23 Aug 2024
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: American-born author Luke Deckard, a scriptwriter and podcaster with a PhD in creative writing from Kingston University. He is the co-founder of Noir at the Bar St Albans, and has just released crime thriller Bad Blood, the first in his Logan Bishop series. It firmly follows the style of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, with all hard-boiled trappings you’d expect: gangsters, femme fatales, double-crosses. But it also explores 1920s Edinburgh, the feelings of post-war disillusionment, women’s rights, and PTSD. Bad Blood is published by Sharpe Books.
Who was your favourite cartoon character when you were a kid?
This really depends on age. Because I had a lot of favourites growing up! I also grew up in America, so what I watched is likely different to kids who grew up in Britain in the 90s! But I think the answer is likely a tie between Wolverine and Spider-Man from the ‘90s animated series.
Wednesday or Saturday market?
Neither! Am I allowed to say that? My favourite is the Sunday antique market. Growing up, I always loved a good exploration of antique stores, etc; so that is the market where you will likely find me there looking for vinyl and lord knows what else.
Do you play any musical instruments?
I play piano and bass guitar, which I learned as a teenager. I still play them, but my skills are nowhere near as good as they once were.
What items do you always carry with you?
I won’t leave home without my little green Slytherin Notebook! I people watch and listen—it’s something all writers do. You never know when you’ll see or overhear something that is just too good not to write down, so I’ve always got that with me. I also rarely leave home without a book in my backpack. Right now, the book in my bag is an 80s thriller called Blood Rights by Mike Phillips.
Which three people, living or dead, would be your ideal dinner party guests?
Robert B Parker, the author of the Spenser novels set in Boston. He’s one of my favourite authors, and to throw back a whisky and chat hard-boiled fiction would be a dream come true.
Leonard Nimoy. Growing up, I was a big fan of Spock! To chat with him about that character and his career would be amazing.
Martha Vickers who played Carmen Sternwood in The Big Sleep (1946). Just to discuss the crazy production of that movie!
If you had a time machine, what year would you choose to visit and why?
1920s London. My novel Bad Blood is set in that decade in both London and Edinburgh.
I can’t imagine a better way to nail the historical research than to actually go and live and walk among the people of that time.
What TV did you watch as a child?
A lot! My childhood tastes were varied. I devoured Saturday morning cartoons like The Transformers, X-Men, Spider-Man, Digimon, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But then I loved shows like Mission: Impossible, Cheers, X-Files, Star Trek the original series and particularly Star Trek Deep Space Nine.
CD, vinyl, download or streaming?
All of the above, but I am a big proponent of physical media. I love the convenience of streaming, but I also know how unpredictable it can be. So music (or films and TV shows) that I really love, I will buy the physical media for my collection!
What super power would you like to have?
I never have the same answer twice when I’m asked this… but I do tend to hover around two particular powers. Wolverine was one of my favourite superheroes growing up, so I love the healing factor. However, I think I would love to have Professor X’s super intelligence and telepathy.
Have you ever asked for an autograph?
Rarely. I have asked for a photograph with certain artists I’ve met over the years.
