Interview: Bob Richmond talks about Vice, Virtue and Villainy
- NZ Booklovers
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Bob Richmond lives in Orewa, Auckland, and is a debut novelist at the lively age of 79. He has always enjoyed writing articles and poetry, and a recent involvement with a local writers' group, led by an established writer, inspired him to expand on an idea he had conceived a few years ago. Bob talks to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us a little about Vice, Virtue and Villainy.
I could say it’s written along the lines of the hard and dark stories of some of my favourite novelists like Baldacci, Amphlett or Bridgestock, but I can’t. It’s more likely to appeal to fans of The Thursday Murder Club. The characters in Vice, Virtue and Villainy are easy to relate to, sympathise with, and laugh with.
It’s the story of a Detective Inspector, badly injured in the line of duty, who, after an extended recovery process, during which he meets the love of his life, is then confronted by the very past that was the cause of his injury. The events that follow introduce the reader to some delightfully strong women, and some murderous, but quirky gangster villains, all coming together in love, humour, violence and corruption.
The action takes place around a seaside town and the nearby big city. No place names are mentioned in the book, but readers who live in or around Orewa might recognise one or two of the landmarks.
What inspired you to write this book?
That’s easy, and sheer happenstance. I had written the one-page prologue a few years previously, just for a laugh, and then put it to one side to be discovered by some 22nd-century archaeologist. Then one day, my wife suggested that I look in on a Writers Workshop in the retirement village where we live. It’s run by an established author who is so positive and encouraging that I decided to dust off my ancient, hand-cranked laptop and rediscover my lust for writing. That day changed my life, and the lovely lady in charge inspired and coaxed me to put my newfound energy to literary use. That, and sheer egotism.
What research was involved?
Crikey! Good question. When I first started the book, I thought I’d just write down what was pouring from my rediscovered imagination. Then at one stage I had to do a fact check on something, and realised, to my horror, that what I had written could get me into all sorts of legal strife. That’s when I discovered the value of research. I read up on police procedure, forensics, human anatomy, all manner of fascinating and factual stuff that turned my ignorant writing into something much more informed. I even had to edit a paragraph or two about using Uber cabs, because I had no idea how the system worked. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you never stop learning.
What was your routine or process when writing this novel?
I’m happily retired, so I get to do things whenever I want (or whenever my wife tells me), and things get done whenever they get done. And so it was when I attacked my laptop. There was no schedule, no predetermined working hours; I just got stuck in whenever I felt the urge, or as an idea found its way into my antique mind, no matter the time of day or night (much to the discomfort or chagrin of my ever-understanding wife). What pushed me, though, was that the characters just seemed to evolve, almost to a point where I had difficulty keeping up with them. Occasionally they either said the wrong thing, or headed off in the wrong direction. At times I felt less like an author, and more like a sheepdog attempting to herd particularly stubborn sheep.
If a soundtrack were made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.
One of the main characters is Josie, someone I could easily have fallen in love with, and often, when I was writing about her, I often hummed Steely Dan’s great song, Josie. In fact, when I think about it, they had a song for every occasion. I might write a book based around one or two of them.
If your book were made into a movie, who would you like to see playing the lead characters?
Me. Maybe not. Too old. Maybe a young Robert Redford, but with a Kiwi accent. As for Josie, Maybe Anna Hutchison.
What did you enjoy the most about writing this novel?
Interacting with the wonderful, encouraging people in my life. Especially the amazing lady who inspired me to start writing seriously. She knows who she is. Mainly, though, watching the characters evolve, and knowing that I had created them.
What did you do to celebrate finishing Vice, Virtue and Villainy?
Nothing, to begin with. I was in a state of shock. After I had typed The End, and then gone through what I thought at the time was the arduous process of editing, I was spent. So, Happy Hour in the Village bar. Heaven!
What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
I’ve enjoyed some most enjoyable books by Nick Louth, Rachel Amphlett, Michael Robotham and Karen McMillan, but, and this probably sounds boring, I re-read One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and I love it.
What’s next on the agenda for you?
I’m well into the next adventure for George and Josie Simpson and the gang. They’re a part of my family now, and I want to nurture them and protect them whilst still pushing them into dangerous situations. Whatever happens in the future, they and the members of our writers' group have given me the inertia to carry on well past my hundredth birthday.
