An Interview with Hannah Reid

H. R. Reid is a 21-year-old writer from Bradford, studying English Literature at Newcastle University. She writes creatively under authors Max Adams, Lars Iyer, Alex Pheby and Jacob Polley, and also works as a freelance editor. She writes poetry, script, and prose. She lives with long-term health conditions including ASD, ADHD, PMDD, and Endometriosis.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

Le Couteau Du Châtiment came about as many ideas do: when I was just about to fall asleep. I try to write the books I enjoy reading, and I had recently finished a book centred around gangs and heists. I loved the feeling in my chest during darker moments of those narratives, like the thrill of hearing ‘Red Right Hand’ begin at the start of Peaky Blinders, or reading one of Kaz’s moments of genius deception in Six of Crows. I wanted to set a similar situation in a real-life instance: a gang heist narrative set in one of the most interesting periods of history for me: the Cold War.

Le Couteau Du Châtiment centres on the LCDC gang itself. The vigilantes-for-hire are paid by wealthy Germans to smuggle their POW father out of East Berlin. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t go smoothly.

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

The title was one of the first things to produce itself. Most ‘gang’ narratives shy away from gang names as titles—think of the Greasers of The Outsiders, or how different West Side Story would be if it was called ‘Sharks vs Jets.’

I stayed simple because the gang’s name has all other facets of a good title. In my opinion, a title works simultaneously as a tonal indicator, a ‘hook,’ and most importantly a question. A novel’s title should always bring up a question that drives a reader to pick it up. For those who do not speak French, that question is simple: What does ‘Le Couteau Du Châtiment’ mean? Well, you have to pick it up to find out! The tone of mystery is set from the very front of the work.

Describe your dream book cover.

I am partial to the style of Cassandra Clare’s Chronicles of Castellane series—simple, bold colours, with small easter eggs hidden in the finer details and motifs.

LCDC is a book for older teens and adults alike, with dark tones, so the cover would have to reflect that in palette. One of the central points around the LCDC gang itself is how they maintain the anonymity of their assassins: every member uses a different weapon and nobody knows who uses what. I’d love a black or deep navy cover with silver foil weapons surrounding the title to reflect that little nugget of information!

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

Ooh, I love this question! Music plays such a huge role in writing, and is often overlooked!

I have a big playlist just named ‘Writing’ with a lot of concentration favourites, including:

“Digital Silence” – Peter McPoland

“We Have It All” – Pim Stones

“Spiracle” – Flower Face

“Mama’s Gun” – Glass Animals

“deadweight” – newshapes

“White Winter Hymnal” – Fleet Foxes

“IDWT$” – Bad Omens

“Today I Saw the Whole World” – Pierce the Veil

Lots of different vibes for different scenes. I’m fond of some Joey Valence for fight scenes, for instance, and something like Pierce the Veil is good for those heart-wrenching romances.

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

I tend to shy away from books that are in the same style/narrative as what I’m writing. For instance, LCDC is a gang heist narrative, so I won’t be re-reading Six of Crows any time soon! At the moment, I am reading a lot of material for my degree, but I’m recreationally reading a few books, including Cassie Clare’s The Ragpicker King, Who Owns This Sentence? by Alexandre Montagu and David Bellos, and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

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

I originally went to law school! Law is still a passion of mine, but I got a HE Cert rather than a degree out of it. I realised after a year that Law was something I liked to know about, rather than something I liked to actually do.

I’ve had a lot of jobs in my life, from working in Accounts at an electrical company to working as an Invigilator for GCSEs and A-Levels (a job that gives me a lot of plot planning time).

And something about me readers wouldn’t know… I love Canada geese and seagulls a stupid amount. I’m terrified of them, but I think they’re adorable. Red pandas are also up there, but way more visibly cute!

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

My biggest influence is always Donna Tartt. The work that goes into a single book of hers is astounding, and one of my ASD special interests is actually collecting editions of The Secret History. I think that book is one of the most ‘perfect’ works out there.

Some other inspirations are Cassandra Clare and V. E. Schwab, for their memorable and expansive worlds, and Eliza Clark, for her stunningly transgressive portrayals of femininity.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My ADHD will make me need to write at any inconvenient time, but will also demand optimal conditions at the drop of a hat. I often end up co-opting my boyfriend’s desk (it’s so much nicer than mine), or curling up in bed with my laptop and plethora of cuddly animals.

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

Write what you want to read, not what you think other people want. Also, ‘Show Don’t Tell’ is cliché, but it is genuinely the best advice once you understand it.

Offer to edit people’s work. It’s absolutely priceless experience.

WEAR YOUR GLASSES!!!

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

Historical fiction as a category is not always an excuse for lack of representation.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.