The Hippo Hangs Out . . . . with Tony J Forder

 

 

Today The Hippo is delighted to welcome back bestselling crime thriller author Tony J Forder to the herd. The Hippo has learned that questioning crime writers can be a risky business, but fortunately Tony arrived without a body in the boot, a suspicious alibi, or any immediate plans to bump off the interviewer. Instead, he tackled the Hippo's non-negotiable questions with honesty, humour, and at least one answer that left the Hippo insisting something had got in her eye.

 

Photo courtesy of Tony J Forder

 

Tony is the bestselling author of the DI Bliss crime thriller series, which includes Bad to the Bone, The Scent of Guilt, The Reach of Shadows, Endless Silent Scream, What Dies Inside Us, and The Honourable Rogue. The series also features the prequel novella Bliss Uncovered.

His other novels include the Mike Lynch thrillers Scream Blue Murder and Cold Winter Sun, the Wiltshire police procedurals The Huntsmen and The Predators, and the standalone thrillers Degrees of Darkness and Fifteen Coffins.

Following the return of the publishing rights to his early novels, Tony now publishes through his own imprint, Spare Nib Books. He lives with his wife in West Sussex and writes full time. When he's not working on the next DI Bliss novel, he's usually listening to music, expanding his vinyl collection, or wondering how his guitar collection has somehow grown to five instruments.

Welcome back Tony. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your latest book?
I’m married and live in West Sussex. In my last job I was a network engineer, designing, installing, setting up, and managing IT networks in education. It was only after being made redundant from that job that I started taking my writing seriously. My last Jimmy Bliss book was supposed to be the last in the series, but immediately after finishing it I had an idea for the perfect ending which would take him and Chandler back to the case they worked prior to when readers first met them in Bad to the Bone. The new book is called The Scorched Soul and it’s due to be published on 1 February 2027, 10 years to the day I signed my first publishing contract.

Which character from your latest book would you most like to spend an afternoon with, and what would you get up to together?
Jimmy’s dog, Max. Like our own dog, Reggie, Max is a rescue with emotional issues having been abused by his former owner. I’d like to spend some quality time down at the beach with him, introduce him to the joys of splashing around in the sea, and get my own enjoyment in return by watching him run around and playing and making him feel safe and secure.

 

Has one of your characters ever surprised you by taking a story in a completely different direction? If so, we'd love to hear about it.
In Endless Silent Scream I introduced a young female county lines drug mule called Molly; a girl Jimmy saved from taking her own life on a hotel rooftop in the opening chapter. In my head she was due to feature in a handful of scenes. But in the writing of that first chapter she came alive inside my head, and I knew then that I didn’t want to let go of her. She not only ended up being the focal point of the entire book, but she also became a recurring character throughout the rest of the series and essentially became the daughter Jimmy never had.

Have your readers ever shared a message or reaction that has really stayed with you?
Oddly enough, after a young woman read the above book she wrote to me and told me how much she identified with Molly and wanted to thank me for my sensitive characterisation of a young girl forced into living such an awful life. That really touched me and has stayed with me ever since.

What's something readers might be surprised to learn about you?
I taught IT and Business Studies in a college for an entire year – despite having no teaching qualifications. I ran the network there and was originally brought in as an advisor to 6 Form students due to my business and IT background, but ended up teaching several classes a week – I’m sure completely illegally. One of my ex-students became a Bliss fan, and she features in some of my books as a paramedic called Kelly, mainly because she is a paramedic called Kelly.

If you could sit down for a coffee and chat with any author, living or dead, who would you choose and why?
It would have to be Michael Connelly, my favourite author of my favourite crime series featuring Harry Bosch. I’d just really like to pick his brains about how Harry developed and how difficult he is finding it to let go of a character who by now ought to be out to pasture. I’m having the same problem with Jimmy Bliss, and I need a few tips on how to walk away and how to survive after I have.

 

Before we finish Tony, there is one final matter of Hippo business to attend to...

