An Author a Day, part 3

LUKE CHRISTODOULOU

Bio: Luke Christodoulou is an author, a poet and an English teacher (MA Applied Linguistics - University of Birmingham). He is, also, a coffee-movie-book-Nutella lover. His books have been widely translated and are available in five languages. His first book, THE OLYMPUS KILLER (#1 Bestseller - Thrillers), was released in April, 2014. The book was voted Book Of The Month for May on Goodreads (Psychological Thrillers). The book continued to be a fan favorite on Goodreads and was voted BOTM for June in the group Nothing Better Than Reading. In October, it was BOTM in the group Ebook Miner, proving it was one of the most talked-about thrillers of 2014.The second stand-alone thriller from the series, THE CHURCH MURDERS, was released April, 2015 to widespread critical and fan acclaim. DEATH OF A BRIDE was the third Greek Island Mystery to be released. Released in April, 2016 it followed in the footsteps of its successful predecessors. From its first week in release it hit the number one spot for books set in Greece.MURDER ON DISPLAY came out in 2017 and enriched the series. He is currently working on the fifth book of his planned Greek Island Mysteries book series. He resides in Limassol, Cyprus with his loving wife, his chatty daughter and his crazy newborn son.Hobbies include travelling the Greek Islands discovering new food and possible murder sites for his stories. He, also, enjoys telling people that he ‘kills people for a living’.

Novel Link:

THE OLYMPUS KILLER: https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Killer-stand-alone-RE-EDITED-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00JMTRPTE 

THE CHURCH MURDERS: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V5Z123I/ref=series_rw_dp_sw  

DEATH OF A BRIDE: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AS1658Q/ref=series_rw_dp_sw 

Genre you write: Murder/Mysteries

Questions: MY ANSWERS / DID NOT ANSWER ALL ☺

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone wanting to write? (Jenny) Just go for it. Doubt is a killer. Dive in and keep going until you have a finished novel staring back at you!

How do you approach your stories; do you plan everything out before starting, or are you more a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of a person? (Steve) I normally get an idea creep out of the corners of my mind and it sticks around until it drives me crazy. As a mystery author I always plan the ending (twist, killer) as to be able to plant clues along the way.

Of all your characters, do you have a favorite? (Luke) My strong female lead, named after my daughter. The Cretan, food-loving, foul-mouth Ioli Cara.

How long did it take you to write your most recent book(s)? (Joy) I give myself a year for each book. I finish earlier than that though, giving plenty of time for the book to go to my editor and for my proofreaders to provide feedback.

What motivated you to write your novel? (Ami)

Name three favorite authors and why they impress you. (Kay)

Would you rather set your story in a place and time you are familiar with, or would you rather research a totally different setting? (Ruth) My books are always set upon the Greek Isles (thus the title of the series, GREEK ISLAND MYSTERIES). I prefer to write about islands that I have visited, though I have researched and googled locations I haven’t been to before.

Do you have any little writing rituals or quirks? E.g. an object you have to have on your desk, a particular drink or snack. (Liz) Always at my desk, always deadly quiet and always with a coffee. Hot during the few winter months and Greek frappe during the nine month summer!

How do you own experiences influence what you write? (Bill)

If you were a ninja with a vendetta to whom would it be? OR If you had to throw something into mount Doom to save the world, what would it be? OR If you had a group of celebrities to plan the perfect heist who would they be and what would you be after? (Aaron) (Sorry, I left all three of Aaron’s in because they were hard! Pick one or all.)

How do you deal with writer's block? (Marissa)

What is your favorite part of the writing process? (i.e. first draft, editing, etc...) (Greg)

If you were stranded on a deserted island with only one book, what would it be? (Ominbuses,  complete works, and how to books are forbidden!) (Laura) And then there were none. The mother of my genre, an absolute delight!