Tag: author

Projects & the hermit dream

Posted on by peterhackshaw

I’m behind on Oblivion – Netherdei #3, but writing is well underway now and it’s good to be at it again.

I’ve been dealing with skin cancer – hopefully caught early enough and not for anyone to worry about – which made me realise what an absolute idiot I was in my twenties, lying in the sun on holidays covered in <5 factor oils, feeling invincible, trying to change the colour of my skin. It feels so absurd now – but if I had a word with that lad puffing his chest out in 00s Ayia Napa, Malia, Laganas or Ibiza, he wouldn’t listen. I’ll try to educate my kids instead…

As well as Netherdei #3, I’ve plotted a couple of books that I will certainly put ink to later this year, after my cultivation series is well and truly completed.

One of these is going to be a follow-up to Ever Winter. I’ve had a lot of people ask me about this in recent years as I left some strings untied, believing that I had more to explore in that world. It’s great that others share this and I hope Ever Winter will reach more audiences in the coming years, after some cool developments.

The other book that I plan to write needs a title.

It’s a near-future sci-fi, featuring an old man living on a remote island. I’ve been thinking a lot about this book and it’s made me realise that I would love to live off-grid (*with a little bit of wi-fi) someday. I’ve been enjoying programs about homesteads and preppers and all sorts of survival. I find it really interesting and see that these people all enjoy the most enviable views of nature.

In the very least, one day, I might be living in the garden shed, pretending it’s Alaska or Outer Hebrides. The kids already moan that we can’t order KFC or McDonalds where we live today, so I might have to wait a few years for this, or just get the shed now.

I’ve read quite a few books lately. The ones I’ve enjoyed the most are the 1980s-penned southern gothic horror Blackwater by Michael McDowell and Freakslaw by the brilliant, Jane Flett – another horror, unravelling page-by-page as I read it.

Although my TBR-pile is growing, buying books is considered research.

I feel better just reflecting on that fact.

50 Shades of Ever Winter

Posted on by peterhackshaw

I finally met Victoria Gerken of Podium Entertainment, after years of engaging with her on email, insta, zoom and all-else.

After enjoying her company through seminars on how robots will ultimately rise up and destroy us, I was in the audience for the Podium-sponsored panel on the future of audiobooks – and it was at the close of the discussion that Victoria gave me the brilliant idea to create a playlist of songs on Spotify, inspired by Ever Winter.

Podium picked up my first novel for audio and they majestically found Dan Stevens to narrate it (who has already been brilliant in Godzilla x Kong, Cuckoo and Abigail in this year alone).

I’ve taken ideas of how some of the scenes feel to me (both in print and audio) and found songs – and great cover versions of songs – which I think go with the key scenes of the story.

You can check out the play list below. Share, follow, even create your own.

I’m also interested to see if anyone can match any of the songs to scenes in the book and if any of you disagree entirely in the ‘feel’ of the music and if you would put different genres of songs together for the same soundtrack.

Fun!

https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/3qa0lnO02WmW7s1in2V11D?utm_source=generator

What I have in common with E.L James…

At the Self Publishing Show Live at Southbank in London, romance authors Lucy Score and E.L James took to the stage to answer questions on their careers and in particular how they started out.

E.L James is famous of course for ’50 Shades’ – and I enjoyed hearing how her career started out writing for English comedians/TV personalities, Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves.

Both authors were asked about their writing styles, formats and prep and it struck me (like a whip on my bare buttocks), that I have a lot more in common with E.L James than just swings and handcuffs…

We both tried Scrivener and retreated back into Word. We both do fairly little plotting and we both edit our chapters ‘as we go’. (Although I could not live without an editor to point out all the errors that I still remain blind to at the end).

Basically, I am a different-genre, far less-successful, male Wish-version of E.L James…

and it’s not such a bad thing.

The Darkest CORE

Posted on by peterhackshaw

Netherdei Book 2 release update.

The Count of Monte Cristo waited a long time for his revenge and I feel that my readers have been just as patient with the follow-up to The Shadow Sect – Netherdei #1.

Last year was very tough for me personally. Serious illness in my family – and other things – meant that I couldn’t write (in fact I couldn’t open my laptop for a while).

My deadline for submission passed, leaving me feeling even worse, although my publisher, Portal Books, were extremely supportive and understanding – which I am so grateful for.

What I can say now and what I take from this whole experience, is that I’ve poured so much of what I felt during those numbing, stagnant months, into The Darkest Core – Netherdei #2.

Last night, I submitted my draft for editing. I had a Japanese whisky (no ‘e’ in theirs) and sat down, reflecting for at least five minutes on my achievement.

Then, I did the typical writer-thing of wondering how the hell I could better The Darkest Core and surpass it in the as-yet completely unwritten Netherdei #3. That’s crazy, right?

Writers do this. They beat themselves up and don’t allow more than five minutes to celebrate what is a real success. Even if I missed the bloody deadline by a mile.

This is why I wanted to post today, after so long. To thank you all for supporting my writing journey. For messaging. Sending memes of your favourite characters and moments. For giving me a nudge.

The Darkest Core has been a labour of love, as well as a personal struggle. It has dialogue and prose that I’m most proud of, out of all of my work – and I’ve improved as a writer, just as my MC, Falken Calder is progressing immensely as a Cultivator.

You’ll never please everyone. You’ll find a critic almost everywhere. But, as my puerile mate, Warmund Tripp would say, ‘Fuck it.’

I just submitted a book that makes me proud.

I hope you love it.