NK Chats To… C.D Steele

Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your book, Hidden Truth and where we find Joe Wilde when the story begins?

Joe is in his office with potential new client Sylvia Graham, who wants Joe to investigate the disappearance of her daughter Julie. She had vanished six years prior, seemingly without a trace.

What are the challenges of writing a book series? What do you find most enjoyable about it?

I suppose the main challenge of writing a book in a series is being able to come up with an original plot. It needs to be different to the plots in the previous books, but at the same time not so different that it doesn’t feel part of the series.

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals?

I have no particular writing rituals. I mostly write in the evenings during the autumn and winter months.

If you were putting together a playlist for this novel, which songs would you include?

I honestly don’t know. If any of my novels were ever adapted into movies or mini- series I would prefer there to be no soundtrack.

What elements do you think are the most important when writing in the thriller/mystery genre?

Suspense is a very key element. The ‘whodunit’ aspect is also a key element, but even more key than that is the why. Why did a person or group of people commit murder? or commit a terrible crime? What was their motive?

What’s your favourite word and why?

I don’t have a favourite word. All the novels I have written so far have the word truth in the title, so I must be rather fond of that word I suppose.

How do you approach the research, writing and editing processes? When do you know when you’ve done enough research and editing?

First and foremost I try to write about what I know, so I don’t have to do a great deal of research. I suppose you can never be quite sure about how much research is enough, as long as the plot is coherent that is the main thing. My sister edited my latest novel, she is far better at spotting errors, typos and plot inconsistencies than I am.

Not including your books, out of all the books you’ve read, which one do you wish you could forget just so you had the pleasure of discovering it again?

That’s a tough one. I am a big admirer of the thriller writer Steve Cavanagh, I think he is a complete master of his craft. I would love to forget all of his novels so I could have the pleasure of discovering them again.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently writing a sci-fi thriller.

Any other advice for new Writers?

Keep writing. Also in terms of the plot or the characters, often your first instinct is the correct one.

Would you rather – 

Have the ability to communicate telepathically or know every single language on the planet?

Know every single language.

Be able to have a one-minute conversation with your past self or future self?

Definitely my past self.

Live in a world without music or movies?

I could live in a world without movies as long as there were novels.

Take part in a dating show or a survival show?

Neither, but if I was forced to choose it would be a survival show.

Sing or dance to your favourite song for the rest of your life?

I can’t do either, can I not just listen?

Have money or power?

Well we all need money to pay our way. If you mean a lot of money, then yes, so I could give most of it away to people who really need it.

Have an endless summer or winter?

I would prefer an endless summer, but I might struggle to get any novels written if that were the case.

Drink tea or coffee?

Tea

See the movie or read the book first?

Read the book.

Would you rather have magical powers here on earth or live in a magical place without powers?

Live in a magical place.

About Hidden Truth – 

Private Investigator Joe Wilde is investigating the murder of Philippa Redmond a former Labour MP. She had been found dead in her sauna over the Christmas holidays six weeks ago. The majority of her family had been staying with her at the time, but the police didn’t regard any of them as suspects. Evidence suggested an intruder had got into her home.

Joe also takes on a cold case of a missing woman named Julie Turnbull. She had disappeared six years ago without a trace. Meanwhile Joe’s good friend DI Whatmore is investigating the horrific murder of a woman who was burnt alive in her own home. His investigation crosses over with Joe’s missing person investigation. As they conduct their own investigations there are more killings.

DI Whatmore and Joe must join forces to track down a serial killer and solve a puzzling mystery, but doing so puts them and others in grave danger.

Hidden Truth was released in 2025. Click to buy the paperback on Amazon UK and Amazon US and click to buy the eBook on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

About C.D Steele –

C.D Steele works as an Executive Officer in the Civil Service.

He has a degree in Recreation Management and lives in County Down, Northern Ireland.

This is his third novel and is the next book in the Joe Wilde Series after False Truth and Dark Truth.

Connect with C.D Steele on Amazon. 

Win A Copy Of False Truth, Book 1 In The Joe Wilde Book Series And Dark Truth, Book 2. 

Would you like to see where Joe Wilde’s story began? This is your chance.  We have 3 copies of False Truth to give away to three lucky people. Not only that, we also have 1 copy of book 2, Dark Truth to give away too.

Open to UK only. For more information on how to enter, click on this Gleam link.

*Terms and Conditions –

UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam link above. 

The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. 

Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

I (Novel Kicks) am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.