Q&A: Garry Disher, Author of Sanctuary

What inspired the idea behind this book? 

The main character, an experienced young thief named Grace, first appears as a minor character in one of my earlier Inspector Challis novels.  I thought I’d finished with her, but she kept tapping me on the shoulder, wanting another story.

What was the most challenging part of writing this book? 

I take the reader into the minds of not only Grace but also the hard men tracking her and the woman she’s found shelter with. I had to be several people at once as I wrote the book.

How did you think of the title of the book? 

The main character Grace is always on the run, but seeks sanctuary, a normal life.  And often learns that this might not be attainable…

What is something that has influenced you as a writer? 

My father didn’t read to me at bedtime but invented stories for me—always with a cunning sense of tense pacing (“I’ll finish this story tomorrow night, son.”).  It’s why I wanted to become a writer, particularly of tense stories.

What’s your daily writing routine like and what are you working on at the moment?

I write six mornings a week, always in blue Biro on the backs of old manuscripts or page proofs, then type it up in the afternoons (and by then it’s the second draft, for I edit as I type).

Buy a copy of Sanctuary here.