Phantom Audition – Initial Reviews

Posted on November 8, 2019 by simondillon

My new novel Phantom Audition is a nail-biting gothic mystery. It encompasses a wide variety of themes, including being in love with something that doesn’t exist, abuse of power, how artists can become narcissists who think that moral codes do not apply to them, the dangers of tampering in the occult, obsession, madness and much more.

Here are a few snippets from initial reviews on Amazon and Goodreads:

“Phantom Audition is one of the absolute best books I have recently read… A brilliant mystery… with plenty of suspicious characters, you will be enticed to turn each page as you travel through this mystery to its surprising conclusion.” – Sue Marie.

“Stole my sleep for two nights… I know I’ll be thinking about so many of the characters, twists and turns, and emotions I came across on this reading adventure… I can’t say that I’ve ever read anything remotely similar to this plot.” – Kelli Pizarro.

“I love this story with all of its puzzles and strong emotion. Mia is a complex main character who is lost in grief after her husband’s death. She is searching not only for answers, but also to be able to own her own skin again. She feels lost in her husband’s shadow and is determined to come into her own. The way Simon weaves the side characters into the plot, revealing more and more secrets to the puzzle is genius. The setting also felt like an additional character, which I loved so much. I will be rereading this book many times, as I do only a few books that I also love.” – Rowan Thalia.

“Left me wanting to re-read it right away — like the feeling you get after watching an M Night Shyamalan film — where you suddenly realise maybe you were asking the wrong questions all along! A thoroughly enjoyable, page-turner read.” – Sara Meg Seese.

“PAGE-TURNER! I thoroughly enjoyed Phantom Audition… Dillon is a skilled storyteller; his characters all convey their backstories and humanity through their natural/believable dialogue and actions, that their motives are always clear. Every single piece fits into the puzzle perfectly.” – Ximena Escobar.

“A fantastic, page-turning, supernatural mystery! Thrilling from start to finish, with plenty of intrigue, Phantom Audition will have you on the edge of your seat… Had me guessing again and again how it was going to end, all the way until it actually ended… Reminded me of how much I love the mystery genre and how badly I need to read more like this.” – Antonio Gonzales-Rodriguez.

Phantom Audition is published by Dragon Soul Press. Click here to get it on Kindle or in paperback.

Phantom Audition – Settings, Research, and Revisions

Posted on November 1, 2019 by simondillon

My new gothic mystery novel Phantom Audition is out now, and messing with the heads of readers to agreeable effect, judging by the plethora of five star rave reviews currently gracing sites like Goodreads and Amazon. I’m very pleased, as I put a lot of work into this book.

Preparation for writing any story of this kind involves research into a number of fields, but in this case I was able to draw on a lot of my own knowledge regarding film. Having worked in television, and had some limited involvement in film productions (including making my own short films on various occasions), I drew on what I already knew in many cases, but also investigated a number of fascinating facts from film history.

For example, the idea of a famous actor consulting a medium about whether or not they should take a role is directly inspired by the late, great Peter Sellers, who did exactly that. Rather more unhappily, cases of actors burying themselves in parts with alarming effects on their mental health are not uncommon. Perhaps the most notorious and tragic relatively recent example is found in Heath Ledger, who died of a drug overdose after finishing work on The Dark Knight, where he played the Joker. Heath Ledger posthumously won an Oscar, again something that directly inspired the story in Phantom Audition.

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Settings also play a key role in the novel, which briefly takes in Wardour Street in London – home to many film and television production houses – as well as Boars Hill in Oxford, where I used to live. However, the most notable location is the Jacobean mansion at the heart of the story. In Jacobean buildings, there really are sometimes priest holes from the times when Catholics were persecuted by the ruling Protestant monarchs in England. Said Catholics would often hide in these places to avoid arrest. Baddesley Clinton House in Warwickshire is one example, and another is Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk. Both are owned by the National Trust and are open to the public.

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Here is one final point of interest not about research or locations, and more about the writing process itself. Unlike my previous novel The Irresistible Summons, which had huge swathes of plot, subplot, and characters excised (almost 20,000 words) from first to final draft, Phantom Audition survived largely intact, aside from the usual editorial nips and tucks, with one key exception. Originally Mia’s best friend Bronwyn and hired help Verity were one and the same character. I did this to try and condense characters, but in this case it proved a condensation too far, and made the finale too implausible. It felt a lot more believable to separate the characters, so I undertook a significant rewrite to change that element of the plot.

