I am thrilled to have interviewed author Justyn Edwards, who shared with us details of his writing life, his book ‘The Great Fox Heist‘, which was released on 6th April 2023, and answered a few fun questions. This post contains affiliate links.

Justyn Edwards is not very good at nuclear physics or DIY. In fact, some of his worst moments have involved combining these interests. Thankfully, when he writes books people seem to enjoy reading them, and this is how he spends most of his time.

His 2022 debut The Great Fox Illusion was Blackwell’s Children’s Book of the Month, listed by Waterstones as one of their Best Children’s Books of the Month, a Toppsta Best Book of the Month, and listed for the Adrien Prize, the Phoenix Book Award, the Children’s Literature Festivals Book Awards, the Kernow Youth Book Award, and the Dudley Children’s Book Award. It is already being published in several languages, and there is more exciting news in the pipeline.

Justyn lives in Cornwall with his wife and two cats and has managed to retain many of his own teeth. These also live in Cornwall. He is currently editing the third book in the Great Fox series and, after a strong cup of coffee, is about to start on a new project. Please keep him away from DIY by purchasing his books. Future generations are counting on you to act without delay.

I love a good mystery and I’ve always been a bit fascinated with magic tricks. Each one holds a secret that is right under your nose, and as you watch the trick unfold you know you’ve seen the answer. All the clues are there. You have all the information to work out how it’s done, but it’s been hidden. I love that feeling. Then I thought, what a great concept for a book – story about magic tricks that is a kind of magic trick itself.

I tend to write word documents on my laptops. I draw up tables to map out structure and chapters, and then keep filling in more and more detail. Of course, when I start writing, some of that goes out of the window because every book tends to take on a life of its own, but it gives me a good idea where I’m going.

I think it was always going to be The Great Fox Heist. It’s a good follow on title from the first book (The Great Fox Illusion) and a good description of what you’re getting.

They tend to get named quite quickly in my imagination. I cycle through possibilities until one seems to fit.

My editor is great at getting me to remove too much descriptive details or add more when there is too little. When you’re at the coal face, it can sometimes be hard to understand the subtleties of pacing. So, some bits get chopped down to keep the action moving forwards.

I love reading this type of book. I’ve always enjoyed a good mystery and an exciting thriller, and I think the books you read when you’re young are the ones that stay with you forever.

Probably, about two and a half years. A few months of planning, three months to write a first draft and then a couple of months to polish it up before I send it to my editor. From that point, it’s about a year and a half before it appears as a book-shaped object in a shop.

Tricks, twists, danger.

Keeping going and never getting distracted in the middle of a

If you love a gripping mystery full of misdirection, sleight of hand, tricks and twists, then I think you’ll enjoy it.

I have two cats – Alfie and George. To be honest, Alfie is the one that ‘helps’ me the most by climbing on me whenever I sit down and get out my laptop. Although George does sometimes contribute interesting plot ideas.

I’m a morning person and I like nothing better than waking up early and getting stuck into some writing. There is something very special about being ahead of the day and I often find that first thing is when I have lots of good ideas (if not, maybe George will). When I’m really in the zone, my brain seems to start writing while I’m still asleep and I’ll wake up with whole sections finished. During these times, my wife is very grateful my chosen medium is the English language and not stone masonry.

I like to write on my laptop. I’m not fussy about where I write as long as there isn’t a lot of noise or too many distractions. Oh, and a good selection of biscuits, some fine coffee, nice ambient lighting, and the furnishings have a neutral pallet.

Running in the opposite direction.

‘Where’s Alfie?’

A big thank you to Justyn Edwards for sharing his writing life with us and for a wonderful interview.