Martyn Waites's Friends

Martyn Waites's Page

About Me:: I'm a crime writer. I've written seven novels. Firstly the Larkin trilogy; Mary's Prayer, Little Triggers, Candleland, all featuring Stephen Larkin. Then Born Under Punches, a novel about the 1984 miners' strike and The White Room, a fictionalised autobiography of child killer Mary Bell which was chosen as one of The Guardian's Books of the Year. I then started a new series featuring Joe Donovan, the first of which, The Mercy Seat, was shortlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for Thriller of the Year. It was followed by Bone Machine and the third in the series, my eighth, White Riot, is out in Janauary 2008.
In addition to the novels, I've worked as a writer in prisons and with socially excluded kids and adults in the community. I currently have a literary fellowship at university. And in a previous life I was an actor and stand up comic.

Books And Authors I Like:: Apart from me . . . the usual guys as far as crime goes - Chandler, Hammett, MacDonald, Jim Thompson, David Goodis . . . all the James' - Ellroy, Burke, Crumley . . . Patrick Hamilton, Nelson Algren, Hubert Selby Jnr, George Pelecanos, David Peace, Ken Bruen . . . and best of the best, Graham Greene, plus loads more . . .

Movies And TV Shows I Like:: The Wire, The Shield, The Prisoner, Doctor Who, old horror films, Film Noir, you know, the usual stuff . . .

At 7:02am on May 2, 2008, carole gill said…: Newcastle! glad to see you. thanks for your contribution to the discussion.

At 4:21am on May 2, 2008, L.J. Sellers said…: Hi Martyn
I admire your accomplishments, including working with socially excluded people.

At 8:18am on February 28, 2008, Chris Ewan said…: Hey Martyn. I was mighty impressed by the White Riot trailer. Hope all goes well with you.
Cheers
Chris

At 10:46pm on January 18, 2008, helen black said…: I loved the Mary Bell book!
Also is Born Under Punches still around. My Dad was a miner and I'd be interested...
HB x

At 4:12am on December 20, 2007, Todd Robinson said…: Hey Martyn,

Hope you dig the site.

At 1:16pm on October 31, 2007, MysteryDawg said…: Welcome aboard and greetings from Southern California.

At 7:48pm on September 4, 2007, Betty Duffy said…: Got a signed copy of The Mercy Seat, while you were seated at the signing table at Harrogate just gone. My first Martyn Waites - the other years I was too nervous to stop you mid stride to get a book signed. Anyway loved the book - it was an edge of the seat book for me, will definitely be buying more of your books.

At 9:41am on September 3, 2007, Allan Guthrie said…: I love me a bit of surrealism, Martyn. "Fortunately, somewhere between chance and mystery lies imagination, the only thing that protects our freedom, despite the fact that people keep trying to reduce it or kill it off altogether." Luis Bunuel.

At 9:22pm on August 27, 2007, Linda Lee said…: Great to meet you at Harrogate (altho' you probably don't remember). Loved The White Room, have The Bone Machine here to read.

At 11:05am on August 18, 2007, scott plumridge said…: hi martyn, you probably do not remember me but you used to come to the playhouse in harlow to teach for harlow itec, i was the one who stayed in at lunch to read your book i havnt baught it yet as i have to pay for my car and college but i am going to buy it soon i think your a really good writer and you are the person who got me into reading and i enjoy it so much so i just wanted to say thank you and if you wouldnt mind signing the book somtime i would really like that