🦛 The Hippo's Non-Negotiable Question™ 🦛

The Hippo has claimed a question for herself and now insists that every guest answers it.
Nobody has been brave enough to argue with her... and there appears to be no mechanism for appeal. 😉

A time-travelling hippo appears at your door and offers you a free trip to any point in history. Where are you going, and what's the first thing you do when you get there?
(The Hippo reserves the right to be delighted, confused, or mildly concerned by your answer.)
                          

Not so far back in time. 3 July 2026, in fact. It was the day my mum passed away, and although we knew it was coming following her terminal diagnosis, she lived in California and we have our own lives here. We did fly out to see her and spend time with her in May, and had we known she would go so quickly we might have found a way to stay, but we thought she had more time. Although she passed away peacefully at the home of a friend who was once a nurse, I’d take the hippo’s offer and make sure I was there for her at the end.

                                    🦛 Hippo Assessment
                                        Outcome: Delighted

 The Hippo approves this use of time travel and is pretending not to cry. Some answers make her laugh, some leave her confused, and every now and then one reminds her that the most important moments are the ones spent with the people we love. Thank you for sharing this with the herd, Tony. 💕💕

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Tony for returning to the herd and taking part in the Hippo's non-negotiable questions. If you've enjoyed getting to know him a little better, you can find Tony's books and all his relevant links here.

The Hippo Hangs Out . . . . with Noelle Holten

 

 

                                            THEY'RE BACK!

The author features have had a bit of a makeover, with some new questions, a few familiar favourites and, perhaps most importantly, The Hippo's Non-Negotiable Question™.

The answers I've received so far have made me smile, laugh out loud and occasionally question the Hippo's judgement, and I can't wait to share them with the herd.

Let's begin with the very first guest to put the new feature to the test.... Noelle Holten.

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at CrimeBookJunkie. She is a book publicist by day, and previously worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years. She has three Hons BA's - Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice - and a Masters in Criminology. 
Dead Inside - her 2019 debut novel with One More Chapter/HarperCollins UK is an international Kindle bestseller and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson. She also writes standalone thrillers.

 

Photo courtesy of Noelle Holten

Welcome to The Hippo Noelle, it's great to have you here! Shall we just dive straight in?

Can you start by telling the herd little about yourself and your latest book?
Hi Neats! Thanks so much for having me!

Where do I start? I'm a crime fiction (and fantasy!) addict, writer, reader, reviewer, book publicist and professional enabler of ever-growing TBR piles! I'm also the founder of CrimeBookJunkie, where I've championed books and authors for over 11 years.

Before all this bookish madness, I spent 18 years working as a Senior Probation Officer, giving me insight into crime and human behaviour. That experience feeds into my writing. I was fascinated by why people made their choices, and still am.

I've had seven books published, including my DC Maggie Jamieson series and standalone thrillers 6 Ripley Avenue and His Truth, Her Truth. I also work full-time as a publicist for Bookouture and Second Sky. Books are my life, and I bloody love it!

My latest published thriller, His Truth, Her Truth, explores secrets, manipulation and the stories we tell ourselves and others. Think you've got everything figured out? Have you really? I do love messing with readers' heads (in the nicest possible way, obviously!).

I'm currently working on another dark and twisty thriller featuring an ensemble cast, including a forensic criminologist, a true crime podcaster and some seriously disturbing secrets. I can't help myself!

 

 

If readers take away just one thing from your latest book, what would you like it to be?
That there are ALWAYS two sides to every story. Sometimes what you hear isn't necessarily what was said, or what happened.

I'm fascinated by perception, manipulation and how easily the truth can become distorted depending on who's telling the story. Two people can experience one event very differently, and just because someone tells a convincing story doesn't mean they're telling the truth!

My message? Question everything, avoid assumptions and look beneath the surface. It's very easy to believe the version of events that fits what we already think we know.

Oh, and NEVER trust a thriller writer. We're a sneaky bunch! 😂

Which character from your latest book would you most like to spend an afternoon with, and what would you get up to together?
Ooooh! Can I cheat and choose TWO characters from my current work in progress? I can't pick between them!

I'd LOVE to spend an afternoon with Dr Riley Flynn, my forensic criminologist, and Cassie Shaw, a true crime podcaster.

