An Interview with T P Fielden
T P Fielden is the author of the Miss Dimont series of mystery novels - including The Riviera Express, Resort to Murder, and A Quarter Past Dead. They are set in the late 1950s, and follow journalist Miss Judy Dimont as she attempts to uncover the truth about murders in the quaint fictional town of Temple Regis in Devon.
He spoke to Abigail Jaggers at Listening Books about writing a love letter to Devon, utilising his former journalism experience, and audiobooks!
Memoirs are a real turning point in the first book in the Miss Dimont series, The Riviera Express. Why do you think life stories like biographies and memoirs have such power?
I always tell people [...] if you want to, write your life story, because there's something different about your life that isn't like anyone else's.
Did you enjoy including backstories in the Miss Dimont novels?
I've probably invented about a hundred and twenty different characters!
You write biographies as Christopher Wilson, but you chose to write the Miss Dimont novels under the pseudonym T P Fielden. Why did you decide to do this?
You end up wanting to write something a little more melodious...
You did base the character of Miss Dimont on someone you know when you worked as a reporter, is that right?
I didn't really ever know her, but I saw her across the newsroom!
What inspired you to set the books in the 1950s?
People think of it as a safe time, a stable time [...] but the 1950s was something else as well.
The novels are set in a fictional place in Devon called Temple Regis. How did you create this place?
Really these books are my love letter to Devon
Do you listen to a lot of audiobooks yourself?
They add colour and depth that you don't get off the reading page
Did you enjoy Eve Karpf narrating the audiobooks of your series?
When she narrates the stories, it's like hearing a book by another author!
What can you tell us about the next book in the series, Died and Gone to Devon?
It's about an election, so it might be quite topical when it comes out!
Thank you to T P Fielden for speaking with us! If you would like to find out more about the Miss Dimont series or about T P Fielden, you can visit his website!
If you enjoyed reading this post, you may enjoy our interviews with Simon Lelic, Amy Lloyd or Robin Stevens!
