Guest author - Chris Blackwater

I honestly believe that one of the most satisfying things as an author is to see someone you knew when they were in the aspiring stage go on to be published.  That's why I'm thrilled skinny to have Chris here today talking about his debut novel, Emergency Drill, which was shortlisted for the CWA debut award. 

What does it feel like having your first book fledge and leave the nest? 

I'm excited and a little relieved. It's a been a long time coming. I began the first outline for Emergency Drill 4 or 5 years ago and had been writing for many years before that. Even after Dark Edge Press offered me a publishing contract there still seemed a lot that could go wrong, especially in the middle of a pandemic. Now it's finally happening, I'm enjoying a brief moment of calm before I have to deliver my next novel, Dead Crude, another Danny Verity novel, set in an Orkney oil terminal. 

That's what all aspiring authors need to know. Get on with book two! What do you - with the benefit of hindsight - wish you'd known a year or two ago?

I wish I'd known that Emergency Drill would eventually be published. I don't think I would have wanted to know how long it would take, or how many submissions would be required to get there. I suppose I could have saved myself a lot of time by not submitting to all those agents who never even sent a reply. However, it seems that developing a thick skin is an essential skill if you want to become a successful writer. 

What inspired Emergency Drill? How much of real life did you have to adapt or tone down?
 

I've met a lot of interesting and unique characters whilst working on offshore oil platforms. I always felt there was a story to be told and not many writers who would have the background to do it. However, it wasn't until I signed up for Will Sutton and Diana Bretherick's crime writing course, that I found a format which worked. I certainly had to tone down the characters. Readers would never accept that some of those real people existed, let alone hold down difficult and dangerous jobs. Of course, in real life, murders on oil rigs are extremely rare. On the other hand, there are all sort of hazards offshore and it would be relatively easy to get away with murder!

You're doing this year's Mystery Fest. Is this your first event? What are you most looking forward to and is there anything you're dreading? 

I've always dreaded public speaking. For some strange reason, I find it a lot easier now I'm discussing writing rather than gas turbine control software. I made a cameo appearance at last year's reduced, online Mystery Fest. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone in person this time. All the crime writers I've spoken to have been very supportive, but it's not the same as being able to chat face to face.

 

Indeed it isn't. Let's hope Mystery Fest goes well and that Emergency Drill is a huge success!

 

 

Newly qualified offshore medic, Danny Verity, arrives on the Cuillin Alpha oil platform shortly before a storm damages the satellite system, severing the crew's only mode of communication to the mainland.
It isn't long before he is forced to carry out emergency surgery on an injured crewmate, whose accident he suspects was a result of sabotage, when another member of the crew disappears and yet another is attacked.

 

Then his casualty dies, and a sinister voice claiming to be that of the Pied Piper makes a threatening announcement on the PA system before Danny finds it damaged.

 

While the North Atlantic sea rages around them, Danny must find and stop the saboteur before anyone else gets hurt. But with no way of calling for help and unable to risk escaping on the lifeboats, it seems the crew are trapped aboard the platform with a killer.