Roger Simpson is a television writer and producer known for his work on Halifax f.p. and its re-boot, Halifax: Retribution. More recently, Roger has written a series of crime novels – Transgression, Resurrection and Unblessed – the last of which will come out in September.
“I have a particular affection for the Illawarra,” Roger says. “It’s one of my favourite places to write. I have written some of my most successful shows there.”
Roger says that his shows Good Guys Bad Guys, Stingers, Something In The Air and Satisfaction were all written at his holiday house in Stanwell Park.
At July’s South Coast Readers & Writers Festival, Roger will talk about what makes crime shows and crime novels so popular in Australia.
“The crime novel has the perfect three-act structure: set-up, interrogation and resolution,” he says. “A well-written crime novel gives the reader the chance to participate in the investigation, to try and guess the outcome while being challenged and misdirected along the way.”
After creating 20 series for television, Roger’s books have taken him out of his comfort zone.
“Setting the third book in the USA pushed me even further into the unknown. Unblessed is set in Silicon Valley, Wall Street and Hollywood – so there was a lot to get my mind around,” he says.
“It heavily involves the military industrial complex. So I was scrupulous in sourcing the right advisers, which is something we always do in television.
“It not only provides the book with authenticity; I find it generates a lot of the story as well.”
His fiction trilogy builds on the characters and world invented for the Halifax series. Roger’s next book, Matrimonial Causes, is grounded by his expertise in writing comedy and crime, however, it will not draw on pre-existing worlds created for television.
“A friend has described me as a writer-holic rather than a work-a-holic and I think she is right. As long as I’m writing – I’m happy,” he says.
Roger will give a Crime Fiction talk at the festival on Sunday, July 14 at 11.15am.
“I hope that readers will get an insight into how I work – but I have always been especially interested in festival goers who want to write themselves.” Roger says.
The South Coast Readers and Writers Festival is coming to Thirroul on 13-14 July 2024. With a festival line-up featuring more than 40 stellar award-winning authors, talented new voices, acclaimed poets, broadcasters and thinkers, in over 22 sessions to choose from, the weekend promises to be filled with captivating stories, thought-provoking discussions, and inspiring conversations. Book your tickets now: https://southcoastwriters.org/festival
