THERE are people in Korea who know John Watt’s coffee shop in Carlisle, despite the fact they have never left home. 

In Japan, there would be those who could talk of the wild beauty of Shap and the intimacy of independent Carlisle bookshop, Bookends. 

What all these people have in common is that they will have read the books by Carlisle-born, internationally successful author and literary award winner, MW Craven.

Mike Craven discards the advice to 'write what you know' - but he often writes about where he knows. 

His Washington Poe series is proof of this. 

Washington Poe is a detective sergeant living a monastic life in Cumbria who will break any rule if it means breaking a case.

It is the places he incidentally visits that means John Watt even sells the Washington Poe blend of coffee.

There are Cumbrian tours where fans can visit all the places relevant to the detective. 

Mike agrees that he has probably helped to promote some businesses – and he, himself, likes the Washington Poe coffee blend. But he says some businesses have also closed and he is hoping that was not his fault! 

Born in Carlisle, Mike Craven was brought up in the North East and retains his Geordie accent when he talks about life in the army and as a probation officer in Whitehaven.

News and Star: It is more writer's cramp than writer's block as MW Craven signs his booksIt is more writer's cramp than writer's block as MW Craven signs his books (Image: Submitted)

His books sell worldwide and have been translated into 26 languages including Hebrew and Russian. 

Talking at an event recently, he mentioned some of the peculiarities of the literary world.

You cannot, for instance, use the word ‘rat’ in the title of any book that will be sold in a supermarket.

In Japan, his books are only four and a half inches high and are read from what we would call the back; right to left. 

It does not really matter though, because once readers have discovered Poe and his gifted but socially awkward sidekick, Tilly Bradshaw, titles and size do not really matter. 

And what is most important to them all is that there are more Washington Poe adventures in the pipeline. 

In the meantime, Mike Craven will introduce us to a new character next year – ex-US Marshal Ben Koeng.