Phantom Audition is published by Dragon Soul Press, and is available now in paperback or on Kindle. Click here to get your copy.

Phantom Audition is out tomorrow

Posted on October 18, 2019 by simondillon

My new novel Phantom Audition is out tomorrow! Paperbacks are already available, but Kindle versions can be pre-ordered here.

A gripping, gothic nail-biter, Phantom Audition oozes with mystery and suspense, and has already had some terrific reviews.

If you enjoyed any of my previous supernatural/psychological thrillers, you’ll love this one. Conversely, if you were put off my previous novels Spectre of Springwell Forest or The Irresistible Summons because of the “horror” label, you’re on much safer ground here. This one has plenty of suspense, but it isn’t really scary. For more details on scariness levels in my “Spooky Quintet”, click here.

Phantom Audition is out this week

Posted on October 14, 2019 by simondillon

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My new novel Phantom Audition is officially released this Saturday! Needless to say, I am rather excited.

Also, this week, my publisher, Dragon Soul Press, have organised an online launch party for Phantom Audition on Facebook, on Saturday at 6:30pm UK time (1:30pm Eastern time). Click here at that time to catch me and other talented authors celebrating this new release with games, giveaways, a Q&A, and other fun stuff.

My other hosts include Zoey Xolton and Galina Trefil, both of whom are superb writers, and I highly recommend their work. Zoey opens the party at 6:30pm, and Galina is on at 7:30pm. My “headlining” slot is at 8pm (all UK times).

A gripping, gothic psychological/supernatural mystery, Phantom Audition has plenty of page-turning suspense, but I wish to re-emphasise that I don’t consider it a horror story in the same way as my previous novels Spectre of Springwell Forest or The Irresistible Summons. So if you were put off those because you thought they might be too scary, why not give this one a try?

Here’s the blurb from the back of the book:

Small-time actress Mia Yardley, recently widowed wife of renowned actor Steven Yardley, discovers her late husband’s secret acting diary.

The diary details appointments made with a psychic medium, who advised Steven on which roles to take. It also raises questions about his mysterious and inexplicable suicide.

Seeking answers, Mia speaks to the medium, but in doing so is drawn into an ever- deepening mystery about what happened to her husband during the final days of his life. Eventually, she is forced to ask the terrible question: was Steven Yardley murdered by a vengeful evil from beyond the grave?

Phantom Audition is published by Dragon Soul Press, and is out on the 19^th of October. Paperbacks are already available, but Kindle versions can be pre-ordered here.

Phantom Audition – Paperbacks out now!

Posted on September 18, 2019 by simondillon

Paperbacks for my new novel Phantom Audition are now available – ahead of the official October release date. If you prefer your novels in dead tree format, click here (in the UK) and here (in the US) to order your copy now.

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Here’s the blurb from the back of Phantom Audition:

Small-time actress Mia Yardley, recently widowed wife of renowned actor Steven Yardley, discovers her late husband’s secret acting diary.

The diary details appointments made with a psychic medium, who advised Steven on which roles to take. It also raises questions about his mysterious and inexplicable suicide.

Phantom Audition is published by Dragon Soul Press, and is officially released on the 19^th of October.

How scary are my novels?

Posted on September 13, 2019 by simondillon

I’ve had a lot of people ask about the level of scariness in the novels from my “Spooky Quintet” (yes, it’s a rubbish umbrella name, but it’s temporary until I can think of a better one).

As I’ve said in the past, I’ve been reluctant to label these novels as horror, purely because that term conjures up gory images of axe murderers stalking foolish teenagers. My horror stories have a rather different sensibility, and some are more horror-ish than others. In fact, I would argue they are more modern-gothic ghost story mysteries, on the whole.

Still, since I’m asked this question all the time by nervous, I-don’t-do-horror-but-your-books-sound-interesting readers, here’s a non-spoiler overview of how scary you can expect these novels to be, and where they fit within my psychological mystery/supernatural thriller/horror spectrum. I’m calling this the “SSS” – Simon’s Scariness Scale. I’ve also include one or two “comparison texts” so you can get an idea of not only the scariness tone, but the kind of scariness.

The Birds Began to Sing

The Birds Began to Sing_1600x2400_Front Cover 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. It’s only a notch up from something like Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca.

SSS rating: 4/10.

The Thistlewood Curse

THE THISTLEWOOD CURSE Cover (JPG Print version) This begins more like a whodunnit, develops into a supernatural thriller, and really only segues into horror during the finale, in quite a gradual slow-burn. Yes, the bodies do pile up a bit, but in scariness, only a notch or so up from The Birds Began to Sing.

SSS rating: 6/10.

Spectre of Springwell Forest

SSF cover A properly full-blown ghostly gothic horror mystery, most akin to something like an MR James short story, or The Woman in Black. It is a slow-burn, but it does build to a properly spine-chilling finale that will test the nerves, so I’m giving this one a higher scariness rating.

SSS rating: 9/10.

The Irresistible Summons

simon-dillon-irresistible-summons-full-res For the most part, I’d argue this is a supernatural conspiracy thriller. However, the final act is undoubtedly in clear horror territory, in a pretty full-on manner. Comparison texts would be something like Coma crossed with the more horrific elements of Lars von Trier’s The Kingdom.

SSS rating: Most of the book, 7/10, the last bit, 10/10.

Phantom Audition

PHANTOM AUDITION Despite the sinister (and rather brilliant) cover, this is much more a psychological mystery/drama than a horror tale. In fact, I’d argue it isn’t really scary at all. Suspenseful and gripping yes, but not scary (despite a violent sequence near the end). With this book, I was more interested in messing with your head than making you afraid. It is more unsettling than The Birds Began to Sing, but no more scary, if that makes sense. I’d also add Sarah Water’s The Little Stranger as a scariness comparison text.

SSS rating: 4/10.

Phantom Audition is published by Dragon Soul Press, and is out on the 19^th of October. Click here to pre-order your copy now.

The Irresistible Summons: Settings and Research

Posted on August 9, 2019 by simondillon

Simon Dillon - Irresistible Summons full res Whilst writing my latest supernatural horror/conspiracy thriller novel The Irresistible Summons, I researched a number of paranormal, religious, and scientific subjects, as well as locations that were crucial to the narrative. However, in this article I’m going to skirt around some of what I delved into, for fear of spoilers.

One of the primary reasons I wrote the novel was because I wanted a haunted house story that wasn’t set in a traditional gothic house, but instead in a modern office building. The seeds of this idea came as far back as my university days. One particular building where I attended lectures had been designed in such a way that when lights were mostly switched off, the lobby, corridors, and staircases looked very sinister indeed. I even partially shot my dissertation film – a vampire short – in that building. The late, great Ken Russell himself saw a rough cut of the film, and rather liked it. But I am digressing (and showing off)…

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When it came to write this novel, setting it in London became a no-brainer, because I wanted the climax of the film to take place in the labyrinth of abandoned and disused London underground railway tunnels. I often joke that the only thing I need to write a good story is an imperilled heroine and a sinister labyrinth. To that end, The Irresistible Summons features a haunted office block on Canary Wharf, where a software company and various other businesses are based. Underneath this building are secret lower levels where nefarious top secret experiments are taking place, which in turn connect with the passages that lead into the old railway tunnels, and even darker ancient secrets.

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It’s not all set in the city. Some locations in the south-west are important to the story too, especially Wistman’s Wood on Dartmoor. This ancient and atmospheric forest of stunted dwarf oaks has now featured in several of my novels, and one short story. However, this novel features, in my view, my most vivid, memorable, and emotionally resonant use of the location.

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As to the scientific fields I researched for the novel, I must remain tight-lipped so as not to spoil the surprise, but let me just say that one major theme of the story is far less outlandish than it sounds. Indeed, experiments and research into this particular field are being conducted and have advanced to an alarming degree. That’s all I’ll say, in the hope that it arouses curiosity about the novel.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the main protagonist in the novel, Naomi Levinson, is from a messianic Jewish background (although she is certainly what you might call “lapsed”). A minority religious group often derided by both Christians and Orthodox Jewish communities (especially in the Middle East), this proved an interesting subject to delve into, as I personally know a number of people in these groups. I used my own background in television as a knowledge base for the characters involved in documentary productions, but other obscure subjects touched on in the novel required more detailed research (Kabbalah exorcism, for instance).

In short, as ever, the research process for this novel proved fascinating and illuminating.

The Irresistible Summons is published by Dragon Soul Press, and is out now. Paperbacks or Kindle downloads can be ordered here (in the UK) and here (in the US).

The Irresistible Summons: Influences and Inspirations

Posted on August 2, 2019 by simondillon

Which books and films influenced The Irresistible Summons?

