You are about to embark on your fifth adventure - what do you have planned this time?
Black Odesa is set in the world of wine influencers, luxury retail and extremist politics. The story follows the adventures of Felix Hart, a handsome wine executive, who, after being fired from his employer and publicly disgraced, discovers he has a talent for social media.
He hooks up with Katja, a beautiful Russian wine importer, and they become online stars thanks to their unembarrassed approach to content creation. But when they accept a paid influencer trip from the Russian government to visit the vineyards of Crimea, things take a darker turn.
Why do you think the world needs another Felix Hart story?
Felix Hart is back - in Black Odesa
We live in uncertain times, our very existence threatened by rapacious capitalism, rogue states and the AI apocalypse. I consider the Felix Hart novels a public service, bringing light where there is darkness, and fragrance where there is odure.
Why did you want to delve into the world of dark Russian states?
I've always been anti-imperialist and modern-day Russia is an imperialist, expansionist entity, as it has been since the 16th century. Many of the countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, long-suppressed by Russian colonialism, have fascinating wine cultures, so it's a fertile place to set a story.
Black Odesa begins in London, then moves on to Georgia, the partially recognised Republic of Abkhazia, Russia, and occupied Crimea.
You are also getting mixed up with social media vinfluencers - what are you doing with them?
Social media is the real villain of Black Odesa. I must have read about the importance of authenticity on social media a million times over the past decade, when it's obvious that social media is the most inauthentic medium on the planet. I felt a Victorian-style morality tale of the dangers of posting hench selfies on the socials was well overdue.
How would you describe Felix Hart now to when we first discovered him - how has he developed?
Most characters after five novels would have looked deep inside themselves and asked: what have I learnt? How have I adapted to the changing times? And how can I become the best version of myself? I'm delighted to say that Felix Hart remains untroubled by such questions.
How has the world of wine changed in that time for Felix Hart?
When Felix fell innocently into the wine trade all those years ago, it was a time of over-production, a baffling array of eccentrically communicated products, and a looming crisis of under-consumption by the younger generation.
Sorry, what was the question again? Ah, yes. There are lots more women in the world of wine now, which is unambiguously a good thing. More screw caps too.
How long does it take to bring a new adventure together from the idea through to publishing?
Three of the previous books that are still available to buy via Peter Stafford Bow's website and on all good book sites
The ideas aren't the problem, they come thick and fast, and I have enough for many more books. The writing takes between one and three years, depending on the degree to which I am troubled by my other work commitments. I'm pleased to say I've been relatively untroubled by full-time work over the past few months, so Black Odesa took just a year to grow from inflorescence to plump, juicy bunch.
Do we have to wait much longer for the film or Netflix series of Felix Hart?
Let's just say I'm in talks with a variety of streaming giants, a West End theatre producer and a video game developer. As for which medium will come to fruition first, it's anyone's guess.
Any other parts of the world where we can expect Felix Hart to appear in the future?
Many of my American readers have requested a book set in the United States, but I'm not sure we should reward bad behaviour. I'm toying with setting my next novel in an ice-bound, post-apocalyptic wasteland, where Felix and a plucky band of survivors defend the world's last wine cellar from marauding brigands.
Think The Road meets A Year in Provence. My agent is sceptical of the idea, but I hope to talk him round.
Anything else you can reveal?
Anyone aspiring to a career in luxury retail may be interested to know that parts of Black Odesa are set in Sauvage & Sons, a top luxury department store, where Felix lands a job as lead sommelier.
It's important to make clear, however, that all names, characters and incidents portrayed in Black Odesa are fictitious, and no identification with actual persons, department stores, fascist dictators or wine buyers is intended or should be inferred.
* Black Odesa is published on June 1. You can find out more details and how to buy a copy here.
