A movie buff that writes stories that could well be made into films.
Please, introduce yourself. Tell us about your personal life, family, education.
Hi! Thank you for having me here. My name is James Quinn and for the past seven years I have been a writer of espionage and intelligence themed novels. My first series of books was based around a central character – Jack “Gorilla” Grant, a former MI6 spy and freelance assassin.
I currently live in the UK but I have lived in various places around the world. I’m a dad to two wonderful children who make me very proud every day.
What do you like doing in your spare time?
I’m a BIG movie buff – always have been. I don’t care what I watch as long as it’s good! It’s the same for theatre, there is nothing quite like the thrill of a live performance. Plus, I love to travel. I’ve been very fortunate that my work has taken me to some exotic and beautiful countries. I can’t imagine a time that I would never want to travel.
If you are active in career fields other than writing, what do you hope for the future of that business? Describe your work or business activities in which you are presently active.
I work as a private security/crisis consultant and have done for the past twenty-five years almost, initially for various official organizations, but now for corporate enterprises. In my time I have worked VIP Protection, surveillance operations, risk and crisis management projects and generally advising people how to stay alive in various dangerous locations. Without being overly dramatic, I’m the guy that you don’t see but I’m there in the background in case of emergencies. Its hard work, but rewarding.
Do you have hobbies? How did you get started in them?
I began in various martial and close combat arts when I was a teenager and that has stayed with me throughout my life, both on a professional and personal level.
Recently my children have introduced me to the nuances of Football (Soccer in the USA) and it’s an adventure seeing them play and helping them train. I got to act as a stand in coach in one of the games recently and it was fantastic – more so because my son scored a great goal while I was his manager! That will stay with me forever.
If you are a writer, are you an avid reader?
Absolutely, or as much as I can with my schedule at the moment. Obviously because of my chosen genre – espionage – I read lots of spy novels; I have quite a collection of stuff going back to the 1950’s and 60’s. But I do mix it up with crime, sci-fi, horror, nonfiction and biographies.
The Ultimate Writing Goal
What is your ultimate writing goal as you see it today?
My overall goal is to tell great stories with interesting, well-defined characters and produce a good quality product that we can all be proud of. Thankfully I have a great publisher who takes care of most of the business end leaving me to get on with the writing.
At some point in the future, it would be a dream if the books became TV or movies. We did approach a UK Production Company and a well-known leading UK character actor with a pitch about the Gorilla Grant books – but so far it’s up in the air. So who knows, maybe one day Hollywood will be sending a private jet for me…maybe.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Honestly, it started off as an experiment – just to see if I could actually do it! Then it slowly began to form into something more. I hit my 40’s and thought, “Well it’s now or never” and went about self-publishing with the help of a few friends. Not long after I was picked up by my current publisher and I’ve never looked back. It has been an amazing experience and journey for both myself and the books.
How do you decide on the title of a book?
Normally it has to revolve around the concept or ideas of the story. They do tend to come to me quite quickly and I don’t feel that I have to struggle. With my first book, A Game for Assassins, I wanted something that evoked an almost Cold War-esque duel between two covert operators. Whereas for the final Gorilla Grant book, Berlin Reload, I wanted to hint that our protagonist was having to go back to his origins to resolve a dark part of his past. I think I’ve been lucky with my titles; hope so anyway.
Have you developed a specific writing style and why?
It’s absolutely something that has happened over time. I like to put the realistic detail in the novels and not pull any punches when it comes to storytelling. I like those “hard boiled” crime novels of the 60’s and 70’s and I think there is a bit of that in my books which I’ve obviously emulated. I always remember one early reviewer said of me “Quinn writes like he’s got a Colt .45 on his hip when he types.” I like that, it’s a fair assessment of me as a writer.
How much of your books is realistic and experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?
I always try to make and introduce accurate information – at least regarding tradecraft and operational techniques – into the books as I feel that the readers deserve that. Because of my career path and the skills that I have picked up that has been relatively easy. I feel that you can always tell when a writer has never done something for real.
Some of the scenarios in the Gorilla Grant books are based on my own experiences and some are purely fictional. It’s my job as a writer to blend them both together so that the reader can’t see the joins. I think I’ve gotten away with it so far.
As for the character of Gorilla Grant – is he based on someone? Certainly, there are elements of a few people; a bit of me in there, bits of people I’ve known. If he’s based on anyone it was on a former mentor of mine, a former British Special Forces soldier that is sadly no longer with us.
Favorite Writer
Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?
Oh, there are so many. The constants in my life have always been John LeCarre for his espionage novels and Stephen King – I started both of them in my early teens and I still have the original books from when I was 14. LeCarre for creating this secret world and having it about the characters and not spy gadgets, and King for creating these fantastically scary stories set in the real world that you and I live in.
Do you remember the first book you read?
Yes, I do – Enid Blyton – The Famous Five. It was in primary school.
Is there an author, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?
Yes! William Goldman – who was an author and screenwriter of such classics as Marathon Man, The Princess Bride, Magic and a host of others. His writing style is just sublime and his dialogue is like drinking wine – it’s just perfect. I’d love to talk to him about his stories and his experiences in Hollywood.
If you could not write, how would you express what you wish to convey through any stories?
I genuinely don’t know. The nearest that I can come up with is this; many years ago – and even now occasionally – I was an instructor for various “special operations” skills to different people. I used to enjoy that. At most I would use anecdotal material to either get a message across or to make a point. Standing up in front of a lecture hall is not that different to storytelling – it’s still conveying information, just in a different media.
When you see new authors struggling, what single piece of advice could you give them on a moment’s notice?
Ha! Great question! I actually had this the other day on Twitter – I said, “Don’t quit – Keep going. Write what you enjoy – It should be fun!” Finally, don’t respond to negative reviews – but learn from them if its warranted.
How do you want others to see you or remember you? Is it important to you?
I just hope that people enjoy the books. Is it important that they remember James Quinn? No not really, that’s not why I do this – after all what’s in a name? But I do hope that they remember the books in years to come and perhaps dust them off and give them a re-read occasionally.
Do you have a blog or website viewers can visit for updates, events and special offers? Include links to any and all of your sites.
I absolutely do and I hope readers will get in touch.
https://gorillagrant101.wixsite.com/jamesquinn
https://www.facebook.com/JQ101
https://nextchapter.pub/authors/james-quinn-british-espionage-thriller-author
On twitter: @gorillagrant101