Vital Statistics: The Birds Began to Sing

Posted on by

For the next few weeks, I’m running a “vital statistics” series on my each of my gothic mystery novels, beginning with The Birds Began to Sing.

Title: The Birds Began to Sing

The Birds Began to Sing_1600x2400_Front Cover

Plot: When aspiring novelist Alice Darnell enters a competition to write the ending for an unfinished manuscript by late, world famous author Sasha Hawkins, it appears she might have her big break at last.

However, upon arrival at Sasha’s former home – the sinister Blackwood House – Alice is unsettled by peculiar competition rules, mysterious dreams and inexplicable ghostly visions. She begins to question her sanity as she is drawn into a terrifying web of deceit, revenge and murder.

Expect: A big twist ending.

Wordcount: 89,000.

Current Amazon reviews: 12 five star reviews, 1 four star review.

Current Goodreads reviews: 5 five star reviews, 8 four star reviews, 1 three star review.

Scariness rating: 4/10. More psychological thriller/mystery than horror, and if it were a film, probably wouldn’t be rated stronger than 12A (that’s PG-13 for our American cousins). Yes, there is plenty of page-turning suspense, with our imperilled heroine wandering spooky corridors at night, but let’s put it this way; my notoriously easy-to-scare mother braved it, and managed to reach the ending unscathed.

Read if you enjoyed: Rebecca (Daphne Du Maurier), Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte), Sleeping Murder (Agatha Christie).

To pick up a copy click here (for the UK) and here (for the US).

Writing Update: “The White Nest”

Posted on by

To say 2020 hasn’t gone the way I expected so far would be an understatement. However, in one respect it has gone to plan: I have just finished the first draft of my latest novel.

I won’t announce the title just yet, so let’s call it The White Nest for now. That won’t be the final title, but the White Nest is an element of the narrative. What is the White Nest? Is it something sinister? Obviously. This is a gripping gothic mystery akin to all my previous endeavours in that genre, including The Birds Began to Sing, The Irresistible Summons, Spectre of Springwell Forest, The Thistlewood Curse, and Phantom Audition.

The White Nest has a full checklist of my favourite gothic tropes, including a sleepy south-west England village, haunted forest, eerie mansion, secret tunnels, dubious secret experimental facilities, occult secret societies, ghosts, demons, curses, mysterious disappearances, childhood memories buried by trauma, rug-pulling twist ending… you name it. You could even call this novel Now That’s What I Call A Simon Dillon Gothic Mystery if you really wanted to, as it is something of a compilation of my preoccupations, genre wise.

Like some of my earlier novels, this one also straddles the borders between mystery thriller and supernatural horror. However, one key trope has changed. Instead of a tenacious imperilled heroine at the centre of the drama, this story features a male protagonist. In fact, this novel is different in a number of ways, because it is a highly personal work. Yes, I know, all writing is personal to some degree, but this one really does jab some of my raw nerves in the themes it explores – including the challenges in sibling relationships, parental fears, false guilt, coming of age, and more. In that respect, it is my most “personal” work since Children of the Folded Valley.

The actual plot? Sorry, that remains top secret for now. It’s likely to remain top secret for some time too, as I need the dust to settle on this one, before I return to it with a fresh eye. Although presently a hefty 105,000 words or so, I hope to shave about 10,000 words from that length, deleting a few less essential subplots and/or characters, much like what happened with The Irresistible Summons.

As for what I’ll be writing next, I do have a nifty idea for a fantasy novel, based on a rather strange dream I had last year. When I shared this dream with a colleague, she said that if I didn’t turn it into a book, she would! At any rate, I hope to begin at least outlining this one soon.

In between planning, I’ll probably pen the odd short spooky story, including one (or possibly two) set during the present pandemic. Watch this space.

Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge Revisited

Posted on by

Last month, I revisited my debut novel Uncle Flynn with a number of articles. This month, I’m putting the spotlight on Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge, but with just one article this time.

Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge is a page-turning adventure story aimed at all ages, although primarily of appeal to those who enjoy novels such as Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series. Check out this rather cool cover (courtesy of the excellent Charles Bown).

DrGibbles_1600x2400_front cover

A thrilling, fun, and sometimes scary ride (particularly in the first act), the opening chapter alone features a haunted house, a monster, and a mad scientist.

Set in 1987 towards the end of the Cold War, we’re introduced to our hero, eleven year old Tim; an intelligent, witty, but bullied child who gets trapped in the afore-mentioned haunted house. After a frightening encounter and narrow escape, he and his older brother Rob are drawn into a gripping adventure involving their neighbour; the mysterious, seemingly insane Dr Gribbles, a former government scientist.

Dr Gribbles was involved in a number of top secret experiments, one of which draws the attention of spies from Britain, America, and Russia – as well as Dr Gribbles’s estranged daughter Emily. Mayhem ensues amid a game of cat and mouse on the bleak wilderness of Dartmoor, hushed-up military research bases, mysterious archaeological digs, hidden tunnels, vehicular chases, twists, turns, betrayals, and much more. At one point, there are also wasps. Lots of horrible, angry wasps…

I should add that the wasp incident is actually based on a rather nasty real-life incident that my children and I had the misfortune to suffer (though we look back on it now with some amusement). The book is dedicated to my youngest son Thomas, on whose elaborate and imaginative nightmares the story is also partly based.

To get your copy of this madcap but marvellous adventure, simply click here.

Fancy a gripping read?

Posted on by

Fancy a gripping, page-turning supernatural mystery? Why not check out any of the five novels below.

The Birds Began to Sing_1600x2400_Front Cover THE THISTLEWOOD CURSE Cover (JPG Print version) SSF cover

simon-dillon-irresistible-summons-full-res PHANTOM AUDITION

I refer to them collectively as the “Spooky Quintet” (a silly collective term, I know). Each one features a nail-biting central mystery, a tenacious imperilled heroine, sinister secret orders, shock twists, and plenty of wandering around gothic labyrinths of one kind or another.

To get your copy, simply click on the covers.

Uncle Flynn Revisited – Themes

Posted on by

Uncle Flynn_Cover_600pxOver the next few months, I’m highlighting some of my earlier novels. This month, I’ve been delving into treasure hunt adventure Uncle Flynn.

So what is Uncle Flynn about? If you want a proper introduction to the story, click here. However, the themes of the novel can be summed up thus: overcoming fear and the dangers of mollycoddling.

My protagonist Max suffers severe anxiety and panic attacks. He has many phobias, and there are satirical suggestions in the story that the UK’s risk-adverse society is at least partly to blame for this. For instance, one sequence early in the novel has Max being initiated into a secret club in school – a club that dares to play conkers without “protective head gear”. Max and the other children are caught and punished for their dangerous behaviour. This may sound absurd, but my late father (who was a teacher) told me that this kind of nonsense was being introduced into UK schools, in the name of health and safety.

However, such satire is largely peripheral, and the novel implies throughout that Max’s difficult, estranged relationship with his father is what really lies at the heart of his problems. In attempting to impress his father, Max – along with his mysterious, genuinely dangerous uncle – takes increasingly reckless action in his quest to find the treasure. The irony of the story is that mollycoddling actually leads Max to take greater and greater risks.

Of course, this makes the novel sound terribly heavy and worthy, and I can assure you it isn’t. It is, first and foremost, a children’s adventure story. I didn’t deliberately write it to contain any kind of conscious “message”. Rather, I have noticed these themes and ironies after the fact. What is important to any author will always be inherent in the text of their work, and in this case, I can see these themes in retrospect.

