As a multi-genre writer, and a writer of a couple of different series of books, one might expect there to be certain recurring themes – the Nazis in the Greater German Reich for example – but there are also a number of other, more subtle, recurring themes.

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Prisons

There have been frequent prison scenes within a few of my novels. Muslamic Ray Gun had perhaps half of the novel – at least – devoted to prison life, as the lead character was incarcerated for a number of years. Maggie’s Children featured a few scenes – again, the lead character was imprisoned midway through the book. Loose Screws was set in a prison, so it was obvious that prison life would feature prominently throughout the book. So where has this fascination with prison come from? Was I imprisoned at some point in my life? Well, in a way, yes, I was. I worked for some time as a prison officer, and prisons and the people who work there and who have been incarcerated have always held a fascination for me. Prison life is not easy, not the way Britain’s Daily Mail would have you believe. And I hope that this comes across in the prison scenes I’ve written. HMP Welland, the prison in Loose Screws, was also mentioned in Maggie’s Children. It’s a fictional prison based on the establishment where I did my service.

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Names

There are a handful of names that have made frequent appearances in my books, more as a way of naming characters (obviously) than of inserting people I know into my books. The name Gaffigan has appeared in a couple of books – the owner of that name, Tom Gaffigan, is a long-term friend of mine with whom I’ve shared many a drunken night discussing everything from books, Laurel and Hardy and Nick Cave’s Weeping Song. I’ve endeavoured to give him good deaths whenever he’s made an appearance. A resistance fighter in my alternative history novels, tortured by the Nazis. A hapless chauffeur murdered in a street robbery in The God of the Dead. He also features in a couple of unfinished novels, so I haven’t done with him yet. Hibble has made an appearance in a couple of novels, the name belonging to a musician and artist I went to school with, Olly Hibble. He’s a people trafficker in one of my alternative history books, and he’s featured in the novel Genesis as the forensic pathologist. He was also a right-wing racist in Muslamic Ray Gun. Williams is a throwaway name belonging to another musician friend. I think I’ve killed him a couple of times. He was also the inspiration for the musician in Maggie’s Children. I’m sure there must be a handful of other friends who’ve made an appearance – when I’m struggling to think of a character’s name, particularly an incidental character, my mind wanders through my friends, and I’ll pluck a name at random. Nick the Jew, a character in Muslamic Ray Gun, was inspired by a friend. I think he enjoyed the portrayal of him. If you’re going to feature your friends, make sure they have a good sense of humour and that you’ve not completely ripped them to shreds.

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Gaz Carmichael

The gangster Gaz Carmichael first appeared in my transgressive novel Putrid Underbelly. A larger than life character, and enjoyable to write, he also featured in a brief scene in one of the Alex Savage novels. He’s also due to make an appearance in In Amongst The Natives, a book I’m co-writing with someone. He’s one of those unputdownable characters that I could never kill off.

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I think only a true fan of mine – if such a thing existed – would’ve spotted all, or even any, of these links, but if you’ve delved into my books, keep a look out. And if you’ve spotted a different recurring theme, I’d love to know.