SINCE releasing his debut book more than four years ago, author David Evans continues to prove crime does indeed pay.

The Weeley-based writer self-published Trophies, the first in a trilogy of crime books set in Yorkshire and Essex, in 2012, and then the following year brought out Torment.

That went on to be shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writer’s Association Debut Dagger Award but despite having an agent, David continued to have trouble finding a publisher.

He says: "It would make you weep. I was getting such incredible feedback, not just from readers but also those inside the industry, but no one was biting.

"But in this industry it's always just a case of plugging away, meeting up with people, and hoping for that big break."

Which David finally got earlier this year when Bloodhound Books were sent Torment and agreed to publish it.

"Trophies was already doing really well in the charts," he adds, "and so I thought wouldn't it make sense for Bloodhound to bring that one out as well, and of course the third and final one, which is called Talisman."

Trophies was released on June 6 in kindle format with Torment brought out a month later on July 7. David tells me he's just finishing up the third, which he hopes Bloodhound will bring out late summer, early autumn.

And he's not done yet.

"Torment and Talisman brought the action down to Felixstowe and Jaywick," he continues, "and that kind of inspired me to set a new series in North Essex initially towards the end of the long hot summer of 1976. I am hoping to complete the first draft by August."

He's also looking to television, especially after picking up a recent award at the Winchester Writers Conference this year.

David went to his first writers’ conference in York and later the same year in Winchester, six years ago, and he's been going ever since.

He says: “The opportunity to mingle and make friends with other writers in my own position, as well as agents, publishers and published authors, has been unbelievably valuable.

"This year's was particularly pleasing because I got 2nd prize in the Pitch A TV Drama Competition and I also got to meet Julian Unthank, the script writer for Doc Martin and New Tricks. I pitched my three Yorkshire crime books and a lot of people there thought they would make great television, so you just don't know what might happen in the future."

To checkout David's books go to www.bloodhoundbooks.com