Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Daniel Hall
Book Title: It Was a Riot
Released: 06/28/24
Genre: Coming-of-Age/Literary Fiction
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “It Was a Riot”?
Hall: I love how Forrest Gump intertwines real-life events with fiction, so I wanted to create a book with a similar style.
Is this your debut book?
Hall: This is the first fiction book that I’ve officially released. Previously, I uploaded two books to Wattpad, Inkitt, and various similar sites. Additionally, I’ve written two other books, but this is the first one I’ve officially published. The first book I wrote was called Mademoiselle from Armentieres, and I hope to make it the next book I release after It Was a Riot.
If "It Was a Riot" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Hall: There’s a celebrity from England named Rylan Clark, who is both a West Ham fan and openly gay, making him a great fit for the main character in the book. Danny Dyer, another local actor and West Ham fan, would be perfect for the role of Lenny.
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
Hall: The escapism. I really dislike my job, which consumes most of my waking hours. Writing allows me to zone out and completely forget that world
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors on how you plan your book?
Hall: I write an outline for the book and then hire beta readers to review the outline and give me their feedback. I find that this speeds up the process, as it prevents beta readers from disliking sections of the book after I’ve spent months writing those sections. Once I collect feedback from four or five people, I rewrite the outline and work from that
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Hall: My favorite author is Martina Cole. Her books cover a bit of "everything." She’s also a local author and fellow West Ham fan — are you sensing a theme here? :)
What are you working on next?
Hall: I’ve been swamped with my day job this year, so I've had little time for writing. I recently released a book I wrote a few years ago called Mademoiselle from Armentières. Over the Christmas period, I hope to find time to plot a book about St. Patrick, which I aim to write and complete in 2025.
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