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American crime writer, poet and musician James Sallis joins us from the United States to talk about his latest crime novel Driven and his life as a writer, poet and musician. Sallis is best known for his series of crime novels set in New Orleans and featuring Lew Griffin. His 2005 novel Drive was adapted into an award-winning film. Its sequel, Driven, picks up the main character, Drive, some years later after he has turned his back on his old life. The past, however, is about to catch up with him.

Sallis has published 14 novels, several collections of short stories, poetry, and a biography of the writer Chester Himes. He teaches advanced novel writing at Phoenix College, is a regular reviewer in newspapers and magazines, and plays in a band. He is a winner of the Hammett Award for literary excellence in crime writing. A new novel, Others of My Kind, is due soon. Here he talks to BBC Radio Oxford broadcaster Bill Heine.