Hallo Peter, thank's that you have taking the time to answer a few questions of Elements of Crime.

You‘re an actor, screenwriter, film producer and writer. How do you get through everything, how do you do everything in time? You're also writing at least one new book every year

I am not really an actor - I've had just a few small cameo roles for fun! But seriously, because of my committment to write a novel a year I have now stopped my film and screenwriting to focus on my Roy Grace novels. I like writing novels best because with film making it is always a process with up to 20 different egos clashing. When I write a novel it is just me!

How did you come to write thriller and horror novels, was the other thing too boring, or you just wanted to try something new?

I wanted to write crime novels from the age of 11, when I read my first Sherlock Holmes story. I was blown away by the powers of observation of this amazing detective and decided that one day I would try to create a detective who was as clever as Holmes. I am fascinated by human nature, why we do the things that we do and I think the best way to observe the world is through the eyes of the police. During a career in the police force the average officer will see almost every facet of the human condition – from violence to tragedy to comedy. From wealth to poverty. Fro good people to totally evil people.

How did you get the idea to “ Dead Simple “ ( in deutsch / stirb ewig )

We have a brutal stag night tradition in the UK. For instance at my own, some years back, I was taken on a pub crawl by thirty of my friends who got me very, very drunk by giving me beer spiked with vodka, gin, whisky. Then at one in the morning, they stripped me naked, except for my red socks, placed me on top of a letter box in the centre of Brighton, and then phoned the police and told the there was a naked pervert in the town centre. I was arrested! I don’t know of a groom who actually got buried alive – I made that up, but to me it is something that could easily happen. When I was researching the book I had myself put in a coffin for 30 minutes, with the lid screwed down and left alone. It was the worst experience of my life as I am hugely claustrophobic!!!

You had in 2005 with “ Dead Simple “ ( in deutsch/ stirb ewig ) a successful stay in Germany. Was this the reason that after the success with “ Dead Simple “ a book was published in Germany, which you have written sooner?

Yes, I think a number of my earlier book are being published in Germany now. Roy Grace is the first time I have written a series character - each of my earlier books is a "standalone".

Will be published other works from earlier times in Germany?

Yes, I think over the next few years all my early books, except for the first three, two really bad spy thrillers and an equally bad financial thriller, which I keep out of print! Germany is a fabulous book market for me, and I love being in Germany, because I can drive fast on the autobahns and I love the beer, but most of all I love that so many people enjoy reading books in your country.

For your first novel, you was awarded as the best writer of detective fiction with the thriller-blitz 2005, also in France, you received the coveted Prix Polar International 2006 and the prestigious Prix Coeur Noir 2007th. Has your writing changed in this way?

I started winning these amazing prizes with the first Roy Grace novels. I had written 12 novels before Roy Grace, and I think yes my writing has changed. Probably the most important thing is that I like Roy Grace himself and feel connected to him in a far stronger way than with any previous character. And I really like him - he's like my invisible best friend! I do think that the most important thing of all in a novel are the characters. All people read novels to find out what happens to characters they get to know and like and care about

Your new book from the Roy Grace series "Dead Tomorrow" was published last year in England. When will it be published in Germany?

It will be published in September this year.

In which country do you have the greatest success with your books?

Outside of England, Germany is my biggest territory - which makes me very happy! After Germany, France, Russia, USA and Holland are my biggest. I'm translated into 33 languages in total, and it is one of my biggest thrills to see these foreign versions - even though I cannot understand them!

Which tip you have for one who intends to write a book?

My best advice to any new author is to read, read and read the kind of book you would like to write. If it is crime novels, then don't be afraid to take your favourite crime novel and literally deconstruct it, as if you were taking apart an engine. Try to understand what the author has done to make you like this book so much - how did the author make the characters compelling to you, how was the plot constructed... And secondly very important, once you have started writing, keep up a continuity. At least six days a week write something every day, however little, to keep everything alive in your mind.