Here are a few reader review snippets, again mainly to reassure that then novel isn’t a pretentious, preachy slog, but a fun, gripping adventure for all ages:

“Harking back to the wonderful adventure stories of Arthur Ransome, Uncle Flynn is a welcome return to the excitement of outdoor exploits in wild surroundings. Excitement, tension and peril combine in a well-written tale where The Goonies meets Swallows and Amazons. The evocative descriptions of treasure seeking on Dartmoor will have you longing to visit and explore for yourselves. Action-packed puzzle-solving pleasure for children and adults alike, with a neat twist in the tale to keep you guessing.”

Mrs Alice R Brewer, Amazon.co.uk

“A treasure for all ages. Kids and teenagers would love this fast-paced adventure story. Most adults would also find it a light and enjoyable read.”

B Fraley, Amazon.com

“Don’t pass this one by… Doesn’t matter what type of fiction you like to read, I can imagine this would capture just about anyone’s attention – and heart.”

willreadanything, Barnes and Noble.

“Could not put the book down, so enjoyed the journey. Recommended it to my 12 year old grandson who now wants me to be his book reading adviser. Loved by three generations.”

Brinney, Barnes and Noble.

“What a wonderful book for young readers and anyone else who loves a book with a great twist on an amazing story of courage over fear.”

Beansie47, Barnes and Noble.

“I’m an 83 year old woman. Your book was a joy to me. I felt I was having all the adventures myself at this ripe old age. Your book was like a cold drink of water on a hot day. Thank you.”

Joan McLaughlin, commenting on the Uncle Flynn blog.

“I downloaded the book for my boys to read, and thought I’d just read the first few lines… Needless to say I read to the end! Well written and most enjoyable – great adventure with life lessons woven into the story.”

Cecile Weyers, commenting on the Uncle Flynn blog.

Uncle Flynn is available on Kindle and in paperback. Click here to pick up a copy.

Uncle Flynn Revisited – Influences and Inspirations

Posted on by

Over the next few months, I’m highlighting some of my earlier novels. This month, continuing my series on treasure hunt adventure Uncle Flynn, here are some key books and films that influenced or inspired parts of the novel.

Treasure-IslandTreasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson) – The granddaddy of all treasure hunt adventures, the influence of this classic could hardly be overlooked. In particular, the character of Long John Silver and his relationship with Jim is a key inspiration. Silver is a compelling character, but he is dangerous, and you are never quite sure whose side he is on, or if he will suddenly turn on Jim. There are hints of this danger in the relationship between Max and Flynn in my novel.

nintchdbpict000106548352Five On A Treasure Island (Enid Blyton) – I’m a big fan of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series. Whilst Five Go To Smuggler’s Top is my absolute favourite, this initial entry is also a cracking tale of children finding the treasure of local legend. It also illustrates one of the key principles of a great treasure hunt narrative (whether aimed at adults or children), in that the discovery of the treasure is ultimately and ironically secondary to obtaining something of even greater value – in this case, lasting friendship between the children, and the restoration of relationship between George and her parents. In my book, the treasure is important, but the restored relationship between Max and his father is the much greater prize.

2356417Pigeon Post (Arthur Ransome) – Arthur Ransome’s superb Swallows and Amazons series are shamefully neglected by many these days. They normally concern boating adventures, but in this instalment, our heroes go prospecting for gold in the Lake District, whilst dodging the attention of a rival prospector. Other books in this series are more famous, but I always had a soft spot for this one. Peter Duck was another Ransome influence, incidentally.

IMG_0429The Goonies – A gang of children follow a map to buried treasure to save their neighbourhood from being torn down by smug property developers who want to build a golf course. Yes, it’s all rather noisy and obnoxious, but for children of a certain age (ie my age), this film can do no wrong. Packed with maps, cryptic clues, secret passages, booby traps, villainous rival treasure hunters, and so on, this is an obvious influence on my book that it would disingenuous to ignore.

