Q&A with author Greg McManus

Earlier on in the year I reviewed Greg McManus's novel The Bunker which focused on main characters Jim and Lynn after Jim wakes up in a bunker to find his high school crush being held in the same room.

Synopsis

"What would you do if you woke up in a locked studio apartment, naked With a loved one dead for 5 years? Young men are disappearing off the streets of Seattle to be gone for a month or two only to appear on the streets naked at rush hour. Follow F.B.I. Agents Jaines and Gassert as they investigate a crime which is far more complex that it seems. Jim and his high school crush, Lynn, get pulled into a web of lies, suspense, and crime, as they try to navigate the sudden whirlwind that changes their lives."

I was intrigued and hooked by page 2, which is unusual for me, as it usually takes me a while to get into a book. For me, The Bunker was a unique idea and I couldn't work out where it was going to go. By page 60 I found the relationship between Lynn and Jim a bit weird and convenient. Jim was around 24 but knew nothing about women or periods (I wondered if he had some kind of learning difficulty). The short parts that seemed to be from Lynn's perspective felt a lot more authentic. I want to say their relationship felt a little cheesy or clichéd but those words don't quite fit how I feel. I also struggled to get my head around the fact that all of the characters seemed to be so accepting of their situations; both Jim and Lynn on finding they are naked together, Lynn's parents on finding out she is alive - there didn't seem to be any mental struggle or coming to terms with the plot developments. Another example of this was at the very end, after everything that had happened, both during the novel and in the back story all seemed to be forgiven very quickly. I did however really enjoy the investigation side of the novel. I liked the interaction between the two FBI agents and that part of the novel felt a lot more authentic. I read this in 2 days, it was very compelling reading and very easy to read. I found myself thinking about it a lot when I wasn't reading it. There was a good twist at the end, which I didn't see coming at all. I would definitely read more books by Greg McManus as the thriller aspect was brilliant. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime and thriller novels.

After my review, Greg agreed to answer some questions (albeit basic) about his writing process and reading habits.

Q&A

What first inspired you to write?

I like to read a lot and when I was away from home on my other job I was lonely. It gets boring sitting in a motel room staring at the walls. I decided to try something new for my wife as a Christmas present. I have tried quilting and other things before and since she likes to read even more than I do I decided to write her a story. I started out thinking it would be just a short 2 to 3 page story. It just kept building until I figured out that I could write a whole book and get it printed for her.

Where do you get your ideas from?

My ideas just sort of come to me and flow through me. There were times I would be writing and I would just have to keep going to see where I was heading on the story. It made editing it difficult but I was really into the story. Other times I would wake up in the middle of the night and run over to the keyboard and start typing. So that may be the true answer, my dreams.

If you could choose an already published book that you wish you’d written, what would you choose?

The Hobbit. I just love the characters and story.

What is your writing routine? Do you have any superstitions?

I don’t have a routine and as far as superstitions I just wait until something comes to me then it flows onto the screen.

What kind of books do you like to read?

My favourites have always been fantasy or classics. I just love Austen, Dickens, and Tolkien. I also read mysteries like James Patterson and Iris Johannsen. I have read horror, some romance, and adventure.

Do you write full time, or do you have another job too?

I wish I could write full-time but I am sorry to say that I am a Mainframe Programmer by day.