An Interview with C.C. Ford

Ford entered the world of writing towards the end of 2025 by releasing his debut novel, What Lies Through the Smoke. A mish mash of noir, thriller and dieselpunk, Ford hopes to continue the series by completing the sequel by the end of the year.

He comes from the West Country of England and started writing as a way to manage stress from his daily life. He is an avid Somerset Cricket Club fan and enjoys paddleboarding in the summer.

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What inspired you to start writing this book?

I’ve always enjoyed noir and punk aesthetics. Discovering dieselpunk really scratched an itch for me. I initially started writing about a fictional city with towering skyscrapers in the clouds and slowly drafted the plot and characters around the setting.

Police procedurals, thrillers, and pulp style stories with colourful characters were my primary inspirations for the world I created.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I wanted something pulpy and was adamant I wanted to have the word ‘smoke’ in the title. After toying with a few variations, I settled on this one as it tied in nicely with the main mystery and antagonists of the book. Sometimes the more clichéd the better.

Describe your dream book cover.

I’m quite happy with the one I have now, to be honest. The designer did a great job. If I were to choose another, I’d consider perhaps a more minimalistic one, maybe an Art Deco-style skyline backdrop with the title appearing on a building or passing blimp.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

All saxophone, lounge style music, and melancholic tunes. Think the 1940s and fifties American jazz scene.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

Recently discovered Raymond Chandler for the noir side of things and I dabble in reading other dieselpunk titles as they provide a greater insight into the aesthetic.

I find a little bit of something in every genre and novel I read. From pacing, structure, and dialogue, every author has something to offer.

For comfort, I have a very broad taste. One week I’ll be reading William Gibson, the next it could be Hemingway or F. Scott Fitzgerald.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

Served a bit of time in the British military. When overseas, I’d raid the book exchange and pass the time reading old James Patterson and Michael Connelly novels. Those things were real page turners, I tell you!

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I tried my hand at British police procedurals after reading plenty of Joseph Wambaugh novels. Then I tried some generic crime after a period of binging Elmore Leonard.

I soon discovered I could never live up to their brilliance so decided to try something more original and designed my own world and rules.

Where is your favorite place to write?

At home with all the comforts and readily available coffee.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

Invest in proofreading software early and remember the basics of grammar. Also, self-publishing is way easier than you think; it’s the marketing that’s the tricky part.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

The desire to purchase the sequel, of course!

I hope they finish it having been entertained and perhaps discovered a new sub-genre and appreciation for indie authors.

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