I have been writing in various genres and under various pen names for nearly ten years. In 2020, I moved to a small town on the south coast of England where I spent lockdown during the Covid pandemic. During that time, I published a sci-fi mystery, Mortal Mission under the name of Pip Skinner and realised I had a great idea for a series of Cozy/Cosy Mysteries set at the English seaside. I have always been a massive fan of crime and mystery and I guess it was inevitable I would turn my hand to a mystery series eventually. I planned the Seacastle Mysteries with half an eye on the classic mysteries of Agatha Christie, so they are classic whodunnits, but I have set up modern scenarios and twists.
Before I wrote novels, I spent 30 years working as an exploration geologist, managing remote sites and doing due diligence on projects in over thirty countries. During this time, I worked in many countries in South America and Africa in remote, strange, and often dangerous places where I collected the tall tales and real-life experiences. These inspired the Sam Harris Adventure Series, chronicling the adventures of a female geologist as a pioneer in a hitherto exclusively male world.
Books
The Seacastle Mysteries, English small town cozy mysteries set in a seaside town
The complete Sam Harris Adventure series of seven books covers the career of a female geologist, from rookie adventures in remote sites in Africa and South America, to forays into the concrete jungle.
PJ also writes under the pen names Kate Foley and Pip Skinner. The Green Family Saga (Kate Foley) starts with Rebel Green, set in Ireland at the beginning of the Troubles in the North. Mortal Mission (Pip Skinner) is a science-based murder mystery, think The Martian with fewer potatoes and more bodies.
Find out more and keep up to date at https://pjskinner.com
What's the story behind your latest book?
Eternal Forest is a Cozy Mystery set in a seaside town in England concerning the death of an eco-warrior connected to a project to set up a kelp sanctuary off the coast. A friend of mine is involved in a project to regrow the kelp forests of the south coast of England and it occurred to me that there would be strong opposition from certain groups to the imposition of Marine protected areas. It got me wondering if people would kill to stop it from happening...
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I was born in England, and raised in Ireland during the Troubles. Being brought up in a country with a culture so heavily influenced by the Catholic religion had a strong effect on me. I grew up in the era of women's liberation, and I assumed everyone realised women were equal to men. I quickly learned there weren't too many men who agreed at that time, especially in Ireland. I didn't want the traditional women's role expected of me. It made me long to get away and prove myself, which is why I ended up going to such remote and dangerous places. This all had an influence on what I wanted to write about. In my first Series, Sam Harris is a heroine. She is my alter-ego, and I used her to explore the experiences I have had in my life as a geologist.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I had a full-time job when I started writing and I felt it was the easiest way to get my work out there quickly. I wanted contact with readers to test out my novels and give me feedback on my writing. Also, I have no patience with the eighteen-month lead times for traditional publishing so using an agent didn't appeal to me.
What do your fans mean to you?
I don't know that I could claim to have any fans yet. I will keep writing if anyone wants to read my books because they give me great pleasure and I love to make people happy. I would love to have loyal fans, but I have to earn them first.
Who are your favourite authors?
I love William Boyd, Brazzaville Beach is one of my favourite novels. Gabriel Garcia Marques, Jorge Amado and Mario Vargas Llosa, which I read during my years in Latin America, are my favourite Latin writers. I am also a great fan of Evelyn Waugh, Barbara Kingsolver and Kate Atkinson. I could go on and on.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Breakfast. I love breakfast.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I love sport and play golf and tennis but most of the time I think about more book ideas with all the characters whizzing around my head demanding attention.
What is your writing process?
I mull the story over a lot before I start. I have tried writing outlines but I always give up. I'm a classic pantser so I never know what's going to happen in my books. This makes writing mysteries very interesting. :-) Sometimes I fill in the outline later and move some stuff around. When I get near the end, I am never sure how the book will end. I'm writing faster than I used to due to the pressure of ideas coming up the production line.
How do you approach cover design?
I try to fit my cover to the appropriate genre, although, since I write mixed genre books, this is sometimes easier than it sounds. I use independent designers for this work.
