This year I decided to take a break from writing. It’s not as if I don’t have ideas for further novels, I’m just not in the right frame of mind to attempt anything new. Consequently, I’ve stepped back and reviewed two of my previous books to see how they could be improved.
Visions (Same Face Different Place #2)
After receiving some good reviews for my debut novel, Beginnings (now free on all e-book platforms) it was time to take a critical look at the second instalment of my series, Visions.
Visions was always intended to be a slower paced, psychological thriller, drawing the reader into the 80s, where some radical changes took place across Britain. Visions is rich in 80s nostalgia, but I eventually realised that more was needed to hook the reader in and weave a little extra suspense into the pages. Since reading some excellent psychological thrillers by authors such as Caroline Mitchell, Dreda Say Mitchell and K L Slater, I began to wonder how I could turn my book into something more gripping.
Thinking about Visions, I feared it was overloaded with too many character backstories; first of all, James and his family, (owners of ‘Westbourne House’ a historic building in need of restoration). But after these introductory chapters, the reader had to wade through another character’s background.
Heroine of the series, Eleanor Chapman, consults her friend, Charlie, when James faces a dilemma about the restoration: should he leap into a risky partnership to save his home? Charlie’s first reaction is horror, but why?
This is where I want to keep readers guessing. So, I have broken Charlie’s story into smaller pieces and drip fed them into later chapters. This involved re-writing substantial chunks of the book, while at the same time, cutting down descriptions and shortening the chapters. I have taken on board some of my more critical reviews and as a result, would like to think Visions has more entertainment value.
VISIONS Edition 2 was re-published in April 2022, followed by a paperback version in May. Next I asked my author friend, Beryl Kingston, if she would like to read it, which she did. Beryl has been an avid campaigner in trying to save another historic building, Blake’s Cottage, in Felpham, Bognor Regis. I guessed it might appeal to her, since she was frequently embroiled in confrontations with some pretty odious characters! But I feel so strongly about her cause, I’ve included an extra dedication:
I also dedicate this book to my dear friend, Beryl Kingston, whose fight to save Blake’s Cottage in Felpham has inspired me. Visit her blog to read more about the deterioration of a historic house in need of repair. berylkingstonblog.wordpress.com
Beryl has some wonderful stories to tell of her own and has written over 30 books, many of which are best-sellers, but do take a look at her blog. It is packed with information about her campaign.
To get a gist of the story, take a look at the book trailer I made for YouTube
PLEASURES (Same Face Different Place #3)
Once Visions had been given a complete overhaul, however, I could not resist continuing the process by applying the same treatment to Book 3 of the series, Pleasures.
It was impossible to change the story, because parts of it resonated through the concluding books of the series. Same Face Different Place is a murder mystery suspense across 4 decades and I wanted to reflect some of the culture I experienced in my life. From the late 80s to the early 90s, the music scene as well as the political climate changed with the arrival of the designer drug, ecstasy. Then came illegal raves. Thus, with the 2nd generation of characters growing up into young adults, there was much focus on this in my story.
Like Visions, I embarked on some brutal editing as I felt Pleasures needed to be more tightly written. So I cut down on descriptions which seemed over the top, improved characters, worked on the dialogue and once again shortened the chapters. There are sixty chapters now, but the length of the book is reduced by about 30k words.
My next job is to re-produce a paperback version but the e-book went live today.
As often happens, I start thinking about my books long before I actually start writing them. But the next book I have in mind will be a psychological thriller, which brings back some characters from Same Face Different Place and is also a sequel to Lethal Ties.
Today it is my pleasure to introduce author, Richard Dee, to my blog. Richard writes cosy mysteries in a futuristic Sci-Fi setting, his characters engaging, adding a playful twist. After reading ‘The Hitman and the Thief’ & ‘Andorra Pett and the Oort Cloud Cafe,’ I’ve been wondering what to expect from his new book, ‘We Are Saul.’
Book Blurb
When Saul is paralysed in an accident, he thinks it’s the end of his life. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
While trying to come to terms with his injuries, the mysterious Dr Tendral offers him a way to make a difference. All he has to do is join his project. There are no other details until he agrees, he’s either in or out. What choice does he have? Agreeing is just the beginning. Saul undergoes drastic surgery, only then is the full depth of the project revealed. Or is it? As time goes on and he learns more about Tendral’s scheme, Saul’s new life becomes increasingly difficult. In the end, he has to abandon everything as he learns the truth.
So, that is a little about the book and at the end of this post, I have included an extract. But let’s hear a little about the author. Over to you, Richard…
Author Bio
I’m Richard Dee and I’m from Brixham in Devon. I write Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures, as well as chronicling the exploits of Andorra Pett, a reluctant amateur detective.
I spent forty years in shipping, firstly at sea, then in Port Control and as a Thames River Pilot, with adventures to match anything you could imagine. When I retired, I just moved them out into space, changed some of the names and wrote them down.
When I’m not writing, I bake bread and biscuits, cook delicious meals and walk the Devon coast.
My first novel, Freefall, was published in 2013, my eighteenth, We Are Saul, will be published in June 2022
I also contributed a story to the 1066 Turned Upside Down collection of alternative history stories. I’m currently working on more prequels, sequels, and a few new projects.
I’m an active member of Exeter Authors Association, attending events and giving talks on World-building for speculative fiction.
You can keep up with me at https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/ where you’ll find free short stories, regular features on writing, book reviews and guest appearances from other great authors.
There’s also an offer for a FREE novella, when you join my subscriber’s newsletter.
I’ve read a review copy of ‘We Are Saul,’ and what a very thought-provoking novel! I reckon it would be a good candidate for Book Club fiction as it raises some ethical dilemmas, which prompts me to ask Richard some questions:
What inspired you to write this book?
