'I did my first book signing in a police custody suite'
Crime writer Steve Cavanagh discusses how his background as a solicitor informs his successful career as an author. He explains that the skills required for legal cross-examination, such as manipulation and persuasion, are directly transferable to writing compelling crime fiction.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of professional legal experience and creative writing, offering insight into the creative process of a bestselling author.
Image caption, Steve Cavanagh said misdirection, distraction, persuasion and manipulation are transferrable skills between conmen and lawyers
For former lawyer turned crime writer Steve Cavanagh, addressing a court room jury is not a world away from writing a compelling novel. Indeed the idea for his first book came to him while he was cross-examining a witness.
"I kind of conned them into revealing that they were lying and it hit me then that con artists and trial lawyers have all the same skills," he said.
The idea sparked something in Cavanagh, who has just released his tenth novel about the conman turned lawyer Eddie Flynn.
The Northern Irish author has now sold more than five million books globally and has appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list.
Image caption, Cavanagh's writing partner Muffin the dog insists that a ball is thrown regularly during the creative process
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