What inspired the idea for your book?
I take inspiration from people. I am fascinated by how humans think, how terrible things often make them do the things they do. I love the darker side of humanity. The world isn’t all fluffy kittens and chocolate.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
I try to search for potential characters I know will have something to share, something dark that lives inside them that readers can empathise with. From a deep mental trauma then springs a plot idea that I can utilize around the characters actions.
What advice would you give to help others create plotlines?
Think about how you want the ending to look. Then work backwards and ensure there is a powerful beginning. A great beginning hooks the reader, a great end ensures they come back for more.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
From mental illnesses that are under represented and not widely spoken about. It is a big world out there, with so many sufferers. I want my books to tackle questions not widely discussed.
What risks have you taken with your writing that have paid off?
I write from the mindset of the antagonist. The anti-hero. I have never read a book told from the viewpoint of the villain, and because the world is not black and white, I wanted to change how readers see characters. Three books published and a new series about to launch in September, all changing how readers perceive the idea of ‘good and bad’.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I look for motives. What makes a person do the things they do? What creates a killer? They aren’t Disney characters. Real killers kill for a reason. I look for the why.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That I enjoy getting inside the minds of serial killers and nutters.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
Once I have finished a novel, it takes a few weeks for me to get out of the mind of my previous characters before I can start a new book.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
To always be improving. Never think you have nothing to learn purely because you’ve written and published previous books. As a writer there is always something new to say, a fresh way to say it.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Write every day and keep improving your craft. Write and rewrite every sentence until your words flow so naturally, they appear effortless to read. The best sentences are the ones that took the longest to create.
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