Small talk: RJ Ellory

Roger Jon Ellory began writing in 1987, producing 22 novels in six years, but he remained unpublished until he returned to writing in 2001. The first of his eight thrillers, Candlemoth, was published in 2003. A Quiet Belief in Angels (2006) has been translated into 23 languages and several of his books have been shortlisted for Crime Writers Association awards. Born in Birmingham in 1965, Ellory lives in the West Midlands with his wife and son.

What book changed your life?

The Shining by Stephen King. When I was 13 and quarantined for chicken pox in my school dormitory, I would hear the footsteps of nurses in the corridor and by the time I’d got to the door to look, there was nobody there. I realised then the power of fiction.

When did you know you were going to be a writer?

November 4 1987. I had a conversation with a friend who was reading a book he was completely transfixed by. I thought, that’s what I want to do.

What is the last thing you read that made you laugh out loud?

Sideways by Rex Pickett. It’s a wonderfully warm book about the catastrophe of human lives.

What is your daily writing routine?

I take my son to school and start work at 8am. I work until 2pm with a break. I aim for 50,000 words a month.

What do you snack on while you write?

I just drink coffee. Often I write for six or seven hours in one go then I cook a lavish three-course dinner.

Who are your literary influences?

I read as many writers as possible who make me feel embarrassed about how clumsy my words are: Steinbeck, Faulkner, Hemingway, Capote, Cormac McCarthy, Annie Proulx.

What is the best piece of advice a parent gave you?

I was orphaned at seven, and my grandmother sent me to boarding school. She always said: never lead a “what if” life. And she instilled in me a phenomenal work ethic.

Who would you like to be stuck in a lift with?

Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John Steinbeck, Charlie Chaplin, Arthur Conan Doyle, Audrey Hepburn and Elvis.

Where is your favourite place?

I love New York. On my first time there I was driven across the Williamsburg Bridge in a limosine for the same price as a yellow cab. The driver took me to a bar to meet Frank Sinatra’s bartender.

What does it mean to be a writer?

It’s the seldom-granted opportunity to invite others into your universe.

RJ Ellory’s latest novel is ‘Saints of New York’ (Orion)