The first round of editing for Book 2 is done. Finito. Fini. So what does this mean? Well, it means we go all over again for round 2! For those who’d like to know a little more about my process, round one was the heavy stuff. It felt like it was me and Book 2 in the ring, and by the end of the round, I had it on the floor. A good chunk of it was sucker punched out (15,000 words to be precise). And round 2 is going to help me finish the job. More words will be ruthlessly cut. The towel will be thrown. And then round 3 will see Book 2 getting some much needed TLC. I’ll get it back to full health, make it fresh as a daisy, and reassure it that, although those 2 rounds were painful at the time, they were necessary for its growth. I like to break up these rounds with long walks. Yesterday was an early morning stroll in Meadowbank. The air was crisp, the sun was shining, and there was plenty of room for reflection. I spent most of the time thinking about a place called Cuckoo Cove, a woman called Sara, and a mysterious cabaret club. Oh, and a monster. Now begins round 2… ding, ding. #authorlife #writer #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #writing #editing #publishing
Your boy is on Threads! Follow me there for all the latest Book 2 information. Or, if you don’t have Threads, keep your eyes peeled on my stories 👀🪶 #authorsofinstagram #threads #authorlife #writers #readerlife #readersofinstagram #writerthoughts #bookstagram #booklover
I asked. You answered. The exclusive first chapter of ‘The Secret Cuckoo Cabaret Club’ is now available on my website! Just click on the link in my bio, then click ‘Books’ on the homepage, and have at it! As for what the picture above has to do with this: nothing at all. It’s just bloomin’ cold in Edinburgh, and I wanted to advertise that. Have a nice day, and happy reading! #book #bookteaser #firstchapter #exclusivebooks #authorlife #writer #writersofinstagram #reader #readerlife #scifibooks #mysterybooks #horrorbooks
Last week, I sent the winner of the cryptic title clues a Scottish Mystery Box, which included the first chapter of Book 2. I think it’s now time for everyone else on here to get their first sneak peek. Who wants to read the first chapter of ‘The Secret Cuckoo Cabaret Club’? #book2 #sneakpeek #exclusive #bookteaser #chapterone #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #authorlife #authorsofinstagram #booklover #writer
I asked ChatGPT to ask me the five hardest questions you could ever ask a writer… Let’s see if it delivers. #bookstagram #author #authorlife #authorquestions #qanda #indieauthor #writerthoughts #booksbooksbooks #writer
Merry Christmas everyone! Oh, wait, is it Christmas yet? By the looks of bookstagram, it’s certainly creeping in, which means it’s time to read the best Christmas book (and watch the best Christmas movie… the Muppets one)! Charles Dickins was clearly still feeling Spooktober vibes when he wrote this once, welding a ghost story and Christmas joy seamlessly together. A masterstroke, no less! What’s your favourite Christmas book/movie? #christmasbooks #achristmascarol #muppetschristmascarol #booklover #bookstagram #authorlife #author #ghoststory #writersofinstagram #books
Feelin’ wintery, might delete later. In all seriousness, winter is certainly tapping on Edinburgh’s door. Much of Book 2 is being edited in a Slytherin snood, complete with hot coffee, and sometimes a pair of non-holey socks when I feel like treating myself. Adamant not to turn the heating on just yet. Perhaps when icicles start forming on the kitchen cupboards. For now, the Slytherin snood is doing the job. If you had a snood like this, what house would you be representing? #slytherin #edinburgh #writerthings #authorlife #editingbooks #reading #horror #horrorbooks #bookstagram #booklover
Book 2, ‘The Secret Cuckoo Cabaret Club’, has been announced! But who won the infamous Scottish Mystery Box? Watch to find out 👀🎁 #authorlife #giveaway #bookgiveaway #bookstagram #writerthoughts #authorsofinstagram📚 #scifinovel #mysteryfiction #horrornovel #bookannouncement #booksbooksbooks
Found this copy of The Lord of the Rings in a charity shop for just £1. Love the cover. A lovely autumnal vibe, which is perfect for right now, when the Edinburgh days are getting shorter, cooler, the last remnants of summer starting to crisp. 🍂 #lordoftherings #jrrtolkien #edinburgh #autumn #autumnvibes #lotrvibes #writerthoughts #author #bookstagram
My sister came up to Edinburgh for the week, and we decided to do another secret book box on the Royal Mile. I won’t lie to you, it’s difficult putting yourself out there in front of people. The idea is to do the same thing street performers do. Present our ‘show’, offer it to tourists and locals, and let them pay what they think it’s worth. But, man, it’s so outside of my comfort zone. I can’t imagine how hard it is to put yourself out there nearly every day. But that’s exactly what people like Matt the Hobo — AKA David Boček — do. They’re out there on the Royal Mile being creative and sprinkling a bit of magic into everybody’s day. And they’re actually DOING something, not just standing around near a book box smiling awkwardly at strangers. So here’s an appreciation post for those street performers, especially Matt the Hobo, who I’ve come to know quite well over the last few years (and even tried his rather pungent Czech coffee in his flat one night, which I can still taste every now and then). You all make the streets of Edinburgh glisten a little brighter. #edinburgh #authorlife #author #writer #writersofinstagram #streetperformer #puppet #edinburghlife #royalmile #books