Richard: It all started with a novel that I wrote back in 2016, called Life and Other Dreams. In that story, a man had vivid dreams of living a different life, in another place and time. As the story developed, his dreams and his reality started to overlap, so that he wasn’t sure which existence was real, or even if, somehow, they could both be real. The fact that he lived one life while asleep suggested the idea of a character living while not moving. It was only a short step from that to the concept of We Are Saul. Also, the film Avatar may have had something to do with it, but only in a general sense, the way that I made this story work was totally different (and devoid of any aliens, although there might be an evil corporation).
Is it based on a real person/real story or is it entirely fictitious?
Richard: It’s entirely fictitious, although I hope that it seems real. If I can leave the reader wondering whether it could be happening, here and now, then I think I’ve achieved what I set out to do. There’s a quote, attributed to Isaac Asimov, that says, “nothing has to be true but everything has to sound true.” I like to apply that to everything that I write.
How much research did you do for your book? How did you research it?
Richard: A lot. Some of it was done for Life and Other Dreams but once I veered away from real people and had to start thinking of artificial life, I needed to understand the mechanics of nanobots and xenobot technology. I’m just enough of a geek to have to know all about the basic science behind things before I write about them. As well as the nano technology, I needed a thorough knowledge of robotics. I also had to research wireless communications, the latest advances in battery technology and so much more. It can take a long time working out how to do something that might only take up a single paragraph in the finished book. I use various scientific websites and Facebook groups, such as Neuroscience News and Research, to keep up to date with the latest thinking.
Do you imagine ‘We Are Saul?’ could be a TV mini series or film?
Richard: It would be nice to think so, although I think it would need to be a multi-episodic series to get all of it in and do the full sweep of the story justice. A two-hour film would need to rush, or risk having to lose too much important detail.
Review Snippets
“The concept for this novel is very clever as it builds on the achievements in a number of areas including robotics and human enhancement, taking them to a whole new level.”
“This is one of Dee’s best stories. The problems Saul has are easy to relate to, as are the hard choices he is forced to make—especially the last two. All of this results in one of Dee’s best novels with an ending that really took me by surprise.”
“A truly captivating, lingering story that will drill deep into your brain, spark your synapses and give you cause to consider what the future may really hold for humanity.”
Intrigued? Below is an extract from the book itself and if that isn’t enough, go grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in this incredible story.
Chapter One
I’m Saul and I’m paralysed. Thanks to a drunk driver my life stopped when I was twenty-five. When I woke up, the last thing I remembered was walking along the pavement on a glorious spring day, following the metronomic motion of a young lady in front of me. One moment, my mind was fixed on speeding up and getting acquainted with the rest of her, next thing, there was a loud noise behind me coupled with a scream. Before I could turn, I felt an impact, a burst of pain and it all went dark.
I opened my eyes to see a man’s face, complete with thick glasses and stubble, staring at me, very close. I blinked, tried to turn my head, failed. It felt like something was holding my neck still. I could move my eyes, that was about it. Flat on my back, my field of vision was limited. There was a lot of noise, machines bleeped and clicked, there was the hiss of compressed air.
“Where am I?” I said, my voice sounded faint and weak, like it was coming from miles away.
“You’re in a hospital. Intensive Care, actually,” answered the man, moving back a little. “I’m Mr McGee, a consultant neurosurgeon on the staff. Do you know who you are?”
“I’m Saul,” I said. “Why can’t I move?”
His eyes narrowed. “Saul, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you.”
I had sort of gathered that my situation wasn’t brilliant. “Go on then, tell me the worst.” I tried to sound brave, inside I was more than a little frightened. Beside his head, I could just make out a screen. It showed multicoloured flickering lines, a row of numbers. That was me, my life was reduced to mathematics.
“You’ve had emergency surgery to stabilise your injuries,” he said. “Do you remember what happened to you?”
“It’s all a bit hazy, I was walking down the road, there was a noise behind me.” I stopped, that was it. “How long ago was that?”
He looked at me. “This might be a shock: three weeks.”
“Three weeks!” My voice was definitely getting stronger.
“I’m afraid so. What you heard was a lorry mounting the pavement and taking out everything in its path. Six dead but not you, the good news is, you’ll live.”
His face was blank, what wasn’t he telling me? Perhaps I had broken bones, internal damage. I was being kept still while I healed. I tried to move my arms, legs. It felt like they worked but I couldn’t see the sheet moving, had no idea if anything was happening.
The bed suddenly moved, the motion felt strange, as if my head was being tugged by some dead weight attached to it, that I couldn’t see or sense. I felt nauseous. Somewhere below me, I heard a machine start up with a rattle.
“What’s going on? I think I’m going to be sick.” I must have sounded panicked.
“It’s what we call the Low Air Loss and Alternating Pressure Air Mattresses,” he said. “Technical name for a special bed. It stops you getting bed sores from lying in one position, as well as that, it helps takes moisture away from your body if you sweat.”
Although it all sounded interesting, I couldn’t concentrate on his words. I was too busy thinking about the time I had lost. There were things I needed to do. There was clearly more, it was time to find out. “I’ll take your word for it. Tell me the bad news then.”
“Sorry,” he said, “I got distracted. You were thrown thirty feet in the accident. As well as a broken leg and arm, the impact also broke your neck. I’m afraid that it’s damaged your spine.”
“Oh, OK.” It didn’t register. “How long till I’m up and about?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think you understand what I’m telling you.”
Then it hit me, bones mended, spines did not. Panic set in. “What do you mean?” I shouted. “That I’m paralysed? That I’ll always be like this?”
“I’m afraid so,” he said. “We can’t fix you with the medical technology we have at the moment. In time, who knows? Your breathing and bowel function appears to be unimpaired, but your arms and legs don’t work. It’s called quadriplegia. Worst case, we can keep you alive and with care and expert attention, your life can carry on.”
I realised that it was all just ‘doctor speak’ for aren’t we amazing, look at what we can do. McGee probably felt really clever that he was able to prolong my suddenly useless life. There could be a paper in it, recognition of his skill from other doctors. My attitude to medical miracles was different. I looked at the quality of the lives that had been saved, the cost to those who had to do the caring. Just because medicine had advanced enough to make it possible. And from my position of good health, I had often wondered about the benefits of so-called miracle surgery.
I always thought that just because you could, it didn’t mean that you should. Now I was on the receiving end of the same ability to play God and cheat nature. Despair washed over me, my life had been full of adventure, extremes. I wasn’t used to spending time inside, with nothing to do. Immobility might not kill me but boredom would. Why hadn’t the lorry done a proper job, wiped me out in an unknowing flash; it felt like an additional cruelty to leave me like this.
Thanks for dropping by, Richard and best of luck with your launch.
It’s been a year since I launched ‘Lethal Ties,’ my debut psychological thriller novel set in Sussex. But with memories of last year’s PR campaign, I want to focus on the underlying mental health message in this story and use it to promote awareness.
How many of us struggle?
Every day I hear of more and more people struggling with their mental health and it comes as a relief that we are finally beginning to open up. It’s been a taboo subject for decades but no-one wants to admit they feel depressed or they’re a failure, right?
Wrong.
It is important to become aware, to be supportive, encourage people to seek help and rebuild a sense of self worth in those who are struggling. Mental Health effects us all in society. The news of a man’s suicide in 2020 had a huge impact on me, never mind the grief for his friends and family. I interviewed Graham Levell in 2019 to learn about his experiences growing up in care and working in residential children’s homes. Yet never once did I imagine this seemingly confident, extrovert young man could be suffering with bi-polar disorder – nor that he would be in such a dark place he might ultimately end his own life.
What can we do to prevent such tragedies repeating themselves?
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from May 9th to May 13th in the UK and I have been keeping an eye on the website of MIND, one of the leading Mental Health charities.
This week they are sharing various stories to change the way we think and speak about mental health problems – to encourage people to reach out for support, whatever their experience of mental health. Here’s something that appeared in a recent newsletter.
“Taking some time out, to make time for a cup of tea with a friend or loved one, can be the opportunity to explore how we are feeling. With 1 in 4 people experiencing a mental health problem, it’s important we make the time to check in on those we care about. The good thing is you don’t need to be an expert on mental health to offer your support. Sometimes the simple outlet of a catch-up over a cup of tea can show you are there for them which can make a huge difference.”
No one really knows what goes on in another person’s mind but here are some of my own thoughts on the subject.
Is self doubt holding you back?
Talking to people, I wonder how many problems are exacerbated by our sense of self worth. Let’s face it society has become more competitive, especially with social media. Day by day it is impossible not to compare ourselves to others who appear more successful, be it their job status, the number of holidays they take – or constantly feeling judged on our physical appearance.
Being a writer, I struggle in the self-esteem department. I have always doubted my abilities in life and put this down to growing up with a father who was constantly boasting about the successes of his colleagues’ children, from their higher school grades and university placements (i.e. many got straight As and went to Oxford), to scoring brownie points on how much money they earned, what car they were driving etc. etc. Sadly, this is not uncommon with academics, but if only parents realised how much this constant comparison can damage us kids emotionally!
Consequently, I have always considered myself a failure when in truth, I should rejoice what I have accomplished; a happy marriage, less work stress through managing our own web design business at home, enough income to enjoy a quality life. We are not rich but make the most of what we’ve got, cherish where we live, our dog walks on the beach, long walks in the countryside, a garden and reasonably good health. I tell myself to embrace everything good in life and that sadly, there are others far worse off.
Writing books has been an achievement, although not that successful. And here is where that mother of all demons kicks in again: self doubt.
Recently, a friend (a successful published author, no less), told me I was a good writer and yet I couldn’t quite bring myself to believe this.
Is it because I haven’t been accepted by a publisher? That despite her accolade, I don’t have hundreds of reviews like other author friends. Neither can I seem to achieve that all important ‘best seller’ badge on Amazon.
But it is nice to be told ‘I write well’, even if I lack confidence. I can say that last year sales of Lethal Ties were good; I had a successful blog tour and only this year did sales fall flat. Reason? Well, when it comes to book marketing I am pretty rubbish at it!
I know I’m not alone. Loads of self-published indie authors struggle, despite the high quality of their books. Yet it doesn’t make them failures.
A Book Promotion
So to turn things around, I am running a new book promotion. I tried to get onto BookBub, only to suffer more angst when they rejected my featured deal submission, thinking my book wasn’t good enough! But on further investigation, there is more work to be done, to be successful. I’ll just have to try again. In the meantime, I’ve submitted my novel to three different book promotion sites for which it has been accepted: The Fussy Librarian, Book Adrenalin and Bargain Booksy. The deal runs from 9th-13th May during Mental Health Awareness Week and for all 7 days, readers can download Lethal Ties for just 99p (or 99c in the US.)
It’s hard work and costly, but the only way to get a book in front of more readers.
Going back to the subject of mental health there is no denying that negative thoughts hold you back in life. I’ve included a couple of examples in Lethal Ties:
Chapter 8
Jess was my best friend. Blonde, bubbly and as extrovert as I was introvert. At one point I even contemplated taking a walk down to the Waverley, since I was bound to bump into someone familiar. On the other hand, did I really want to risk being surrounded by strangers? It wasn’t the same without Jess, an expert in small talk and always the one to get the conversation rolling… How I wished I could be more like her.
Find out what becomes of Maisie and how she combats her fears.
Stepping out of the shower, he rubbed the steam off the mirror. His reflection stared back through swirls of condensation, and pausing to take a look at himself, he wondered what Jess saw in him. His skin looked clear, stretched tautly over sharp cheek bones, his unruly dark hair in need of a cut. Jess insisted she liked it. Yet in the shadow of Sam’s radiance, he saw the same ugly little tearaway Mortimer had alluded to...
Why is Joe worried? Maybe his childhood memories of Mortimer are trivial, given what his enemies are planning behind the scenes.
With all this in mind though, I want to end on a positive note, which brings me back to the issue of self doubt and challenging negative thought patterns.
Learn to accept yourself for what you can do and not what you can’t.
Each year I start my blog with either my first book review, or a list of books I really enjoyed in the last year. I will kick off with the latter, seeing as I never recorded my top ten reads. But these are the books that stayed with me, original and thought-provoking stories I can personally recommend...
Endless Skies – Jane Cable
Much as I like thrillers, I am a sucker for a good romance especially if it contains an element of suspense. The main character is an academic, but when she falls for mature student, Ben (who definitely sounds like a hottie), you cannot help but think this may not end well. The part that drew me in most was Rachel friendship with a retired lady, as together they endeavour to solve a romantic WW2 mystery.
Matt has become one of my favourite authors for his original podcasts, creative plots and true-to-life characters. This episode of ‘Six Stories,’ in which the contrasting points of view of six witnesses, raking over the mystery disappearance of an enigmatic rock star, packs all the punches. From hysterical teenage fans to allegations of sex abuse, there is a plot twist that left me breathless.
I am currently listening to the audiobook and it’s great to revisit the plot.
A new author for me, Sheryl wowed me with this skilfully written and thought-provoking story. I felt terribly sorry for Nicole, who escaped an abusive marriage only to fall in love again. But what caused her suicide? When best friend, Becky, attends the funeral she yearns for answers. Slowly and painfully, she unravels a web of such cruel deception, you wonder if anyone can truly be trusted.
This engrossing story is set in a future where humans inhabit other planets. Richard Dee has created a different world to the one we know, but with characters I quickly engaged with. Part mystery thriller, hit man, Dan Jones, is assigned the task of tackling a rival whose intent is to occupy the planet his boss is ruler of. But not everything goes to plan. An exciting romp in a sci-fi setting with a twist I never saw coming.
I am hooked on Caroline Mitchell’s Amy Winter series but this book touched subjects close to my heart; vulnerable victims, children in care, human trafficking, sexual exploitation and a highly organised criminal operation with someone in power at the top… There are even examples of regressive therapy, which I tackled in my latest novel, Lethal Ties. For those who like crime thrillers, Flesh and Blood is a gripping read.
The Girl in the Missing Poster – Barbara Copperthwaite
Forget the humans. It was the dogs that hooked me in from the start; main character, Stella, saving poor Fi-Fi from the thug she sees brutalising her, then the discovery of an illegal puppy farm… This however, is a sad, suspenseful tale. Stella has never given up trying to trace her missing twin and cannot move on with her life, until she knows what happened to her. Very well written too!
I’ve been raving about Terry Tyler’s ‘Operation Galton’ series ever since it began. But if you take a moment to consider the future, this story is plausible. Already our lives are online, dominated by Facebook, Amazon algorithms, Smart Shop handsets and the like. But how more controlling could global organisations get? Most sinister is how the authorities genuinely believe they are doing society good! I was rapidly absorbed in Megacity; wonderful characters that stayed inside my head and the story is amazing. I recommend that everyone with a social conscience should read it.
Kerry Barnes breaks the mould with this series, which is so different from anything I have ever read. It combines genetic research with a psychological thriller. Harley and Hudson (born in the first book, Voice of Reason) are a pair of highly intelligent, scary, psychopathic twins. But are they truly evil? Or just curious to unlock the secret of the Gemini Gene? Gruesome in parts, but I did enjoy it.
I’ve been hooked on psychological thrillers since 2018 and K L Slater has written some magnificent ones. This book had me glued from the first page with well-drawn, authentic characters, some I absolutely loathed! The story is about a child who went missing, a woman reminiscing in a coma… and as I stormed through pages, I had my suspicions. Until the twist in the middle gave me a jolt.
The Tests popped up, time and time again, among the ‘Also Bought’ list next to my own book, Lethal Ties, so curiosity won me over. But what an amazing story! There is a mystery at its core, the writing gritty and strong, characters so horrible they jump off the page and smack you in the eye. Some scenes left me breathless but for anyone who likes tales of teenage gangs and dares, this I can recommend.
So, those were the books I most enjoyed in 2021 and I wonder what fine reads I will discover this year. I started 2022 with some lighter reads, taking a break from thrillers and psychological fiction. This constant reminder how vile humans can be to one another has left me with anxiety issues, and even resulted in nightmares. Kicking off with Carol Thomas ‘The Summer of Second Chances,’ I could not have chosen a better book for demonstrating the opposite; people being kind, a lovely village and lots of doggies. That there was an animal based charity at the heart of it made me smile, inspiring me to read ‘Home in the Pays D’Oc which also features a dog, changing a couples lives. I have yet to review the delightful adventures of Patricia Feinberg-Stoner and her husband in France but I’ll get around to it. But I’ve just started ‘The Great I am’ by Beryl Kingston, and loving it, the same ingredients of warmth and humour.
Books on my Kindle
Happy reading and thanks to the authors who have given me such joy.
I was overjoyed with my first book launch during the Festival of Chichester. The event took place at the New Park Centre, Chichester, on 9th of July 2021.
I have partaken in a number of joint book launches with Chindi Authors, a network of independent authors, mainly in West Sussex. But this event was for Lethal Ties only. My author friend, Dan Jones, guided me through the process – suggested it made sense to book it through the Festival, as they would handle the publicity. Dan attended the event with me to speak on my behalf and I was lucky to get a write up in the paper, further raising awareness about my book.
about The evening
The Festival of Chichester is a prestigious event, and I wanted my launch to be free. People who attended had to socially distance, but as guests arrived, there was wine and breadsticks for them to enjoy whilst listening to me talk about my new novel.
Dan filmed me talking, as shown in the video below and I have also included a resume…
Resume
The idea for Lethal Ties originated from stories in the news about child abuse (2015), mainly by people in power. There were massive cover ups. Children were not believed. But with institutional abuse happening on a massive scale, from churches and schools, to residential children’s homes, I wanted to write a thriller tackling this subject; not about the abuse itself, but focusing on the victims and the psychologically damaging effects.
Lethal Ties is about three friends who meet in a children’s home (1995) and one of them disappears.
Maisie and Joe have never discovered what happened to their friend, Sam. Yet both are traumatised. The pivotal scene in Lethal Ties is when these two characters cross paths after twenty years and they are two very different people.
About the characters
Maisie (32) works at West Sussex County Council (in the child care and fostering department). Fostered herself, she grew up with a caring couple, but at some point in her teens she started having nightmares, developed a phobia of forests and suffers panic attacks… but the one thing holding her back in life is her difficulty in forming relationships. This leads her towards therapy, as described in one of my previous posts FACING YOUR CHILDHOOD TRAUMAS.
Joe (32) was always meant to be a harder, more streetwise character. Where Maisie is successful in her life, he has fallen on hard times, been to prison, done drugs and ultimately ends up homeless… But one day Maisie finds him living in a beach shelter on Bognor seafront. Joe’s character was further inspired by Bognor resident Graham Levell, to whom the book is dedicated: See CONFRONTING THE DEMONS WITHIN.
The meaning behind the title
The word ‘TIES’ in the title refers to friendship but a reunion that triggers danger, hence the word ‘LETHAL,’ for there is a mystery at the heart of this story – and believe me, their enemies do not want them discovering the truth about what happened to Sam!
This becomes more apparent when Maisie starts to help Joe turn his life around.
A short book reading
I decided to give a reading at this point, a section that introduces both characters.
They are beginning to share memories about the children’s home but when Joe steps outside for a cigarette, a sinister black car lurks in the avenue – a suspense hook to keep people intrigued…
The psychological suspense genre
This is the genre my book is written in. My passion for reading psychological fiction began years ago, so I wanted to write one myself. These require a different approach, as opposed to writing crime thrillers. Less violence, more thinking, far more character driven stories, where you have to get deep inside people’s minds, then tap into their emotions.
The research
I spoke to people who worked in fostering, and people who had fostered. Then in September I mentioned my writing project to Dan Jones, who worked in children’s homes in the 1990s, the era of Maisie and Joe’s back story. Dan later told me about his best friend, Graham, who grew up in care and had some fascinating stories to tell, which included drink, drugs and homelessness. Yet he managed to turn his life around.
I didn’t want to say too much about our conversation in the Waverley Pub, Bognor but it seemed a perfect opportunity to invite Dan to take the stage and describe his work in children’s homes.
Dan gave an enlightening speech as can be replayed in this next video.
The event concluded with me raising a glass to Graham Levell
There were questions from the audience (to both me and Dan), the evening concluding with a thought-provoking and lively discussion. At the end of the video, you can hear my answers to the questions but not all the questions (the acoustics were not good enough). Last but not least, I brought along a box of paperbacks. I was delighted that everyone who attended bought a signed copy and I sold them all, a great result!
Conclusion and aftermath
I felt the book launch went well and it was good to have Dan there, who I feel has been very involved in this project. After Dan spoke, I mentioned my tribute to Graham Levell (and raised a glass in his honour as mentioned). As Dan said, if the worst hadn’t happened, he would have been there, but if he couldn’t be there physically, he was definitely there in spirit.
At the end of the evening, Dan bought four copies of Lethal Ties for members of Graham’s family. They were scattering his ashes next day. It seemed like an eerie coincidence in the aftermath of my book launch, as if the two were spiritually connected. Even stranger, the ceremony took place on the beach in Marine Drive West, a stone’s throw away from my home. Dan used to live nearby (1996-2013) and he told me that he and Graham spent a lot of time on the seafront there, philosophising and just hanging out, chatting, often at the sea edge, walking out and back with the tide… I hope his memory lives on.
What Next?
This has been on my mind for a long time, but I always imagined holding a book launch at the Waverley Pub. This place has special significance now, since it is where I interviewed Graham in September 2019. Furthermore, Dan and Graham’s family went there to raise a glass to him, (after scattering his ashes). I’d asked the management if I could hold a book signing, some weeks ago.
BOOK SIGNING AT THE WAVERLEY – AUGUST 22nd 2021 – from 2:00pm
This event is now booked. I’ll be in the snug room for the afternoon, happy to talk to visitors about Lethal Ties, set in Bognor Regis. It is here Maisie and her friend Jess visit on a Friday night, to listen to live music and socialise. And there is a scene in the snug room where Jess presses Joe to share his most intimate secrets…
“No one took much notice of them as they crept around to the other side of the bar; a secluded snug room that separated them from the main lounge.”
I look forward to meeting people, happy to sign more paperbacks and raise another glass to Graham Levell. I hope he rests in peace and long may his spirit live on.
With publication of LETHAL TIESless than a week away, I’ve been writing about my characters, the psychological issues that affect their lives, but this weeks post is about my book’s all important location: West Sussex.
Bognor Regis
I’ve lived here since 1996 and despite some of the adverse (and in my opinion), unfair publicity, Bognor in fact, boasts more hours of sunshine than anywhere in the UK, has a lovely stretch of beach and a unique coastal landscape to the west. The rocks lining the shore (Bognor Rocks) are haven to many fossils, a mysterious sight at low tide, even more so behind a sea mist or in the fading light of a sunset.
Woven into in the storyline, Sussex residents will recognise some familiar haunts: from meetings in the Waverley pub on the seafront, to a meal at Mamma Mia, and there is even a touch of romance when two character dine at Sen Tapas.
Bognor town centre features, as does the Job Centre and Marine Park Gardens. Maisie has a flat in Annadale Avenue (chosen for it’s proximity to the Station, a sneaky escape route through a garden) and Joe gets a job in Sainsbury’s as an online shopper, (a job I was hired for myself in 2016).
I have already mentioned the sea mists in Bognor Regis and in one scene, this creates an eerie atmosphere when characters find themselves at the centre of a police investigation.
sussex and the south downs
The story begins in Bognor. Maisie finds her old friend, Joe, sleeping rough in the beach hut opposite the Waverley and helps him to turn his life around.
That is, before Joe receives vile abuse on twitter. Clues in the tweets suggest they could be in danger but with a build up of suspense, one character is drawn further afield to other areas in West Sussex, fascinated by the countryside and various beauty spots.
Eartham
Nestling on the edge of the South Downs sits the village of Eartham, its idyllic pub, the George, and the Woods beyond. But when Maisie is invited on an impromptu day out, she has no idea what is in store for her.
The George is a pub where the characters enjoy Sunday Lunch
A lovely place for a walk… but for Maisie, forests cause panic.
The view from Goodwood Trundle
The Pergola at West Dean Gardens
The day takes many twists and turns. After nearly suffering a panic attack in Eartham Woods, (as a result of her phobia) she suggests heading over Goodwood way and a visit to West Dean Gardens, one of her favourite places. West Dean Gardens is an impressive estate which looks stunning in all seasons, notable for its pergola, mature trees and walled Victorian kitchen gardens.
“… as we strolled across the lawn, I could not wait to show him the pergola; a spectacular three-hundred-foot Edwardian walkway paved in flagstone. An air of mystery immersed us as we followed the path to the end; the climbing plants twisting around the pillars, a riot of wild roses fragrant against the feathery purple plumes of wisteria…”
East Lavant
The concluding part of the story takes place in East Lavant, a tiny village just outside Chichester. Maisie is lured to a mysterious but beautiful cottage nestling in the countryside beyond the village. Could this be the house of her dreams?
There is something about the remote woodland location that evokes suspicion in Joe. All he wants to do is protect Maisie yet fears she is becoming isolated. From the first trip to East Lavant however, the story gathers momentum, before the mystery that’s haunted them since childhood is revealed…
Pagham
The story ends in Pagham, with reference to the tranquil harbour, a nesting place for migrating birds and the tiny white herons known as egrets. Where do the characters go from here? You’ll just have to read the book to find out.
My debut Sussex based psychological thriller LETHAL TIES will be published this coming Sunday (April 18th 2021) and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.
It will soonbe available in paperback too, and I am hoping to hold a Bognor book launch in the summer.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my blog in the run up to LETHAL TIES being published. For more information, stay in touch by networking with me on social media.
Beta readers are essential. Beta readers will reveal aspects of your writing you may not be aware of and I have come to rely on honest feedback to fine tune my works of fiction. You may not like it. On the other hand, you may be thrilled by the response you get, but ironing out these potential flaws is what makes your work stand out above others. So be brave, ask someone impartial, someone who isn’t a friend or family, who might otherwise be afraid of offending you.
Latest Update
Time is marching on and I am delighted to report the news that my debut psychological thriller is close to completion.
The cover has been decided. I appreciated everyone’s feedback, but the 3rd design was a winner and stood out clearest as an Amazon thumbnail.
This post however, is a heartfelt thanks to those who were kind enough to give ‘Lethal Ties’ a first look. This book underwent numerous edits and re-writes and by the time it was as polished as it could be, I sent it to an editor (who I’d also like to acknowledge). But first allow me to share some of the views that came back from the beta readers.
Pacing and Style
The first of my beta readers thought ‘the pace was a little slow, with perhaps too much descriptive content which tended to slow the plot down.’
I take this onboard, while at the same time thinking about personal preferences – i.e. this is not a high-octane action thriller, but a psychological suspense thriller, which tend to be slower paced. Having read many books in this genre, I realised in my earlier draft that I revealed too much too soon, and it killed the suspense. This slow drip feed of action was done for a reason. Having said that though, the descriptive content needs looking at so I will cut this down to a reasonable level. Descriptions add colour but less is more. There is no point overdoing it and any ‘overly elaborate literary language’ can go. I was also advised on dialogue tags, e.g. trying too hard to avoid the word ‘said.’ Even my editor pointed this out, another area I can improve on.
Set up and pay off
Reading the response from my second beta reader got me thinking about character motivation and this was a real eye-opener, especially where the evil protagonists are concerned.
The baddies in this story don’t feature much. They are shadows in the background, their presence so subtle, you won’t know who they are until later. This was also done for a reason and being a suspense novel, I want to keep my readers guessing. Yet I don’t want to ‘stretch people’s credibility’ too far, so this needs looking at too. Investing more time in setting up the bad guys, as well as their motives, will have all the more impact when the final twists are revealed.
The final edit
In response to this feedback, I am in the process of a final edit now, taking on board all the comments. I can reveal that ‘Lethal Ties’ is on Amazon and available to pre-order, while at the same time, I’m approaching digital publishers and agents. Having the backing of a professional company will get this out to a much wider audience, if successful; but if I have to stick to the self-publishing route, so be it.
and finally…
With publication getting close, I am so excited to reveal who my editor was. Joel Hames is a best selling author who has written many books in the corporate world of finance and law. His newest book, ‘The Lies I Tell’ is a brilliant psychological thriller about identity fraud and has just been relaunched by ‘Spellbound Books.’
Joel gave my book an extra polish in his copy edit, but his response to my book was very positive.
‘I really enjoyed this and I think you’ve hit what you were aiming for here. It’s tense and thrilling, and it was impossible to know what was going to happen, even with the benefit of the prologue.’
******
In my next blog, I’ll be exploring another theme and that is child abuse in its various forms, the impact on victims and how the cycle can be broken. This will include a special tribute to Graham Lovell, whose chat was the biggest inspiration behind one of the book’s main characters, Joe.
On a freezing cold winter’s day in lockdown, too drizzly to even venture out for a Sunday walk, I started thinking about book cover designs. I’ll keep this post relatively short but I ended up with 3 designs and would very much welcome some comments, here, with regards to which one works best. Bearing in mind that when designing a book cover it is more than just a picture; more a shop window for promoting your master piece, so the balance of imagery text and colours is important.
Lethal Ties is a tense psychological thriller set in West Sussex.
Two characters, who met in a children’s home, share traumatic memories. But as they attempt to seek the truth and trace a missing friend, they are plunged into a vortex of online threats and intimidation… until a police investigation is launched.
DESIGN 1
The thinking behind this first design is fairly simple. Female lead character, Maisie, has a recurring nightmare, where she finds herself trapped in a forest. Staring up, she sees a circle of trees, the night sky just visible through the bare branches.
It is a chilling image and the lack of any other detail leaves an element of mystery, but is it too understated? Perhaps a little boring?
DESIGN 2
I was wondering if the inclusion of a character would make the cover more appealing. Sam, an angelic but vulnerable 11-year-old boy vanished in 1995, never to be seen again. But 20 years later, Maisie is haunted by a vision of a similar looking boy stood on a dark wooded roadside.
I’ve blended in the same trees image from the first design. My only concern is the boy in this photo and although he seems traumatised, he looks younger than 11.
DESIGN 3
This photo was taken by the same photographer (and could be the same boy) but the back-of-the-head image portrays a sense of departure. When Sam disappeared from Joe and Maisie’s lives they never knew what happened to him. The tree in the background is very evocative of Maisie’s nightmare, as if the two are connected.
But is this image attention grabbing enough to make you stop and look? What about the title and wording? Would it tempt you to read the synopsis?
Now the book has now been professionally edited and soon to go out to beta-readers I’d love to get some opinions on the three designs. Please leave a comment in the box below to reveal your favourite cover.
It is rare I dedicate an entire post to a book review, but this deserves some recognition.
For the benefit of the unconverted, I’ll explain something about the series first. ‘Six Stories’ by Matt Wesolowski is unlike anything I have read. These novels do not follow a conventional story arc. They are unique. The what is going to happen has happened, but what lurks beneath the story? Six Stories is more of an aftermath, a series of podcasts, in which six people pick over the bones of what they think happened… it is up to you, the reader, to work it out.
DEITY (SIX STORIES #5)
Journalist, Scott King, reviews a case, interviews six different people over the death of an enigmatic pop star, Zach Crystal. Think ‘The Beatles,’ ‘The Bay City Rollers’ and it may call to mind thousands of hysterical fans – something akin to religion…
But with super stardom comes a sense of invincibility. Starting out with sister, Naomi, the ‘Crystal Twins’ hit fame in the 90s until eventually, Zach goes solo. Just before his death, darker rumours about the megastar begin to surface; chilling video footage of two girls trapped in a cave, sobbing and terrified. And in a case similar to Jimmy Savile’s, accusations of abuse come crawling out of the shadows.
Who is lying? Who is telling the truth and at what price?
This fascinating medley of view points inspired me to make some comparisons of my own, thoughts I’d like to share.
Episode 1: Monster Busters
You’ve heard of online grooming, internet predators using fake portraits on social media to attract victims. This phenomenon appeared in Matt’s second series, Hydra: Monster Busters (or pedophile hunters), adults who pose as children to entrap the online groomers – and if they agree to meet – game’s up! Here, we meet Ian Julius who claims to have caught Crystal trying to arrange meetings with underage girls but as the ultimate iconoclast, is turned into a figure of hate.
I had to ask myself why?
If someone is famous enough, they become almost untouchable, while genuine cases, where youngsters are abused sexually by their ‘heroes’ are not believed. The ‘accusers’ are threatened or compensated. Likewise, Ian the monster buster suffers trial by media, with sparse evidence to prove what he’s uncovered about the star. The upshot is Crystal turns the tide, suing the Monster Buster £millions after his claims go public.
Think Jimmy Savile, a man who covered up vile abuse against victims for decades and got away with it. Could this be a similar story?
Episode 2: Zach Crystal Stan
The second character Scott interviews disputes such claims, YouTuber and super fan, Sasha Stewart. In the first part of her podcast, Sasha lashes out at Crystal’s accusers. Dismisses their claims as ‘bullshit,’ quick to demonise them for exploiting the megastar to make money. In Sasha’s eyes, Crystal can do no wrong, a benevolent star who invited vulnerable girls in care to stay in his amazing woodland fairyland. He donated masses to charity and she is 100% dedicated to defending him.
Think Michael Jackson, another megastar who built an ultimate fantasy attraction.
This episode put forward a different perspective, one I could easily be swayed by. I never believed the stories about MJ, a child like figure, if not a modern day ‘Peter Pan’ who lived in a surreal bubble. The similarities are unnerving, victims offered huge sums in compensation. It begs the question were these stars easy targets to exploit?
Yet in another way I was reminded of the Rochdale abuse scandal. These too were ‘vulnerable girls,’ groomed and raped by a gang of Muslim men but instead of arresting the perpetrators, police feared the right wing backlash. Worst was the way the victims (some as young as 12) were portrayed, as if they were to blame.
Episode 3: The Secrets of the Whispering Wood
With extracts from a live interview between podcasts, this episode is quite spooky, but I’ve started to notice a common theme. All ‘Six Stories’ books include some folklore or monster in the background; in the first it was the hideous Marsh Hag, Nanna Wrack, ‘Black Eyed Kids’ in ‘Hydra’, the ‘wood-knockers’ in ‘Changeling’ and a vampire in ‘Beast.’ Deity unmasks a terrifying creature, known as a Frithghast, some form of apparition that takes the form of a deer, half rotted, exposing glowing red eyes and antlers.
