My family and I live in a wing of a Georgian mansion in East Sussex, which was built in the 1780s and fell into disrepair. It was rescued in the Seventies and carved into six terrace houses. Simon Toyne 1780sbuildcarve Change image and share on social
The largest two books I've ever read more than once are 'Bleak House' by Charles Dickens and 'The Stand' by Stephen King, about 1,200 pages each. Simon Toyne bleakbookcharle Change image and share on social
I knew from my television work that I could sit down and put words on paper but didn't know if I had the talent to tell a story in novel form. Simon Toyne formknowpaper Change image and share on social
I figured if I write a modern thriller but spliced in the DNA of a classic western - the drifter who comes into town with secrets - I could do something interesting with both genres. Westerns are also an incarnation of the classic knight errant tale, the lone warrior with a moral code, and I love those types of stories. Simon Toyne classiccodedna share on social
When I set out to write 'Sanctus,' all I wanted to do was craft a piece of high quality entertainment. Simon Toyne craftentertainmenthigh Change image and share on social
All writers steal. You might as well steal from the best. Simon Toyne stealwriter Change image and share on social
Epic stories, especially 'quest narratives' like 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey,' are brilliant structures for storytelling. The quest lends itself to episodic storytelling. Simon Toyne brilliantepicepisodic Change image and share on social
I think 'The Searcher' is a departure from my first because it's less grounded in religion and is far more rooted in the mythic tradition: more of an existential thriller where the main character is actually the central mystery, and his journey is all about trying to figure himself out. Simon Toyne centralcharacterdeparture share on social
Quest stories are about the oldest form of narrative there is, and they're also the perfect metaphor for life because we're all on a journey trying to figure out where we're going and who we are. 'Solomon Creed' is just doing it with more danger and guns involved. Simon Toyne creeddangerfigure share on social
If you do come across 'Sanctus' in a bookshop, please see past the cross on the cover and the sinister outline of a monk and just read the first page and make your own mind up. If it's still not for you, then that's fine; just put it back and walk away. Simon Toyne backbookshopcover share on social