We recently had the opportunity to ask author Malcolm Duffy a few questions about his latest novel, Dead Straight Line. In his responses, Malcolm discusses the real-life inspiration behind the story, the themes of peer pressure and responsibility, and what he hopes readers will take away from Rory’s journey. Read on to find out more about the book and the ideas behind it.
What first inspired you to write Dead Straight Line?
I was keen to explore the subject of risk taking. It’s been proven that young men are far more likely to take risks that young women. I wanted to look at risk and the consequences that follow.
Where did the idea for the “Dead Straight Line” game come from? Was it inspired by something you experienced or observed in real life?
The game originated from something I did back in my teens. My friend Andrew once said we were going to head back to his house, but in a dead straight line, up the paths, and through the gardens of complete strangers. It was a crazy thing to do, and the experience stayed with me.
The novel explores themes like peer pressure, responsibility, and blame. Why were these themes important for you to include in the story?
Young people experience pressure to do things perhaps they don’t want to do. This peer pressure can be very strong, and hard to resist. It’s something I was keen to explore as it’s as prevalent today as it was when I was a teenager.
In the heat of the moment young people can forget about the consequences of risky behaviour. They don’t always take responsibility for their actions or consider how much blame will be heaped on them. I felt this was an interesting and important area to explore.
What do you hope readers learn about friendship and trust through Rory’s experiences?
I want readers to know that friendships can be fragile. Something we think is unbreakable, can be broken in a split second as result of a wrong action.
Also, trust can be lost as easily as it can be found. And regaining trust can be hard. It can take a lot of hard effort to win back the feelings and affections of the person who feels wronged.
Did the story or the ending change at all while you were writing it?
Yes, the story changed when I was writing it. I forever check the flow of the story to ensure that there is balance between the characters and the storyline, and that no-one is getting too big or too small a slice of the cake.
The ending changed before I submitted the final draft. I decided to change the character of Eden, Rory’s new girlfriend. I think it made for a more surprising ending. Hope readers will agree!
Was there a particular part that was especially difficult or emotional for you to write?
I found the scenes with Tanker, the ex-war veteran, emotional to write. He is a character who has been through a lot, and it brought home to me the sadness of elderly people on their own, with no-one to share their stories and experiences with.
Do you have a favourite place to write?
I love writing in coffee shops. Not only because I enjoy coffee, but because I like people watching. I need to be where people are talking, interreacting. Writing in a quiet room would drive me crazy!