BOOK 2: TITLE REVEAL! Well, here it is! The title for Book 2. And a fair few of you guessed it! The winner of the competition will be revealed later today, so keep your eyes peeled on my stories. I won’t give too much away about the plot — all of that exciting stuff is yet to come! But what I can say is that the book is finished and will be released in 2025… Oh, and that something really, REALLY strange is going on with the cuckoos at Cuckoo Cove…. 👀🪶 Catch you soon! #bookteaser #newbook #horrorbooks #mysteryfiction #booktrailer #titlereveal #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #authorlife #writersofinstagram #author #book #horror #booktitle #booktitlechallenge #secondbook
Author Readalong: Writing Insights 💀💀💀 Chapter Thirty-Seven: After It All Chapter Thirty-Eight: Every Other Sunday 🌊🌊🌊 Back in 2016, when I first got the idea for this story, I talked my brother through the plot. We were sat on the beach, with the cold, red light of the chimney flickering in the distance. I walked through the vague outline of the book, and finished by telling him the twist. That Charlie’s skull is, in fact, Amee’s skull. His eyes lit up and he said: ‘you’ve got to write that story’. And so I did. And here we are at the end of it. I find it hard to give any kind of insights about these last few chapters, even though there’s a lot to say. Marty’s mother, for instance, is an interesting case. Like David ten years ago, she loses her son, but she gets the chance to make things right — understanding that her absence could have torn apart her whole world. The conversation between Winona and David is also powerful. Both of them have come to the ends of their roads — one is light, one is dark, and as I mentioned before, we realise that they are really not so different. But the reason I find it hard to give insights is because, well, it doesn’t really matter what the author has to say. This book is yours, and you can take whatever you want out of it. For me, the ending is meaningful for a personal reason. Just before writing that last section on the beach, I was hit by a terrible mental health episode that lasted months. I couldn’t write, I couldn’t do anything. And yet I got through it, and writing the last few pages was my sign that I had got to the other side. That I had won. It meant a lot to me in my own way, and so I hope it means a lot to you in yours. It’s been so rewarding to read this book with you all, and thanks to everyone for their wonderful messages. On November 1st, these posts will go dark, so they’ll just be between us. But that doesn’t mean the story’s over. Tomorrow I’m going to be revealing the title for Book 2. Things go on. A new story begins. And I really hope you join me for the ride. #author #authorlife #writer #writersofinstagram #scifibooks #bookstagram #horrorbooks #books
Author Readalong: Character Insights 💀💀💀 My character of note here is going to be Amee’s mother. This whole story is about parental love, the strength of that bond, and how it can literally bend the universe as we know it. Amee’s mother certainly did that to be reunited with her daughter again. At the very least, there’s something comforting and beautiful we can find in their ending. When it came to the editing process, the chapter ‘The Warmth’ was a difficult one. In fact, it was the only time where I went against the advice of my editor. In my opinion, this chapter had to be completely wild. There’s no order to it. No rhythm. No rhyme. Everything is happening at once and not at all. It’s describing a world we can only guess at, and so the writing itself had to be just as bizarre and adventurous. You should always listen to your editor, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes, as is the case with this chapter, you can allow yourself to be a bit of a rebel. For the greater good. #author #writerthoughts #horrorbook #scifibooks #paranormal #supernatural #ghostbooks #spooktober #graveyard #edinburgh #authorsofinstagram #authorlife
Author Readalong: Writing Insights 💀💀💀 Chapter Thirty-Three: The Photograph Chapter Thirty-Four: The Green Monster Chapter Thirty-Five: Thinking of the Ocean Chapter Thirty-Six: The Warmth 🌊🌊🌊 Oh, Amee. I remember writing this finale, getting closer and closer to ‘The Green Monster’ chapter, and wishing more than anything that I wouldn’t have to write it. But it had to be done. Amee’s case is tragic, and her mother’s too. If she had just snapped one day earlier, maybe they would have been okay. Maybe they would have left that house and lived happily ever after. But often, the world doesn’t work like that. The seeds were sewn, and they were just too late to recognise death until it was staring them in the face. Gah, if I’m trying to talk about the writing process, I’d say I’m particularly proud of chapter thirty-five. In theory, this should have been a devil of a chapter to write. There are several conversations happening at once. David and Winona. Amee and Charlie. Amee and her mother. Winona and Amee. All of these conversations are happening at exactly the same time, and yet writing the chapter felt easy. Perhaps that came down to visualisation. I could SEE every character in that house. I was watching it like a film. Couple that with writing this scene in screenplay format, and the chapter ended up feeling sharp and concise, which I’m certainly relieved about, because it’s a pretty important one. #readalong #horrornovel #supernaturalbooks #scifibooks #mysteryfiction #authorlife #beautifulbooks #bookcover #writerthoughts #bookstagram
