The crime writer, best-known for his Murray Whelan series, hosted two sessions at Wodonga Library yesterday as part of its High Road to Reading program.

“There are no rules,” he told participants of his workshop “Crime does pay”.

“There are only examples and you find those examples by looking at them.

“What leads to interesting writing is an interest in reading.”

Maloney also spoke about voice, finding ways to express a character and the process of writing a novel.

Later he discussed his Murray Whelan “comic political thrillers”.

“For me to meet readers is a strong part of it, because, as you can imagine, you don’t know who’s reading your books,” Maloney said.

“They tend to keep on my case, if they like the books — they want to know when the next one will be out.”

Crime fiction fan Paula Rich, of Corowa, said she found the workshop valuable.

“I’ve always been afraid to devise a plot and tie up all the ends and get into a character,” she said.

Maloney will be at Tallangatta and Corryong today.

The program, funded by the State Library, involves the Public Libraries Victoria Network.