About Derek
Derek Farrell has, since childhood, told stories.
Of course, back then they were called lies, and usually got him in to trouble, but nowadays his stories, humorous poetry and song lyrics are entertaining people from Kansas to Crawley.
Derek grew up in a small terrace close to the Guinness brewery in Dublin’s Liberties neighbourhood, where the smell of roasting hops alternated with the yeasty fermentation of the mash, and the cry of the seagulls was interrupted occasionally by the snorting of an escaped cow on the rampage from the abattoir at the bottom of the street.
To date, Derek has completed three novels. His latest novel is a contemporary Cosy-Noir mystery story called Death of a Diva. The book features his wonderfully human detective Danny Bird, and it’s been described as “Like The Thin Man meets Will & Grace via Ab Fab. In Bermondsey.”
Derek’s literary heroes include Agatha Christie, P.G. Wodehouse, Lawrence Block, Joe Keenan, Steven Saylor, Scott Fitzgerald, Jonathan Harvey, Doctor Seuss and anyone who actually drags their arse to the desk and writes, Goddammit!
His jobs have included: Burger dresser, Bank teller, David Bowie's paperboy, and eventually Investment Banker on the 80th floor of the World Trade Centre. Time in high finance, has given him an opportunity to observe people, to understand the persuasive power of language and to develop an insight into the workings of the criminal mind, whilst allowing him to live and work in Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Prague and London.
And all the time, he’s been telling stories.
You should get to know him.
Twitter: @derekifarrell
Here are my most recent posts
by Derek | Nov 16, 2016 | Uncategorized
2015 was the worst year of my entire life. I’ve talked, before, about losing my mother. Her absence – approaching and actual – filled my life. I tried to mask the approaching nightmare by doing things – by keeping busy at work, by burying my head in the...
by Derek | Oct 6, 2016 | Saturday Sonnet
Thoughts on the British Situation by a visitor to South Africa “We’re all in this together til we’re not,” Said Tessie as she stood before a crowd And said “Of Auslanders we’ll soon be shot” “Huzzah!” “Hooray” They cried as one aloud, As “Them and Us”...
by Derek | Jul 2, 2016 | Uncategorized
Rachel Stirling asked me to share my thoughts around Rewrites. She was charming and so lovely to write for (though I did no rewrites) Click below to find out what I had to say…...
by Derek | Jun 4, 2016 | Saturday Sonnet
‘landscape’ No-one ever really sees the lonely; They hang around in angry gangs of one And look at passers-by aloof and ston’ly; A cabal of the lost and the undone. I’ve been there and return there sometimes still, Though I’m surrounded by a world of love....
by Derek | May 28, 2016 | Saturday Sonnet, Writing
‘process’ I sit before a screen devoid of words and wait for something smart to come along. Ideas, skittish as a flock of birds, are steadfastly withholding their sweet song. This moment – now – the doubt begins to speak Of how the things you write are...