IMG_7214Mary Poppins – The Disney film rather than the PL Travers’s novels are the inspiration here. Mr Banks routinely ignores his children (and to be fair, so does Mrs Banks). The magical Mary Poppins then appears, taking the children on extraordinary adventures whilst work drives Mr Banks to a nervous breakdown. However, upon realising what is important in life, Mr (and Mrs) Banks then are reunited with their children – at which point Poppins exits stage right. This theme is echoed in Uncle Flynn, with the establishment of the estranged relationship between Max and his father, which then gives way to adventures with Flynn, ahead of the big twist in the finale.

Uncle Flynn is available on Kindle and in paperback here. Another article about it will appear next week.

Uncle Flynn Revisited – Locations and Local History

Posted on by

Uncle Flynn_CoverOver the next few months, I’m highlighting some of my earlier novels. This month, continuing my series on treasure hunt adventure Uncle Flynn, here are some details about the locations and local history that informed the text.

The novel was initially inspired by the many walks I had taken with my eldest son on Dartmoor. We had visited several memorable locations, including Cater’s Beam, Sherberton Stone Circle, the “Crock of Gold” Bronze Age tomb, and Wistman’s Wood. These all turn up in the novel, even if I am somewhat liberal with the geography.

It might surprise readers to discover that some of the dangers faced on Dartmoor by the characters in the novel are not entirely fictional. There are deadly mires, especially the notorious Fox Tor mire and Raybarrow Pool. In addition, there are wild boar in the west (now documented fact). There have also been several panther sightings in the area, though most of these were on Exmoor rather than Dartmoor. The sheer number of these (and a few dubious photographs) raise eyebrows on a regular basis, although how they got there is a mystery. Some suggest that the UK Dangerous Pets Act in the 1970s caused eccentrics who owned big cats to turn them loose, and that they somehow bred in the wild. And yes – you can see adders on the moors at warmer times of year, though they typically slither away if you get anywhere near them.

p05w2g4gBuckfast Abbey was another key location used in the book. Much of the history of the abbey works its way into the novel, especially regarding how Henry VIII burned priceless Catholic books, closed the abbey, and had its gold and other treasures transferred to London. William Petre, who is mentioned in the novel, oversaw this process. He later retired in the south-west, purchasing a couple of manors. Uncle Flynn moves beyond these facts to suggest William Petre had other motives for returning, namely that he had become obsessed with tracking down the treasure hidden by a few clever monks that had slipped through his fingers.

I always enjoy combining local history with fiction in my writing, and Uncle Flynn is a very good example of this. To find out more about the story in the novel, click here.

Uncle Flynn is available on Kindle and in paperback here. There will be more articles about this novel throughout the month.

Uncle Flynn Revisited – An Introduction

Posted on by

Uncle Flynn_CoverI’ve decided to revisit some of my earlier novels in a series of articles this year, with a monthly spotlight on some of these works. To begin with, for the month of February, I’m putting the spotlight on Uncle Flynn.

Uncle Flynn was in fact the eighth novel I wrote, but was the first I decided to self-publish. Having been turned down by agents and publishers, my brother-in-law suggested this thing called Kindle on Amazon, and I decided to give it a go. The book was a modest success, and received some very good reviews – although I’m sure the fact that it was free at that time helped.

A treasure hunt adventure story for children, the novel is, like all my children’s books, also aimed at adult readers. The story concerns eleven-year old Max, a boy who suffers from crippling phobias and anxiety. Estranged from his workaholic father, Max’s life gets interesting one day when his mysterious uncle Flynn – an archaeologist normally working in South America – comes to visit.

During his stay, Max and Flynn discover clues pertaining to a local legend – a treasure buried on Dartmoor by monks, during the sacking of Buckfast Abbey at the time of Henry VIII. Following these clues lead to the discovery of a map. Max begins to put aside his many fears and hang-ups due to his obsession with finding the treasure. Flynn is equally obsessed, despite the dangerous presence of rival treasure hunters.

