How did the idea for this book come to you?

The idea stemmed from the prevalence of gang violence, in which the 'family' is protected at all costs. 
It also grew from my having treated patients who were victims of domestic violence. We often think of partner violence in that setting, but sibling violence is a much lesser known phenomenon. A younger or weaker sibling can have less of a voice than other victims. If the parents condone violence towards one of their children by another, what hope is there for that child's future?

Bloodborn reveals yet more of the 'ripple effect of crime' that I saw so much of through medicine. It also shows how one person may be a victim, but an awful number of people suffer as a result of a violent crime. Each character is profoundly affected by the crimes, including the police, lawyers, victims' families and doctors.

How do you think your background in medicine has helped (or hindered) your fiction writing experience?

My years in medicine have definitely helped my fiction. I hope to write with authenticity and empathy from my experiences with victims, their families and even perpetrators. I've also dealt with police, prison guards and even prosecutors suffering from work-stress, and the effect that has on their families as well. In addition, I've examined rape victims, domestic violence victims, suspected child abuse sexual abuse cases, and instances of elder abuse. It all helps to add colour and layers to the characters and stories.

In so many TV shows and crime books, the victim is almost incidental. For me, the victim is the reason for the story and everything that takes place. And it's essential to get the technical and procedural information right.
That's why I call it 'reality fiction'. I may not have resuscitated a key witness in a gang rape trial, but amongst many others, I have attempted to save a little boy, who it turns out had been murdered by his mother. I bring real emotion and tension to the opening scene I mentioned earlier. Even though Bloodborn and my other novels are  fictitious,  the details are true to life, if you like.

As odd as it may sound, one of the characters in my first book, Malicious Intent, actually has her own autopsy report. The pathologist found it easier to discuss the fictitious injuries I'd written about, in the form of a report, so I typed one up!

Having a medical background has generally made research and access to specialised facilities quicker and easier.

People are always intrigued by a writer's path to publication - Tell us a bit about your journey to published thriller writer.

I have an unusual path to publication for which I jokingly blame the Dalai Lama. He came to my school when I was sixteen, and when we shook hands, he said that he was glad to have finally met me. Someone in the group immediately commented, "Maybe His Holiness likes the book you haven't written yet."

At that age I had no intention of writing, as I was determined to study medicine, despite excelling in creative writing in the later high school years. Even so, my instant reaction to the Dalai Lama's comment was, "What a great line to recruit members if you were starting a cult or were manipulative and had malicious intent." Years later, that notion became my first novel, including the title.

After years of practising medicine and seeing so many victims, the desire to write grew and the plot for Malicious Intent was developing in my mind.  I enrolled in a correspondence writing course. Assignment one was to write a magazine-style article. The second assignment was to send it to a magazine. Instead of publishing my article, I received a call from the women's magazine asking me to write its monthly medical column.  My first published work!

From there I trained in medical journalism while still working as a physician, to learn the craft and discipline of writing. And it gave me the credibility of being a published writer. After eighteen months, I started writing Malicious Intent. I had met a publisher at a function and we kept in occasional touch. I eventually sent ten completed chapters along with a synopsis, and two days later was offered a two-book deal. It was a matter of timing and good luck, as well as an awful lot of rewriting. From there I got an agent who has since helped garner multiple overseas deals.

In many ways, I think I suffered BEFORE my art!!

Which writers have been most influential for you?

Many writers have influenced me and continue to impress. Kathy Reichs, Linda Fairstein, Jeffery Deaver, James Patterson, Lee Child, James Rollins, Eric Van Lustbader and RL Stine are all stand-outs for me.

I also thoroughly enjoy reading Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Robin Burcell as well as Sophie Kinsella, Maeve Binchy who does beautiful characters, Tom Rob Smith amongst many, many others. I'd also have to say that Harpo Marx's biography, Harpo Speaks is one of my favourite books of all time.

Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, Patricia Cornwell's Post-Mortem and, of course, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee have all made a huge impact on my reading and writing. Oscar Wilde and Shakespeare go without saying.

What is the most challenging aspect of the writing process?

The most challenging aspect of the writing process is juggling writing with promotion, maintaining social networking sites, touring and other commitments, like my literacy project. I'm still trying to find the right balance. I guess, there isn't enough 'butt glue' in the world to keep me at the computer for as long as I should be! I'm too easily distracted by shiny baubles or human conversation, but the reality is, a new book each year has to be written, and the bar is set higher for each book.

The synopsis and first ten chapters of each book are what I find most difficult in the writing process. Setting up all the characters and the story takes two thirds of the writing time for me. It's incredibly important to get the set up right and the plot watertight, particularly in forensic thrillers.

I dislike and usually resist writing a synopsis, but in the end it saves a lot of time. Whenever I find I'm blocked or stuck, I go back to the synopsis and get straight back on track. For me, detailing planning is essential.

If you were to give an aspiring thriller writer one bit of advice, what would it be?

I'd recommend any aspiring writer read widely, both in and out of their genre. It sounds so obvious, but many writers I meet don't read much and wonder why their writing is described as too clichéd.

Writing really is about rewriting. And rewriting... Any writer who is willing to learn and improve, approaches writing professionally and is passionate about the story will stand out to potential agents, publishers and readers. The market is never too crowded for great books.

Clare Langley-Hawthorne was raised in England and Australia. She was an attorney in Melbourne before moving to the United States, where she began her career as a writer. Her first novel, CONSEQUENCES OF SIN, has been nominated for the 2008 Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Macavity award. The second in the Ursula Marlow series is THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION. Clare lives in California with her family.