Icelandic sleuth makes headway in writer's first publishing deal
A first-time author has landed a two-book publishing deal about an Icelandic detective.
Quentin Bates signed the deal after completing a masters in creative writing course at the University of Portsmouth.
Mr Bates is set to introduce crime fiction fans to a new fictional sleuth, Sergeant Gunnhildur, a policewoman in her thirties who is the central character in his debut novel, Frozen Assets.
The book is set on the eve of the financial collapse of the Icelandic banks.
Having lived in Iceland for 10 years, Quentin is well placed to understand the chilly nation's culture and he followed the crisis with more than a passing interest.
He speaks and reads Icelandic fluently so he was able to research his subject thoroughly, and he said the sequel will delve deep into the 'fictional' world of financial corruption.
Mr Bates is already working on the sequel to his first novel which is due out early next year.
The 47-year-old, who has a career as a full-time journalist, said he had been thinking of writing a novel for some time and took the course as an incentive to get stuck in.
He said: 'I'm used to writing 600-word articles, so finishing a novel of over 100,000 words has been a long slog.
'The MA gave me the structure to build my writing around and having the support and feedback from the course leader, a published author himself, was a luxury many writers don't have.'
Course leader Sam North said: 'I really believe he will be a truly successful author. This is exactly what the MA in Creative Writing is for.'
Mr Bates' first novel will be published in 2010 by Constable & Robinson.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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