All writers I know are readers first and foremost, and that's why you become a writer. Mark Billingham foremostreaderwriter Change image and share on social
I think women tend to write about how violence feels, whereas men tend to write about what violence looks like. Mark Billingham feltmantend Change image and share on social
In the 1970s, there was a trend for all detectives on TV to have some quirk or gimmick, and this was often physical. Mark Billingham 1970sdetectivegimmick Change image and share on social
Ian Rankin's Rebus is the king of modern British crime fiction. He is dour, determined, and constantly falls foul of his seniors. For all this, we root for him. He is eminently loveable, a quixotic hero moving through the darker half of a Jekyll and Hyde Edinburgh. Mark Billingham britishconstantlycrime share on social
It may sound surprising, but a joke and a crime novel work in very much the same way. The comedian/writer leads their audience along the garden path. The audience know what's coming, or at least they think they do until they get hit from a direction they were not expecting. Mark Billingham audiencecomecomedian share on social
I was never a fan of cozy mysteries of anything set in the countryside, you know. Mark Billingham countrysidecozyfan Change image and share on social
What I usually do is hoard money - I accumulate as much as possible in the fear of not having enough to pay tax. Mark Billingham accumulatefearhoard Change image and share on social
I admire writers such as Elmore Leonard who can nail a character in three or four lines of dialogue, so he doesn't need pages of back story or clumsy exposition. Mark Billingham admirebackcharacter Change image and share on social
I moved from acting to stand-up because castings are just about what you look like. It doesn't matter if you can act or not. In comedy, no one cares what you look like. Mark Billingham actcarecasting Change image and share on social
I'm completely absorbed by Peter Guralnick's definitive, two-part biography of Elvis Presley: 'Last Train To Memphis' and 'Careless Love.' Meticulously researched, this is a compelling mix of history, myth-busting, and, of course, some timeless music. Mark Billingham absorbbiographybust share on social
