Liverpool author David Stanley explains real-life story behind crime thriller

A Liverpool author has revealed how he based his popular crime thriller on a real life incident.

David Stanley has found fame since popular novel The Bag was published last year.

He came into the studio to listen to presenters Heather Smith and Steve Evans review the book which follows the main character Shaun as he deals with finding a bag filled with money and diamonds.

David explained how he decided to write the tale after finding a bulky hold-all which had been abandoned on a cycle track.

“It looked quite bulky. My imagination was going wild.” – David Stanley

In real life, the bag was just full of old clothes but David decided there was a better story to be told and wrote his book by hand in just three months.

David told listeners he always planned to write a book after enjoying making up stories for his children when they were younger.

Newly separated with time on his own, David put his life on hold to write The Bag and was delighted when it was picked up by a publisher.

“I thought the book was very intriguing. It took several twists and turns and you didn’t quite know where it was going to end up.” – Heather Smith, presenter

David is now writing a mythical fiction set on both sides of the Mersey about a journalist at the Liverpool Echo and has already started writing a follow-up to The Bag.