Literary Birthday – 7 May – James Runcie

Happy Birthday, James Runcie, born on 7 May 1959.

James Runcie Quotes

1. I think all crime writing is written from within some kind of tradition. Whenever you write a story, even if it is set now, there is a limited number of stories available to you, whether it’s burglary or betrayal or blackmail. So I think you are always writing with this tone of the past and you either go with it or against it. You have to realise you are working with a tradition, then contribute your own version of it. (Crime Fiction Lover)
2. I think one of the key things about crime fiction is what it does it tests its characters in the most extreme way. You might be able to test them in literary fiction, but in crime you are seeing how they behave against a background of violence, betrayal, disappointment and desperation. The key is to see how characters react in the furnace or crucible of that kind of atmosphere. (Crime Fiction Lover)
3. I am more interested in the intricacies of character than plot. I think it has to be about the human heart. Fiction has to be more than a conjuring trick about people’s lives. Plot must be secondary to character. I am also interested in incredible prose. (Crime Fiction Lover)
4. All the stages of writing are different. With this [memoir], I began because I had no other way of making sense of what had happened to me. It was a form of therapy. I began a series of notes and ideas and then little essays, which then became chapters. (Bloomsbury)
5. I tend to do a lot of initial research and then keep going as I write, adding more and more when the situation demands it. (It’s a meal. What were they eating? What were they wearing? What did the room smell like? Was it too hot or too cold? How long did it last? Who did the washing up?) (Writers & Artists)
6. I think I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I started about forty years ago by writing not very good poetry and reading Agatha Christie and thinking about English literature. It mattered to me how stories could transform our understanding of a life. (Listening Books)
7. I have always wanted to write different things but I somehow struck upon this idea of writing about a vicar who would be drawn into a world of crime. It’s also a way of being able to tell moral stories. (Listening Books)
8. These characters – and of course I might be on the verge of insanity – but these characters are my friends. I love them and I love writing about them and being in their company. (Listening Books)
9. I only have two major writing tips. The first is this (write before you do anything else) and the second is; DO NOT CHECK YOUR EMAIL WHILE YOU ARE WRITING! (If you do that, the game’s over. The flow is lost). (Shots Mag)
10. It’s also a good idea to write on an empty stomach. You can’t write if you’re full. (Shots Mag)

James Runcie is a British writer, director, television producer, playwright, and literary curator. Runcie is the son of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie. He has written 12 novels, four plays, and a memoir. He is best known as the author of the historical crime novels, The Grantchester Mysteries, featuring priest detective Sidney Chambers. The series concluded with Sidney Chambers and the Persistence of Love in 2017, but a prequel, The Road to Grantchester, was published in 2019. His sleuth novels have been adapted as an ITV drama titled Grantchester. Runcie has also written the novels Canvey Island, The Discovery of Chocolate, The Colour of Heaven, and East Fortune. His memoir, Tell Me Good Things was published in 2021. His latest book is The Great Passion. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a member of both the Crime Writer’s Association and The Detection Club.

Source for quotes/Source for image: James Runcie

by Amanda Patterson

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