Now, when I say ‘I fell in love with the police’ I don’t mean romantically. I mean something far wider.

That day, heading toward the unknown in Southampton Row, I had seen three people with vast, calm courage, plus a whole unit of the same back in the base. I knew across the UK there were many more officers beyond that who had an immense sense of duty. Who were literally prepared to sacrifice their own lives for others. 

Deep down, that sacrifice could only be driven by love for others, and I could only respond to that in the same way.

Which, speaking as a writer, was incredibly helpful. 

The best things I’ve ever written have all come from moments where I felt a jolt of love for human beings, and what they can do.

Without exception, those are the stories that stood out at the time, that impressed other people enough to get me work, and, most importantly, still stand up and energise me when I look back at them.

The writing of mine that sank, that faded away, that never aroused people in the first place, is the writing that came from other motives: to shock, to horrify, to complain, or simply just to make money.

So …whenever I begin writing from a place of love, I’m amazed how it turns out.

The one true light

There’s a book by C.S. Lewis in which a ghost talks.

When the ghost was still a human, he was an artist, painting away on earth. 

The ghost explains that he was so keen to paint because he was fascinated by light. 

It wasn’t the painting itself that was his first love. What made him paint so much was that he was in love with the light that came off the world. 

To him the light came from God. His painting was his way of telling others about that light. 

That’s true for me too. The best things I have ever written came from having fallen in love with different groups of people. 

You could call that a glimpse of the true light. The true light comes from Heaven. And wouldn’t we all like to glimpse Heaven?

So this is my manifesto. Since I became a Christian, in my mid fifties, I write to talk about that light.

These days I only write about things that I love, because I love them, and I want to tell other people about that love.

That doesn’t mean I’m restricted to simple happy stories with no edge, not at all. I sometimes tell dark stories, and write sad books. I can definitely explore corners that feel sinister, sad, full of anger, or fear.

But if I love the people in these stories, then even these stories will turn out just fine.

It does mean I can’t write to get money or status. I need to keep my eyes on the light, not on the royalties.

These days my goal is to write because I feel the light of love, and to help others experience that light.

Then, regardless of whether my books are read by ten million people, or just ten, I will be successful in the only way that matters.

Join the Tribe

The Snake, which is all about the Specialist Firearms Command of the Metropolitan Police, and is pretty adrenalin-fuelled, comes out next spring.

The next few books I write will all be about the police, one way or another, and even though they may not initially look like Christian books, even though they will all have strong stories and possibly explore dark areas, they’re all going to be written from that position of love. 

If you’ve got this far, then you probably understand what I’m saying — and maybe you feel the same about the books you want to read.

I welcome you to come on this journey with me. Feel free to drop me a line — and get on my email list to be notified when I publish new content.

Very best, 

Philip