From car salesman to crime writer for James

Date: 11/05/2012. Story submitted by: SuzanneRutter

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A Sheffield author was inspired by the ‘friends and foes’ he met during his career as a car salesman to write his debut novel.

James Johnson will be discussing his new book, Friends & Foes – A South Yorkshire Tale, at a special signing event at Waterstones, Orchard Square, on Thursday, 17 May 2012, from 3pm to 5pm.

James wrote the book during an extensive career break following heart and stomach surgery.

He said: “When people are on the up they like to show off and one of the ways they do that is to buy flash cars. I was the person they’d use to source the car, do the deal and, in the process, become friends with scores of people I’d never meet ordinarily.

“I regularly got unguarded access to peoples’ lives and it is these snippets that helped inspire my fiction novel.

“It’s a three part tale of winners, losers, chancers and swindlers as they opt for a supposed better life on the wrong side of the tracks in Sheffield.

“I always loved Stateside crime novels and wanted to bring tales of underworld-related glamour to the Steel City.”

Additional info

Address: 24-26 Orchard Square Sheffield South Yorkshire S1 2FB

Tags: Waterstone's

Web link: http://www.jamesjohnson.org.uk