BRIAN O'HARE

Verified Standard (Annual) Account

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

Retired college deputy director. Changed writing interests from academic to fiction after retirement. I play golf two or three times a week, and chess when I get time, I also write when I get time. I have written fifteen books since retirement.

When and why did you start writing books?

I wrote a number of academic books and reports for The Department of Education (NI) and for the University of Ulster while I was in Education. I got the impression then that I could probably write a bit, particularly since I was well paid for what I produced. I love reading thrillers and crime fiction, so I decided to change to fiction when I retired.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I write for fun, not a career. I am fortunate to have found a good publisher who has brought me a solid fan base for my books, especially my crime/thriller series: The Inspector Sheehan Mysteries. I write to be read, but it's nice to earn the odd dollar here and there.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan. Intelligent, sharp, fair, and prefers to consult with the members of his Serious Crimes Unit rather than hand out orders. As very many reviewers have said, 'He's the kind of boss people would love to have.'

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

The fourth Sheehan book: Murder on the Dark Web. The killer is an exceptionally intelligent and well-educated narcissistic psychopath. He writes about his murders on the Dark Web, using a high-flown language style similar to that in the nineteenth century literary classics. He also philosophises about the nature of his crimes and their motivation, using sophistry to justify what he does. Writing these blogs tested my own ability to write in the classical style, and conjuring up credible justifications for vile murders was intellectually demanding.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Robert Ludlum. The Bourne Identity.

What book are you reading right now?

When Evil Wakes by Mark Griffin

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

There is no direct answer to this question. Everywhere and anywhere. Something catches my eye and sparks a thought. That's all I need for a book. I see an unusual photograph or painting. That's enough to allow me to dash off a brief plot for future reference. I wake up some mornings with a fully plotted book in my head. I have no idea how that happens but that is how I got the inspiration for the book I am currently writing. Two of my books were written from suggestions made to me by the man who owns the car wash I go to. I'm not proud. I'll take inspiration from anywhere.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Golf. Chess. Eating out. Reading. Watching Television. Answering emails of readers who write to talk about my books. Some voluntary work.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Yes. Apart from a couple of biographies, a memoir and a contemporary fiction novel, there are seven novels written in the Inspector Sheehan series. Angel of Death, Die this Hour, Killer of Souls, are already published and released. Murder on the Dark Web and Murder of a Runaway are due for release soon, Three others are with the publisher undergoing the editing and preparation-for-publication process. Their titles are Conduit to Murder, The Fourth Victim, and. Marked for Death.