Of course there's pressure, and it's still there with every book. Each one is harder to write than the last, basically because you're always trying to write a better book. You won't always succeed, of course, but that has to be what you're shooting for. Mark Billingham basicallybookhard share on social
It never ceases to amaze me that readers who are willing to suspend their disbelief when it comes to the motivation of a vicious serial killer get high and mighty because I have put a coffee shop where there isn't one. Er... it's a novel. I made one up. I'm allowed to make stuff up. I'd go as far as to suggest that I make stuff up for a living. Mark Billingham allowamazecease share on social
I think it's very easy to disgust the reader with violence on the page - that's incredibly easy - but it's far harder to make a reader care about a character. Mark Billingham carecharacterdisgust Change image and share on social
Like my fictional protagonist Tom Thorne, I love country. My tastes go back a bit further than his do, and I still listen to stuff from the late '70s and early '80s. Mark Billingham 70s80sback Change image and share on social
All you can hope for when you get a book adapted for TV is that you get a good actor and not some muppet off 'EastEnders.' Mark Billingham actoradaptbook Change image and share on social
I write slowly and get distracted a lot. Mark Billingham distractlotslowly Change image and share on social
When I began to write, I was surprised at how little London had been used in crime fiction. Places such as Edinburgh or Oxford or L.A. seemed to have stronger identities. Mark Billingham begincrimeedinburgh Change image and share on social
When a crime writer thinks up a delicious twist, it is a great moment. Time to relax and take the rest of the day off. I do think that it can be overdone, however. Mark Billingham crimedaydelicious Change image and share on social
A good agent will sometimes need to be a scrapper, and that's the one you want. Mark Billingham agentgoodscrapper Change image and share on social
I find traveling anywhere very stressful. If I ever have to go on tour, I tend to find it all a bit too stressful. I am too much of a control freak with traveling, and nothing is ever on time. The one thing I can't stand is being late. Mark Billingham bitecontrolfind share on social