I've already mentioned the Mannslaughter and Mayhem event here once or twice before. Scheduled for 24 April in the Isle of Man, it'll feature interviews with award-winning authors Allan Guthrie, Donna Moore and Stuart MacBride. As part of the build-up to the event, the Manx Independent invited me to ask Allan a few questions, and the full text of our interview is set out below.

Allan Guthrie was born in Orkney, but has lived in Edinburgh for most of his adult life. His first novel, Two-Way Split, won the 2007 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year. His second novel, Kiss Her Goodbye, was nominated for Edgar, Anthony and Gumshoe awards. He is also the author of the novels Hard Man, winner of the inaugural Spinetingler award for Best Novel — New Voice, and Savage Night, plus the novellas, Kill Clock (for emergent adult readers) and Killing Mum. His latest novel is Slammer.

You won the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for your first novel, TWO-WAY SPLIT. How did it feel when your name was read out?

The award is announced at the Harrogate Crime Festival, and the short-listed authors appear on a panel prior to the announcement. The winner is largely decided by a public vote and I was up against some big-selling authors with large fan bases. I knew I had no chance. And everybody agreed -- my wife, my agent, my publisher. So when my name was read out, I was in a state of utter disbelief. I've genuinely never been so shocked in my life. I felt like the donkey who won the Grand National. Still do.

Your novels have been described as falling into the noir tradition. Could you explain a little of what that means?

I write dark crime novels, often from the perspective of the criminal or victim, frequently exploring abnormal psychology. The 'noir' label is applied to them, as you say, but it's really just a marketing tag. It fits a couple of my books, including the latest, SLAMMER, but it's a stretch to apply it to them all. HARD MAN, for instance, would be more accurately described as an ultra-violent slapstick Jacobean revenge drama. 'Noir' is a lot more concise, mind you.

Your latest novel is called SLAMMER. Can you tell us a bit about it?

It's a novel about a young prison officer who's extremely ill-equipped for the job. He ends up being coerced into doing a 'favour' for one of the cons, and one favour leads to another and before he knows it, he's up to his neck in doodah with no obvious way of getting out of it. It's about how much one man can take, and about what happens when he reaches his breaking point.

How do you come up with the titles for your books? Do you tend to be aware of your title before you begin work on a book?

My titles tend to change quite a bit, as do my character names. I've used the working title, BLITHE PSYCHOPATHS, for several of my books. Eventually the final title bubbles to the surface. TWO-WAY SPLIT was originally sold with the title KISS HER GOODBYE, which ended up becoming the title of my second novel. Very confusing.

What’s the usual starting point for one of your novels? Character? Plot? Atmosphere? A particular image? Does it change depending on the project?

It varies, certainly, but often it's an opening scene. With HARD MAN, it was the dead dog in the car boot. With SAVAGE NIGHT, the headless body in a tub in the middle of some poor guy's sitting room floor. With SLAMMER, though, it was the character of Nick Glass. I'd long wanted to write a prison novel but needed a way into the story that was unusual enough to justify writing the book. Nick's quite an unusual character and the novel wouldn't work without him at the heart of it.

A wealthy benefactor has invited you to spend a year at an all-expenses paid writers’ retreat in the Isle of Man. There’s one condition – you have to bring one of your characters with you. Who would you pick and why?

I'd bring Hilda, Pearce's three-legged Dandie Dinmont terrier. Any other of my characters would almost certainly end up getting themselves (and probably me) in serious trouble.

Have you ever considered writing in a genre other than crime?

I'd love to try horror. And I have a science fiction novel outlined in my head. And I did once try my hand at the lesser-known genre of bucolic erotica.

You’ll be appearing alongside fellow Scottish-based authors Stuart MacBride and Donna Moore at the Mannslaughter and Mayhem event. Why do you think it is that so many top crime writers are based in Scotland?

Ian Rankin and Val McDermid made Scottish crime writing sexy for the international market. They opened the doors for the rest of us. And once we get a foot in the door, you're not getting us back out again. No chance, mate.

You also work as a literary agent. Any sage words of advice for aspiring writers?

Learn as much about the craft as you can, and write every day.

Details about the Mannslaughter and Mayhem Event

The Mannslaughter and Mayhem event will take place at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin on Saturday 24 April, and features an evening of readings and interviews with the guest authors, as well as the announcement of The Isle of Man winner of the CWA Young Crime Writers’ Competition.

Doors open from 6.30pm and tickets are priced at £7 (including a glass of complimentary wine). Tickets available from the Erin Arts Centre Box Office (telephone 01624 832662, open Wednesday to Friday 12.30pm to 4.30pm) and the Lexicon Bookshop in Douglas.