It was a dreary day on the mean streets of Bradford as I stood on a street corner, waiting for him to arrive.

Behind me the formerly grand building of the old Odeon cinema looked grim boarded up with sheets of steel.

The damp mist hung in the air like yesterday's cigarette smoke. I stamped my feet and stared at the ground, not catching the eye of the shady characters hurrying past.

Then he arrived. Blond hair, casual clothes, confused-looking.

He wasn't what I'd expected.

But then what did I think he'd look like? A nurse turned crime writer isn't your everyday sort of guy.

Christian Thompson's days as an author - rather than avid crime novel reader - began when he forgot to take a book to work a few years ago.

Because of this oversight, the former Bradford psychiatric nurse decided to have a go at writing the detective stories he had always loved.

A couple of years later and his first book, That Which Doesn't Kill You, is about to be published.

The Bradford-based story features a private investigator who gets embroiled in the seedy underworld of the city.

Mr Thompson said his inspiration for the book came from his love of crime fiction, which surprisingly stemmed from television.

He loved British crime detective series but because of his demanding job, never had time to read. But when Mr Thompson, who had worked as a community psychiatric nurse in Buttershaw, Great Horton and Little Horton areas, changed jobs he got interested in reading. Working nights meant he took a book and when he forgot to bring it, he jotted a few things down on the computer.

Colleagues were eager to know what happened next - and so central character Chris O'Brien was born.

And it was through Mr Thompson's favourite author that his book was published at all.

He was a massive fan of British crime writer Mark Timlin, who happened to see some of Mr Thompson's work. He liked it and passed it to publishers. A year later and the hardback is published on August 27.

The central character, fledgling private investigator Chris O'Brien, is asked to look into rumours of drug-dealing in a Bradford nightclub.

"It quickly turns into something that seems to be a smear campaign against the owner," said Mr Thompson. A dead body, a missing daughter and even a touch of romance all feature.

Mr Thompson set his book in Bradford, where he lived for four years, because of his affection for the city.

Despite currently living in Hebden Bridge and having resided throughout the north, the 33-year-old maintains Bradford is his favourite place.

"I think it's well integrated. I lived in Manningham for about a year and a half and it was a good, vibrant place."

The next, as yet untitled, Chris O'Brien book is half-written already. Mr Thompson's job, as the deputy manager of a residential care home for people with mental health problems, means he doesn't have much spare time.

He said he's not giving up the day job just yet, but if someone offers to pay him to write...