Local groundskeeper, Craig, describes the legend; a man employed to manage Crystal’s estate, a vast area of forest in the Scottish Highlands, where the megastar created his famous treehouse lit with fairy lights. Craig has seen the fans Crystal invites here (12-15 year old girls from troubled home backgrounds, or in care). But whilst security is tight, there is something sinister in the atmosphere. Rumours of the Frithghast abound, alluding to the video footage at the start… and it’s a bit gruesome.
Nothing is conclusive, only that it ends when Scott discovers a note left on his windscreen, a lead to the next interview…
Episode 4: The Special Girls
Here we meet Marie Owen, mother of one of the girls who stayed at Crystal Forest. This I found a particularly sad episode, in so much as her daughter vanished to join a vigil of mourning fans. All I discovered in this episode was how obsessed and infatuated the girls became with their idol and it made me wonder if they were looking for an escape, or a crutch, in a similar way to religion.
This story is of a mother’s pain, someone who has tried everything possible to fulfil the her daughter’s dream, yet lost her in the process. Furthermore, she is vilified in the media – so I have to ask:
Why did the megastar choose to rehouse them, from a council estate to some exquisite mansion? Was this an act of kindness or a means of compensation to suppress something more sinister?
Episode 5: You Get to Go Home
Remember Skexxixx, from Hydra, a fictitious superstar in his own right? Describing the religious care home he was brought up in and manipulated into thinking he was evil, he tells of a secret alliance with the megastar, in so much as he was contracted to write his songs after the split from his sister. Conversely, he has also recognised a darkness in him.
“Something evil lived inside that man. Something cold.”
There is an unusual thread to this story, one that intrigues me, that when Zach Crystal went solo, he and Skexxixx formed an almost symbiotic relationship and he dated his sister, Naomi. Throughout this podcast he reveals that Zach was no angel and no genius so how did he became almost God-like?
This naturally leads into a discussion about the victims – or ‘accusers’ as they are called with a very interesting play on words: “If I punched you in the face right at this moment and you called the cops, you’d be the victim of an assault by Skexxixx; you wouldn’t be ‘Scott King the Skexxixx accuser.’”
This once again highlights the power surrounding the megastar.
Episode 6: Being Nobody
There are many strings to this story; a disgraced star, the unaccountable death of his friend, James Cryer, in the forest, a terrifying legend, accusations of former fans, the enigma surrounding Crystal’s temporary disappearance, a live TV interview in which he announced a sudden come-back and finally his demise.
Zach Crystal’s woodland mansion and tree house were destroyed in a fire, where it is believed that he too, perished. But the loose ends floating around in the ether are too numerous, to an extent that no one really has a clue what happened.
I am not going to say much about Episode 6 but it blew me away; the man behind the mask revealed, the truth of his death and that of his friend explained in a manner that ties up the entire mystery. After reading all episodes, this book concludes with such a brilliant twist, I cannot tell you how chilled I feel…
It’s been a while since I mentioned writing, especially my current work in progress (WIP).
This standalone novel is a psychological thriller set in 2015 located in my home county of Sussex.
Sadly my writing took a nose dive in 2019 when I lost all confidence. I started the book in March 2019 but then things went a bit wobbly. It was like learning to ride a bike again. As soon as I made some progress, I would read it back and shake my head. Stop. Edit. Have another stab at it and still it didn’t engage! Grrrr! I was tearing my hair out with frustration, I even shed tears, thinking the creative power in my brain had been switched off. Even when we took a holiday in the most beautiful part of France, I read some good psychological thrillers to see if I could figure out where it was going wrong. I was inspired enough to embark on another complete re-write. But then the dreaded Coronavirus struck, leaving me so anxious, I was unable to move forward again.
Outline Synopsis
Joe, Maisie, Sam. We were three kids in a care home, too young to protect ourselves. Three friends who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing.
The story is centred around a group of fictitious children’s homes that existed in London in the 90s. Maisie, a professional woman at 32, has psychotherapy, unable to understand what lies at the root of her recurring nightmares and panic attacks.
Joe meanwhile, has led a troubled life from serving time in prison to being homeless. When the two characters cross paths in 2015, they recall memories of the strange parties they were taken to by the home’s sinister owner, Mr Mortimer… but what happened to Sam? 20 years ago he vanished, never to be seen again.
Yet as Joe tries to turn his life around, he is subject to a campaign of online abuse that makes them wonder if their enemies are still around – until a police investigation is launched.
Back in the writer’s chair
By mid April it struck me I needed to take a different approach; look at the nature of the police investigation at the heart of the story. Going through the chapters, I identified which parts needed research and further delighted to get some help. Speaking to a senior police officer who worked on similar cases to the one I am writing about, I have found a new direction. So I finally thrashed out the nuts and bolts of the investigation
With a brand new focus, the next hurdle was getting inside the heads of my characters. They took a while to come out, especially Maisie. So by the time I was immersed in a second re-write, I drafted her scenes in first person, something that enabled me to think like her, imagine her life and feel her anxiety (something which comes naturally.)
Joe’s character has been easier. Writing his part in 3rd person, he is a likeable rogue with fire in his belly; an angry rebellious young man at the pinnacle of his life. Now all he wants is justice.
Last of all, I wanted to be able to picture my characters which is where Pinterest came in useful. You only have to key something as obscure as ‘auburn hair’ in your search and dozens of faces appear. I found the right faces for both Maisie and Joe (depicted as Jack Falahee), as well as their childhood friend Sam.
Joe, Maisie, Sam.
We were three kids in a care home, too young to protect ourselves.
Three friends who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing.
The remainder of the story
I have now drafted out a huge part of the story and about to tackle the final phase. But with a full synopsis worked out, I think I have an adequate foundation to complete a first draft. Wish me luck because if I succeed I’ll be looking for beta readers and an editor.
I’ve seen lots of fellow authors rediscover their writing passion during these strange times and hope this will be the start of something promising. That aside, I’ve really enjoyed getting back into it.
Same Face Different Place 