Discovering an author you love, especially when it's a New Zealand one, is brilliant. No need to wait for his next book - just visit the bookshop, or the library, for more.
That's how it was for me with Paul Thomas' latest book, Death on Demand. His main character,
Tito Ihaka, is indeed quite a character. He's a cop with attitude, he's tough, he's capable and he has his own agenda.
Thomas says Ihaka first appeared in an earlier crime novel, Old School Tie, as a supporting character.
"He came back as the main cop character in Inside Dope, but it wasn't until his third book that he was the main character," Thomas says.
"I had such good feedback from the public about Ihaka. His character appealed to readers."
Thomas says he puts a lot of thought into his characters. "In a crime novel of course you have to have a strong person. They have to be capable of standing up to people. Ihaka wouldn't dream of backing down, even when more sensible people would walk away. They also have to be challenged at some stage in the plot."
Thomas also says: "In order to have a plot you have to have characters in your head.
"I don't actually plot my books. I think how the characters would respond to certain things. I have a start point, then set up the mystery and that sets various things in motion."
Thomas was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire. He attended the University of Auckland and has worked as a journalist, public relations executive and consultant.
"Early in my career I wanted to write a book. But because I was working full-time, the only time I had to write for myself would have been if I had got up at 5am and I was too lazy to do that. I would set the alarm then when it went off roll over and go back to sleep. Then in 1991 I decided to take the plunge. I gave up my job and became a professional writer."
As well as his novels, Thomas writes columns and has ghost-written sports books. But what he loves the most is writing novels. His advice to wannabe writers is to read. "If you want to be a writer you have to be a reader.
"Working in isolation gives a false sense of how good you are."
He says you won't know what's out there "unless you read, read and read".
"Also don't be discouraged. Remember, even J.K. Rowling was knocked back. Get a second and third opinion. Everyone has different tastes."
Thomas is now working on the next Tito Ihaka novel. I, for one, can't wait to see what his tough, funny characters gets up to next. In the meantime, I'm off to find earlier copies.
WIN!
We have a copy of Paul Thomas' Death on Demand to give away. Send your name and contact details, by May 1, to regionalfeatures@apn.co.nz