Heads You Win is Jeffrey Archer’s first standalone novel in almost 10 years, and follows the story of Alexander Karpenko as he flees from Russia and makes a decision on the flip of a coin that will affect how the rest of his life unfolds. Here, we talk to Jeffrey about his inspiration for the novel, his thoughts on fate, and his tips for aspiring writers.

What was the inspiration for Alexander Karpenko's story in Heads You Win?

Colin Powell was the inspiration. His mother Maude, a seamstress from Jamaica, wanted a better life and couldn’t make up her mind whether to set out for the US or UK, and I became fascinated by the concept of what would have happened to the former US Secretary of State if he’d come to Britain. Would he have become a field marshal or the foreign secretary? I doubt it.

Heads You Win is your first standalone novel in almost 10 years. Why was it the right time to venture into something new?

The Clifton Chronicles occupied my life for nearly a decade, and I had the idea for Heads You Win long before the Chronicles were finished, and so it felt the right time to write a stand-alone novel.

The plot of Heads You Win rests on the flip of a coin. Do you believe in fate?

No. I believe in damned hard work and the following maxim: if you have energy and talent you’ll be a king; If you have energy and no talent you are still a prince; but if you have talent and no energy, you will be a pauper.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?

  1. Read the classics.
  2. Don’t imagine you’ve finished your novel when you’ve completed the first draft.
  3. Write about what you know – you don’t have to follow trends and write a murder just because the genre is popular.

There must have a been a great deal of research involved in writing this novel - is this a part of the writing process that you particularly enjoy?

I always enjoy the research, and although I read a lot and have every fact checked several times, I still think talking to people who’ve been involved in, and are experts at, the subject you are pursuing, will get you a far greater insight than simply reading books.

Book cover for Heads You Win

Heads You Win

Chosen as one of the best books of 2018 by the Mail on Sunday'The master storyteller returns with a nail-biter every bit as good as Kane and Abel – utterly enthralling' - Joanna LumleyHeads You Win is the incredibl...