

I think so. I think we all have a tipping point.

What would make you kill….?

Sam Blake is the pen name of Vanessa O’Loughlin, founder of the Irish writing resources website www.writing.ie and director of Inkwell Writers Workshops.

Follow Sam Blake on Twitter, @writersamblake; follow Vanessa @inkwellHQ; and follow writing.ie @writing_ie