Michael Ridpath
By Nicola Warwick
After ten minutes the doorman had only nabbed one taxi and there were still two people in
front of me. Joe wasn't anywhere to be seen. I decided to walk over to Fifth Avenue and try
my luck for a taxi there.I had almost reached the avenue when I heard soft footsteps right behind me. I felt a sharp prick through the fabric of my suit. I shot up straight, arching my back, and turned my head slowly.
It was Joe, dressed like a jogger in a dark track suit. And he was fondling his favourite instrument. A knife.
--Free to Trade by Michael Ridpath
It was a great pleasure for me to interview Michael Ridpath, author of three financial thrillers, a fan of Waterstone's (a man after my own heart) and also one of the contributors to life's little luxuries. (Michael's LLL is "a hot soak in a deep bath at least six feet long.")
I know you're going to enjoy reading Michael's interview too and appreciate the sense of humour which pervades his "Visiting Author" slot.
In writing Free to Trade, Michael Ridpath achieved something many writers aspire to--he found himself in the happy situation where he could make his vacation his vocation. This didn't happen overnight or without considerable effort--Free to Trade was four years in the making and it evolved from a creative writing exercise to a published first novel. The Post Office kept him supplied with stamps whilst he submitted his manuscript to agents. An auction instigated by his new agent led to a two book deal with a large figure advance tagged on for good measure. Free to Trade reached number two in the bestseller list where it stayed for eight weeks. Quite an accolade for a first book.
Michael's route to success requires dedication and staying power. The more traditional path to publication seems to typically involve several book drafts and ideas leading up to "the one". This formula too has worked for many writers. I like the idea, though, of working on one book, perfecting it as Michael did and leading to ultimate success. Especially when that book idea is something you firmly believe in. It was certainly a formula that worked for Michael Ridpath.
How many times have you read in the "How to . . ." books: write about what you know? Almost without fail "how to . . ." authors advocate this. The authenticity of Michael's books has been commented upon by the literary critics and can be attributed to the financial markets in which he used to work.
To date Michael's books have been published in 30 countries and translated into 32 languages. The general consensus is that Michael's books are real page turners. Make sure you read one soon!
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