Martyn Waites

, Male

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Hometown:
Newcastle Upon Tyne
About Me:
I'm a crime writer. I've written seven novels. Firstly the Larkin trilogy; Mary's Prayer, Little Triggers, Candleland, all featuring Stephen Larkin. Then Born Under Punches, a novel about the 1984 miners' strike and The White Room, a fictionalised autobiography of child killer Mary Bell which was chosen as one of The Guardian's Books of the Year. I then started a new series featuring Joe Donovan, the first of which, The Mercy Seat, was shortlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for Thriller of the Year. It was followed by Bone Machine and the third in the series, my eighth, White Riot, is out in Janauary 2008.
In addition to the novels, I've worked as a writer in prisons and with socially excluded kids and adults in the community. I currently have a literary fellowship at university. And in a previous life I was an actor and stand up comic.
I Am A:
Writer
Website:
http://www.martynwaites.com
Books And Authors I Like:
Apart from me . . . the usual guys as far as crime goes - Chandler, Hammett, MacDonald, Jim Thompson, David Goodis . . . all the James' - Ellroy, Burke, Crumley . . . Patrick Hamilton, Nelson Algren, Hubert Selby Jnr, George Pelecanos, David Peace, Ken Bruen . . . and best of the best, Graham Greene, plus loads more . . .
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
The Wire, The Shield, The Prisoner, Doctor Who, old horror films, Film Noir, you know, the usual stuff . . .

Comment Wall:

  • J.D. Rhoades

    Good to see you here, Martyn. Loved CANDLELAND and MARY'S PRAYER. I see I have some catching up to do.

    Aug 9, 2007

  • Patricia

    Welcome Martyn! nice to see you here

    Aug 9, 2007

  • Julie Morrigan

    Hi Martyn - good to meet you in Harrogate and nice to see you here, too. Cheers, Jools.

    Aug 9, 2007

  • Martyn Waites

    Hi all, thanks for taking the time to contact me. Really flattered. I'm just getting used to what this site is supposed to be aout and what I'm supposed to do on it, so bear with me if there are any long radio silences.
    Mart

    Aug 13, 2007

  • Gemma Halliday

    Wonderful to meet you , too. Thanks so much for the add.

    ~Gemma

    Aug 13, 2007

  • scott plumridge

    hi martyn, you probably do not remember me but you used to come to the playhouse in harlow to teach for harlow itec, i was the one who stayed in at lunch to read your book i havnt baught it yet as i have to pay for my car and college but i am going to buy it soon i think your a really good writer and you are the person who got me into reading and i enjoy it so much so i just wanted to say thank you and if you wouldnt mind signing the book somtime i would really like that

    Aug 18, 2007

  • Linda Lee

    Great to meet you at Harrogate (altho' you probably don't remember). Loved The White Room, have The Bone Machine here to read.

    Aug 27, 2007

  • Allan Guthrie

    I love me a bit of surrealism, Martyn. "Fortunately, somewhere between chance and mystery lies imagination, the only thing that protects our freedom, despite the fact that people keep trying to reduce it or kill it off altogether." Luis Bunuel.

    Sep 3, 2007

  • Betty Duffy

    Got a signed copy of The Mercy Seat, while you were seated at the signing table at Harrogate just gone. My first Martyn Waites - the other years I was too nervous to stop you mid stride to get a book signed. Anyway loved the book - it was an edge of the seat book for me, will definitely be buying more of your books.

    Sep 4, 2007

  • MysteryDawg

    Welcome aboard and greetings from Southern California.

    Oct 31, 2007

  • Todd Robinson

    Hey Martyn,

    Hope you dig the site.

    Dec 20, 2007

  • helen black

    I loved the Mary Bell book!
    Also is Born Under Punches still around. My Dad was a miner and I'd be interested...
    HB x

    Jan 18, 2008