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Here are five key texts that informed the telling of my latest ghostly mystery novel.

Pet Sematary – Stephen King’s bleakest novel is also concerned with how far people are prepared to go to bring back their loved ones from the dead, regardless of the cost. His novel is very different to mine, but the themes – desperately grieving individuals who lose sight of reality in the pursuit of their macabre goals – definitely share DNA with my story.

Fatherland – The Irresistible Summons isn’t just a modern gothic horror but also a conspiracy thriller. In fact, I’d argue the tone throughout is more conspiracy thriller than horror. For that reason, I’ve included this novel, by Robert Harris, in my list of influential stories. The plot – set in a parallel universe where the Nazis won the war – has no bearing whatsoever on my novel. However, the tone of investigation into a gradually uncovered conspiracy was certainly something I strove to emulate in my telling.

Coma – Both Robin Cook’s novel and Michael Crichton’s film adaptation are key inspirations. The premise – a possible conspiracy in a Boston hospital whereby patients are being deliberately placed in irreplaceable comas – is a masterclass in escalating unease and paranoia, building to full blown suspense set pieces that are pure modern gothic. The film in particular is terrific, with Genevieve Bujold making a fantastic imperilled heroine. Michael Douglas is also good as her is-he-or-isn’t-he-in-on-it boyfriend. A real nail-biter, and a major tonal influence on my work (not just this novel either).

Riget (The Kingdom) – This Danish TV miniseries, partly directed by Lars Von Trier, was edited together for an epic cinema release in the UK, which I caught sometime in the mid-1990s. I’ve never forgotten it. Think Casualty/ER meets Ghostbusters/The Exorcist, with a healthy dose of Twin Peaks thrown into the mix. Quirky, mysterious, funny and frightening, I cite this as an influence mainly for the notorious segment where a woman’s pregnancy is gradually revealed to have a disturbingly supernatural origin.

The Descent – This brilliant Neil Marshall directed horror film, about a bereaved woman and her friends discovering more than they bargained for on a pot-holing expedition, was considered so disturbing that the ending was actually censored in the US, ending a few minutes before the version we see in the UK, and thus blunting the true horror of what has occurred. Said censored ending was certainly a key influence on one moment during the finale of my story.

The Irresistible Summons is published by Dragon Soul Press, and is out now. Paperbacks or Kindle downloads are available here (in the UK) and here (in the US).

The Irresistible Summons – Out Now!

Posted on July 27, 2019 by simondillon

It’s finally here! My new novel The Irresistible Summons is officially released today! Check it out here (in the UK) and here (in the US).

Also, don’t forget you are invited to the Facebook release party for this book, today at 5pm UK time to 9pm UK time (12pm to 4pm East Coast time). Just click here at the appropriate time to join in the fun, games, giveaways, and so on.

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I will be hosting between 8:00pm and 8:30pm UK time (3:00pm – 3:30pm East Coast time), but my publisher, Dragon Soul Press, has cunningly invited other talented authors to co-host as well, at different times, including Zoey Xolton, Galina Trefil, Stephen Herczeg, Kevin J Kennedy, Anna Sinjin, and Charles Reis.

Here’s the blurb from the back of The Irresistible Summons:

The nail-biting new novel from the author of Spectre of Springwell Forest…

Television producer Naomi Levinson makes documentaries debunking the supernatural.

When asked to film a promotional video for computer game company Persephone, she considers the task beneath her talents. But as production gets underway at the Persephone office block on London’s Canary Wharf, a mysterious disappearance, ghostly sightings, and lingering tragedy from Naomi’s past lead her to believe she might have stumbled into a genuine haunting.

As Naomi continues to investigate, past and present collide in a horrifying conspiracy. Cutting edge technology and ancient evil meet, leading to the discovery of a shocking and terrifying secret that could change the nature of life and death as we know it.

The Irresistible Summons – Out Tomorrow!

Posted on July 26, 2019 by simondillon

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My new novel The Irresistible Summons – my second to be published by Dragon Soul Press – is officially released tomorrow.

Supernatural conspiracy thriller. Horror mystery. Modern gothic ghost story. These are all genre terms that apply to The Irresistible Summons. If you love a gripping, page-turning, suspenseful, spine-tingling nail-biter, why not give it a go?

Paperbacks are already out, and Kindle downloads can be pre-ordered. Check it out here (in the UK) and here (in the US).