‘Every new project gives me energy’
Writer Lynda La Plante chats about her sequel to Widows and a very unusual pen pal
Lynda La Plante on some of her best-loved characters
Tell us about your new book, Widows’ Revenge… When the original Widows TV series came out in 1983 we had no notion it would be so successful. I’ve been waiting for many years to create a sequel but I wanted to be sure the original story would stand the test of time first. I love the characters so much – so writing Widows’ Revenge has been a joy.
At the time, having four female protagonists was quite unusual for a TV series. Are there enough roles in crime drama for women today? It’s getting better. I thought the actress in Killing Eve [Jodie Comer] was terrific and that was a real turning point because it showed that women can be psychopathically dangerous
– the same with [Ruth Wilson in] Luther.
I find it very moving when I meet female police officers who tell me that if it hadn’t been for DCI Jane Tennison they would not have had the guts to follow that path.
Do you think today’s crime shows have become too graphic? Sometimes the gratuitous violence gets a little too strong. You don’t want to see it. It should be all about the drama. That’s why shows like Vera maintain such a strong audience, because they know they’re not going to see some chopped off body part shoved through a letter box!
How important is it to get the forensic details right? Oh, hugely. Dramatic licence is an insult, in my opinion. I’m obsessed by getting it factually correct. If a police officer or forensic scientist gives their time to you to explain something, you should respect that. What is it like going into prisons? It’s immaterial who you are when it comes to security. If It’s a category A inmate, an armed guard takes you through all the gates, and in the room there’s an alarm to press if I get worried. My biggest fan is probably one of the most dangerous men in prison, Charlie Bronson. He and I have been pen pals for many years. He’s reportedly the most violent prisoner in any English prison, but he also writes poetry and complains when I’ve sent him the wrong crayons!
Did you ever imagine you’d be this successful? Never in my wildest dreams. For a long time, I was an actress, but there comes a point when you become boxed in. People said, ‘She’s from Liverpool, she’s got red hair, she’s quite short – oh yes, prostitute.’ I played prostitutes in every single TV thriller you can think of! Discovering writing was like finding a whole a new life.
Will you ever slow down? Truthfully, I’ll always be writing. Every new project gives me a new energy, and I am often working on two or three things at the same time. The buzz is addictive.
How do you spend your spare time?
I like to walk my dog and I enjoy swimming. I love dinner parties and being with my son, Lorcan – although he’s 15 now and what 15-year-old really wants to spend time with their mother?
What’s your top tip for aspiring writers? Keep going. So many writers rewrite the first few chapters over and over, and then make the mistake of letting their family or friends read it too soon. I’d say keep it to yourself and keep writing until you have the beginning, middle and end. It’s your work, so don’t let anybody interfere – particularly yourself!
• Widows’ Revenge by Lynda La Plante (Zaffre) is out now
‘I’ll always write – the buzz is addictive’