Complicating matters even further, once they set off across Dartmoor, Max discovers the police are on their trail. What has his uncle done to put himself at odds with the law? Flynn urges Max to help him evade his pursuers. Because he is so desperate to beat their rivals to the treasure, Max agrees, despite his uncle’s refusal to tell him why he is on the run.

I hope that has whetted your appetite.

Uncle Flynn is available on Kindle and in paperback here. There will be more articles about this novel throughout the month.

Phantom Audition: Recent Interviews

Posted on by

PHANTOM AUDITIONI’ve recently been interviewed on a number of blogs, mainly to promote my latest gothic mystery novel Phantom Audition, but also to discuss my writing in general. Here are some of those interviews.

The Dark Phantom

What do you love most about being an author?

“There is also no better feeling in the world than knowing you’ve delivered a gripping, thrilling, scary, surprising, satisfying, moving, and transcendent narrative to a reader.”

Click here to read the full interview.

As the Page Turns

What kind of advice would you give other gothic horror/thriller authors?

“This may seem like odd advice considering the genre, but don’t try too hard to scare people – at least not at first. You want to draw them in, lulling them into the narrative, seducing them into your world… until they cannot escape.”

Click here to read the full interview.

Blogging Authors

Do you outline or are you a pantster?

“I’m a control freak and outline everything. I won’t start a novel unless I have an ending I think is amazing. Then I work backwards from that point.”

Click here to read the full interview.

The Writer’s Life

What message are you trying to get across with your book?

“I’m not a fan of consciously trying to for a “message” into my novels in a sordid, self-important way. Grinding the social, religious, or political axe is for preachers, politicians, activists, and so on – not authors writing spooky mysteries. I greatly dislike being preached at in fiction, and am increasingly intolerant of it, the older and warier I get.”

Click here to read the full interview.

STOP PRESS: My most recent interview is on fellow author Andre Carter’s blog here.

Happy New Year!

Posted on by

Happy New Year!

2020-investment-choices-article-v2After an exceptionally busy 2019, I plan to take things a little easier this year. I very much doubt I will release any new material (either through publishers, or self-publishing) but whilst that might sound disappointing, it’s a necessary reaction to the last year or so, which featured the release of three novels – Spectre of Springwell Forest, The Irresistible Summons, and Phantom Audition – as well as the short story Papercut, part of the First Love anthology.

So no, I probably won’t have anything new out this year (although I’m not ruling that out entirely). But that doesn’t mean I won’t be writing constantly. For a start, there will be the usual ongoing articles and updates on the blog, but more importantly I’ll be writing one, possibly two, new novels.

The first of these is another gothic mystery that falls neatly into my usual psychological/supernatural horror/thriller spectrum. Unusually for me (in this genre at least), it will feature a male protagonist. The story explores a number of universally relatable themes; for instance, difficult and traumatic sibling relationships, and fears that parents have about their children as they grow up. With a gripping, spooky and sinister mystery at its core, the novel will be a must for anyone who has enjoyed my earlier novels of this kind, and I can’t wait for people’s reactions to the ending. What else can I tell you? It’s set in Oxford and the South-West, and the title is… no, I’m hanging on to that information for now.

The second novel I might tackle this year is one I’ve only just started to outline. It’s a dark, dystopian fairy tale, probably aimed at older children/young adults, based on a very strange, vivid dream I had last year. When relaying said dream to one of my colleagues, the colleague in question insisted the premise was so good that I write a novel based on it, or else she would! I hope I can live up to her expectations.

Last year I had planned to finish my long-awaited science fiction anthology, which has evolved into a collection of stories varying between novella and short story in length. There are seven in total, but due to how busy I was last year, I only wrote two – one novella, and one short story. I will attempt to revisit this project later in the year, if I get the time, as I really do want to write the remaining stories I have outlined.

Elsewhere, I am revisiting a number of older manuscripts – mostly in the fantasy genre – in an attempt to get them up to scratch to potentially show agents/publishers. I’m not sure what my next move will be in that arena, but as ever I’ll keep you updated on the blog. Watch this space.