Here we go! The final cryptic clue for the title of my second book! Now here’s how this is gonna work. I’ve shared a template on my stories. All you have to do is click on ‘add yours’, make your guess in your stories, and make sure you tag me. The first one to guess correctly will WIN the Scottish Mystery Box! The full title (and the winner) will be revealed on Halloween. If you’ve forgotten what you guessed for the previous clues, you can find them in my story highlights. Happy guessing! #bookteaser #booktitle #bookstagram #bookgiveaway #giftbox #exclusivebooks #booktrailer
Author Readalong: Character Insights 💀💀💀 As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, compared to the last few chapters (and the whole book, for that matter) the world we find ourselves in now is different. Marty takes the full brunt of that. He’s the one who climbs all the way up to get to the house on the cliff, and the house itself is a quintessential ‘spooky house’. The walls are burned, the windows are dark and empty, and the floorboards are covered in ash. After all that he’s just been through, suddenly finding himself inside a haunted house was probably not what Marty was hoping for. Least of all with a certain tall man waiting in the kitchen. #readabook #bookstagram #horrorbooks #scarybooks #spooktober #edinburgh #edinburghcity #halloween #halloweenseason #newbooks #authorlife
Author Readalong: Writing Insights 💀💀💀 Chapter Thirty-One: The Secret Book Chapter Thirty-Two: The House on the Cliff 🌊🌊🌊 Everything is important. While Amee’s colouring book may have seemed insignificant when we found out about it in chapter nineteen, here, it becomes one of the most important things in existence. Just because of a simple drawing. Writing these two chapters was hard. In a way, as soon as our characters cross the tide, the world of Seeing Dead changes. Things become more mystical, fantastical, the beach feels like something from another world. Not our own. Not really. This was on purpose, of course. As soon as we were in Derling, I wanted things to feel eerie, unfamiliar, to the point where you can’t guess what happens next. And spoiler alert: you really can’t. #readalong #spooktober #skeleton #spookyreads #scarybooks #scifinovels #mysteryfiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #beautifulbooks #books
Author Readalong: Chapter Insights 💀💀💀 While David’s chapter is certainly the most significant, I wanted to take a moment to talk about Winona. In chapter thirty, we finally get an idea of Winona’s motives. She’s a mother. Full of anger and rage, but with a grieving heart at the bottom of it all. It doesn’t make anything that she does right, of course. But I think the most interesting thing about Winona is how similar she is to David. Both of them have lost a child, and both of them have gone on their own personal mission to find justice. Winona is exactly what David could have become, and in many ways, that makes her even more dangerous than she first seemed. #writer #scifibooks #horrorbooks #beautifulbooks #bookcover #horror #scarybooks #halloweenvibes #pumpkins #authorsofinstagram #authorlife #booksta
Author Readalong: Writing Insights 💀💀💀 Chapter Twenty Nine: Winona’s Dead Ward Chapter-Thirty: Across the Silver Tide 🌊🌊🌊 ‘Across the Silver Tide’ is the longest chapter in the book, but it needs to be. This is finally the chapter where we get David’s full story presented to us. We get the beginning: the day that Charlie disappears. And we get the end: where David crosses the tide and gets Marty and Amee to safety. Why do I describe that as the end? Well, because I’m not talking about David’s ending, but the ending of his punishment. A lot of symbolism is going on here. In the flashbacks during this chapter, we have Vanessa worrying about the wounds they have inflicted upon themselves as a result of their absence. She asks if their debt can be crossed and whether they can sew up their wounds on the other side. In the present day, David literally crosses the tide, sits down on the beach, and sews up his wounds. Throughout the book, we also have David describing the tide in his dreams. How far out will it go if everything is in it’s right place and the moon is with you? At the end of this chapter, we see him running frantically around the street Charlie disappeared, screaming his son’s name — ‘echoes that would stay with him for a long time, he had no idea’. And indeed, the punishment DOES last for a long time, but by the time the chapter is done, those echoes have gone silent. The moon was large, the tide was with him, and something greater decided it was time for his punishment to end. #writerthoughts #writer #author #authorsofinstagram #scifibooks #horrorbooks #mysterybooks #bookstagram #booklover #booksbooksbooks #authorlife
Author Readalong: Character Insights 💀💀💀 My character of note here is Marty. It’s important to remember that just one day ago, he was being beaten within an inch of his life by Roman Guild. And now here he is, going undercover and trying desperately to get to Amee. Having said all that, his chapters were a devil to write. ‘The Hospital Again’, specifically, took a load of rewrites to get working. Funnily enough, getting a pretty badly beaten kid from one side of town to the other, and then the ground floor of a hospital to the top (without using a lift) was pretty darn difficult. #readalong #scifibooks #horrornovels #horrorbook #horror #mysteryfiction #authorlife #writerthings #writer #writing #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram