Tony Bury has so far published three crime fiction novels with us – the first three books in the Alex Keaton series. He has another book in a new series on the way and is also working on what’s next for Alex Keaton. We asked him about his life as an author and he gave as an enlightening insight, and some great advice for new authors too.

1. Did you always dream of becoming an author? 

I always dreamed of becoming an actor or a director. In my teenage years, I did a lot of amateur dramatics in things like The King and I, Pyjama Game and Cabaret. Then I started work full time and I just never found the time. I started to write children’s stories and poems in my early twenties for my children and really loved it. I started my first novel about ten years ago, and kept going back to it when I had time. But I always knew I had a million stories to tell.

2. What was your first job?

I was a paperboy at 9. Then I worked on a woman’s dress stall on Northampton market at the age of 13. Then I worked weekends on a building site for my uncles whilst still at school. My first real job after leaving school was an apprentice plasterer with my uncle, David.

3. How did you come to write your first book?

When my first daughter, Bethany, was born, friends of ours had been going through IVF treatment. It fascinated me. The things they had to go through. A story started to form in my mind. Having written poems and children’s stories I thought it would make a great novel. It changed over the years as it took ten years to write. Now writing the 5th book in that series it surprises even me where it ended up.

4. What was your life like before you became an author?

I have spent most of my life working in the Supply Chain for major FMCG businesses. I still work there now and try to write around my day job. Now everything I do is a story. Everything I look at is a story. And everyone I meet is a character. Good or bad.

5. Did you face any struggles before becoming an author? If so, how did you overcome them?

I think when I first attempted to reach a publisher or an agent it fell down very quickly. It was about ten years ago. If I read back what I wrote back then, I can see why. I think as a new author you need to edit, edit and edit again. The story is in your head and nobody can see it unless you write it well.

6. Now that you are a published author, how has your life changed, if at all? Social media is so important to new authors, getting your name and books out there is a lot more time consuming than I thought. I love the fact that people talk about my characters with me. It makes dinner parties so much more interesting. I love the fact that people talk about my characters as if they are family. As they are to me.

7. Can you please describe a typical day in your life now? Still a Group Supply Chain Director for a FMCG business. So 11 hours of my days are work. With home life and social life I religiously give myself at least an hour a day to write and at least 10 hours every weekend. Getting up at 5 am Saturday and Sunday to a peaceful house is the best time to write.

8. What is the most memorable moment of your life as an author? I think walking into Waterstones and seeing my first book on the shelf is going to be hard to beat as the number one moment. A close second would be listening to my family at a recent family party discussing why Alex, one of my main characters, needs to find love. It was as if they were discussing one of our family.