GET TO KNOW THE AUTHOR

Dream destination?

 

The Greek islands, and Egypt.

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Favorite place you’ve ever been?

 

For the football: Barcelona. For the food: Portugal. For the history: Jerusalem. For the everything else: Paris.​

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How much are you like any of the characters in your books?

 

PARKER: I’m not as much like Ridley as some might think. There are overlapping traits, but she’s actually based on two other people. There are a couple other characters in the books who are much more like me.​

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Where do you get story ideas from?

 

Find a few ingredients that you love or that catch your attention and keep your interest. Then apply the most magical two words in the world: ‘What if…’​

 

 

How do you research for each book, and how long does that take?

 

First, a massive thank you to all of the travel vloggers who just put on a GoPro and walk around foreign cities for an hour. You are invaluable. Second, how did anyone really get in enough research before the vast resources of the internet? It is my rabbit hole, and I dig to the center of the earth. Of course, nothing is quite like going to a location in person, but time and expense prohibit a bit of that when it comes to globe-trotting yarns.

 

I really love the research process though. It doesn’t just inform the writing; it feeds the story. The more I discover, the more twists and turns I find the plot taking. This usually takes 1-2 months, but I feel it when I’m ready to break into the writing. I reach a saturation point where I just can’t hold it in anymore. The characters are living in my head all day, every day.

 

So much random research into obscure and wide-ranging topics also enriches my understanding of the world. The things I know now about mysticism in pre-revolution Russia, the origins of modern banking, the incubation process of zoonotic diseases, the training of undercover Israeli special forces, and even the basketball game of Kobe Bryant…they may not be very useful beyond this writing, but damn, it’s fun to have them in the bank.

 

So you definitely want me on your trivia team.​

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Do you plot out a story ahead of time or just start writing and see where it goes?

 

All plotting. That allows me to iron out structural problems while still in the formative stage, and makes for much easier editing once I get into pages. It also gives me things to look forward to as I’m writing chapters.​

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What do you do about writer’s block?

 

With plotting a story out ahead of time, I think it happens far, far less than the average “fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants” author. Are you stuck because it’s a structural problem? Back up and rehash the road leading up to your obstacle. Make a different choice somewhere along the way and see what you can build to from there.

 

Are you just stuck in your own brain sludge? Go for a walk. Physical movement often helps me shake things loose. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had a creative breakthrough or revelation while getting up and walking down the hall to do something.​

 

 

How did you choose the pen name Ox Devere?

 

I’m so glad you asked. It’s an ode to the most famous pen name of all time, that most people don’t know was a pen name. If you want to go down your own rabbit hole of discovery, Google “Ox Devere Shakespeare.” You can also start with the link below.

 

https://shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/discover-shakespeare/​

 

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Favorite character in the Osprey series?

 

Maddie, Ridley’s dog.​

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Favorite cocktail?

 

PARKER: Any take on an old fashioned. Sticky toffee. Smoked apple butter. Nutella. Blood Orange.​

 

 

Greatest fear?

 

Physical? Sharks. Metaphysical? Grief.​

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Favorite firearm?

 

Rifle? HK 416 because it killed bin Laden. Handgun? So far, a SIG Sauer P320 for the range and a SIG P365 for concealed carry.

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Favorite authors?

 

Buckle up. I love variety.

 

Madeleine L’Engle

Brian Jacques

Agatha Christie

George R.R. Martin

Leigh Bardugo

Victor Hugo

Mark Greaney

Joe Abercrombie

J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith

Daniel Silva

Taylor Jenkins-Reid

Wilbur Smith

James Rollins

Madeline Miller

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Favorite fictional characters?

 

This is my favorite question!

 

Indiana Jones (to no one’s surprise)

Dana Scully

Severus Snape

Calvin (of Calvin & Hobbes)

Erik (the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera)

Sydney Carton

Samwise Gamgee

Imperator Furiosa

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What’s the first book that made you cry?

 

Flowers for Algernon. I was nine years old, and I wept. The most recent one to make me cry was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. That book wrecked me.

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Favorite piece of music?

 

Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in D played by Anne-Sophie Mutter.

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Favorite dog breed?

 

Border Collie-Lab mix. I’m sanely biased.

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Who would play you in a movie of your life?

 

I mean, she deserves better material, but how can I not say Emily Blunt?

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