Riley's analytical mind and understanding of criminal behaviour would make for interesting conversation, given my probation background. We'd probably disagree, too! I'd love every minute of that debate. With Cassie, I'd discuss true crime ethics, our fascination with murder and respecting victims.

I'd drag them both into a pub, and spend hours discussing unsolved cases, criminal psychology and the darker side of human nature. Knowing my luck, we'd investigate something suspicious before leaving!

What's a book that has stayed with you long after you turned the final page, and why?
Oh, this is SUCH a mean question to ask a book addict! How can I choose just one?! But I'd pick All of Us Are Broken by Fiona Cummins.

OMFG. THIS BOOK!

It's one of those stories that grabs you by the throat, rips your heart out and leaves you stunned… in the BEST possible way!

What stayed with me was the emotional impact. It's dark, tense and utterly compelling, exploring how far people will go when faced with impossible choices. The fear, moral dilemmas and split-second decisions. It makes you question what YOU would do.

That's what I love about crime fiction. Give me twists, tension and jaw-dropping moments, absolutely, but I also want a story that makes me FEEL something. Something that stays under my skin. The best stories don't politely disappear when you close the cover.

Fiona Cummins is an incredible storyteller, and this book destroyed me emotionally. I read a LOT, so that's saying something. For me, that's the sign of a bloody brilliant read!

I think we've ALL read at least one book that's left us looking like this Noelle! 

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?
DON'T STRESS ABOUT THE FIRST DRAFT! Seriously. Just get the bloody words down!

Writers (me included!) often expect perfection immediately. We worry about whether a sentence sounds right, whether a chapter works or it's all rubbish, and forget to write!

That draft is for discovering characters, plot and what the hell happens. It doesn't need to be pretty. It just needs to EXIST.

You can fix a messy manuscript. You can't edit a blank page.

Even after seven published books, I still look at things I've written and think, "WTAF is this?!" But that's what editing is for! Give yourself permission to make a mess. 

Have your readers ever shared a message or reaction that has really stayed with you?
Yes, absolutely. Some messages mean more than I can express.

When my debut novel, Dead Inside, was published, I received emotional messages from readers.

It's a very personal book. I spent 13 years in an abusive and toxic relationship, and although the novel is fiction, I drew heavily on my own experiences. Writing it was difficult but cathartic.

After publication, readers shared their stories. Some had survived abusive relationships, some were still living through them and others simply wanted me to know I wasn't alone.

Those messages absolutely floored me. Behind every reader is a real person with their own story. That really matters to me. Sharing such a personal story makes you vulnerable. You can't predict the response.
Knowing my words resonated with someone, made them feel seen, understood or even a little less alone? That's something I'll never forget.

Books connect people, spark conversations and help us process difficult experiences. And if something I've written helps even one person feel less isolated, that's worth more than any bestseller ranking or five-star review.

That's the real power of books, isn't it? They remind us we're not alone.

Before we finish Noelle, there is one final matter of Hippo business to attend to...

🦛 The Hippo's Non-Negotiable Question™ 🦛

The Hippo has claimed a question for herself and now insists that every guest answers it.
Nobody has been brave enough to argue with her... and there appears to be no mechanism for appeal. 😉

The Hippo insists your next protagonist must be based on her. How difficult would that be?
(The Hippo reserves the right to be delighted, confused, or mildly concerned by your answer.)
Oh, I don't think that would be difficult AT ALL! 😂

I mean, a hippo with attitude, a strong personality and a tendency to stick her nose into everyone's business? She's practically BEGGING to be the protagonist of a crime thriller!

I'd make her fiercely independent, ridiculously nosy, armed with a healthy dose of sarcasm and absolutely convinced she knows better than the police. She'd probably solve the murder while everyone else was still arguing over the evidence.

Of course, knowing me, she'd have a few dark secrets, a questionable past and possibly a body buried somewhere. Sorry, Hippo. Occupational hazard!
The real question is whether she'd be the detective, the prime suspect or the killer...
And THAT, my dear Hippo, is something I'm not prepared to reveal. 😈
I'd be mildly concerned if I were you. Just saying!

