A few years back, I used to run a series of small interviews with writers called 10 Questions aimed at just giving a little bit of insight some of the authors reviewed here (and some who are not). For no very good reason it stopped but I've decided to revive it to try and mix the blog up a little and vary the content from the usual reviews. I've renamed it On the Stand, to accommodate those who answer fewer (or indeed more) than the standard 10 questions.
For this relaunch I am delighted to welcome Marcia Clark to the site. Her debut novel, Guilt by Association, has been chosen to launch the new Mulholland Books imprint for Hodder here in the UK in May. Marcia is currently best known for being the lead prosecutor for Los Angeles County in the OJ Simpson murder trial, but the positive reviews being earned by Guilt by Association may be about to change that.
The aim of the Mulholland imprint - which is shared by Hodder with Little, Brown in the US - is to bring the best of US fiction to UK audiences, focusing on suspense, crime, police procedurals, spies and supernatural suspense. It is named after the stretch of road in Los Angeles that has played host to the mysteries of some of American crime fiction's most famous writers including James M Cain, Michael Connelly and James Ellroy.
Marcia Clark
Favourite author: Many of them, here are a few - Raymond Chandler, Robert Parker, James Ellroy, PD James, Ruth Rendell, Sarah Waters, Laura Lippman, David Baldacci, Armistead Maupin
Favourite book: It's impossible to single out just one
Favourite character: Spenser, the private detective in Robert Parker's series
Best book read in 2011: It's too early in the year. Too many books, too little time...
Best crime city: LA - lots of ironic juxtaposition of great wealth and crushing poverty, glamour and grime
Best Film Adaptation: Primal Fear, based on the brilliant book by William Diehl, another of my favourite authors
Book that gave you the thriller bug: The Nancy Drew series, when I was five years old
What do you snack on while writing: Raw almonds and red licorice
Who would play you in a film of your life: I have no idea who'd really play me, but if given the chance to pick, I'd choose Scarlett Johansson (laughing)
My thanks to Marcia Clark for participating and Kerry Hood of Hodder for facilitating. Next up On the Stand, later this week, will be legendary crime writer Sara Paretsky.
10 Questions archive: John Connor, Alex Scarrow, RJ Ellory, Martin Edwards, Peter James, Ed Lynskey, Steve Mosby,