                                  🦛 Hippo Assessment
                                        Outcome: Mildly Concerned

The Hippo was delighted right up until the point she became a murder suspect.
Further comment has been postponed pending legal advice. 😂

You can find out more about Noelle, her books and connect with her using the links below:

Website
Books

I'd like to thank Noelle for taking the time to stop by today. It's been a blast - and you'll be hearing from my lawyers in due course! 😆😆

Ten Years of Hippo History: Looking Back at Where It All Began

 

 

 

 

Recently, while rummaging through the Hippo Archives in search of old posts, forgotten adventures and evidence of past questionable decision-making, I found myself back at the very beginning.

On 10 May 2015, I published my first blog post.

At the time, I was simply a Hampshire bookworm who loved reading and wanted to write more reviews. I'd been taking part in Goodreads challenges for several years, happily rating books but rarely writing anything more than a few brief thoughts. I knew a couple of authors, understood how valuable reviews could be, and decided it was time to give something back.

Remarkably, ten years later, that strategy still seems to be working.

 

Looking back, my plans for The Hippo were surprisingly straightforward.

I wanted readers to discover authors.

I wanted authors to find readers.

I wanted books to be celebrated.

The highly sophisticated Diagram of Destiny™ looked something like this:

 

Reader  ✨✨✨\

             \

             

             /

Author  ✨✨✨/

 

Looking back now, what strikes me isn't how much has changed over the past ten years.

It's how much has stayed exactly the same.

My very first post included these words:

"I'm lucky enough to know a couple of authors and I know how important a review is as well as a rating and so I've decided it's time to return the favour to all the great writers out there..."

Without realising it, I'd already identified what would become the heart of The Haphazardous Hippo.

Yes, books have always been the reason I started blogging.

People are the reason I kept going.

What began as a simple idea eventually grew into something I could never have imagined. Over the years I've reviewed hundreds of books, discovered countless new favourites, connected with readers from all over the world and had the pleasure of getting to know many wonderful authors.

 Somewhere along the way, I also managed to host not one but two virtual book festivals, coordinate guest posts, organise author features and embark on more than a few unexpectedly ambitious projects.

Apparently, one year into blogging I decided that organising a multi-author virtual festival was perfectly reasonable. Looking back, I'm still not entirely sure what I was thinking. 🤣

 

 

Yet whenever I revisit those old posts, projects and adventures, I keep coming back to the same realisation.

 The books may have changed.

 The authors may have changed.

The blog itself has certainly evolved.

But the mission hasn't.

Ten years later, I still want readers to discover new authors.

I still want authors to find new readers.

I still want books to be celebrated.

And that's probably why The Haphazardous Hippo still feels so much like home.

As I write this, it feels as though the blog is entering a new chapter. New features are launching, authors are getting involved, old friends are reappearing and brand-new connections are being made. Watching it all unfold has reminded me exactly why I started this blog in the first place.

Not to chase statistics.

Not to collect followers.

Not to build a platform.

Simply because I love books and wanted to share that enthusiasm with other people.

What began with one nervous blog post from a self-confessed Hampshire bookworm has grown into ten years of reviews, friendships, opportunities, discoveries, laughter and more than a little chaos.

And honestly?

I wouldn't change a thing.

 

 

Over the past few days I've spent a lot of time wandering through the Hippo Archives. I've rediscovered forgotten adventures, revisited old features, smiled at long-forgotten conversations and reconnected with memories I'd almost forgotten were there.

In doing so, I've been reminded that while books may have brought us together, it's the people I've met along the way who have made this journey so special.

The books may have changed.

Ten years may somehow have disappeared in the blink of an eye.

But the heart of The Haphazardous Hippo remains exactly the same: celebrating books, championing authors and sharing the joy of reading with fellow book lovers.

Thank you to every author, reader, publisher, blogger and friend who has stopped by over the years. Whether you've been here since the beginning or you've only just stumbled across the Hippo enclosure, I'm incredibly grateful you've chosen to spend part of your reading journey with me.

Thank you for helping to make the last ten years so special.

 

 Here's to many more stories, friendships, bookish adventures and, of course, a little bit of haphazardous chaos along the way. 🦛💜📚✨