Hello Readers! Another fun day of Book Content for You!
Today I have the pleasure of sharing an interview with Nicky Peacock author of The Battle of the Undead Series and new release Lost in Wonderland, Book #1 in The Twisted and the Brave Series. I also have an excerpt from Lost in Wonderland for you.
Excerpt is recommended for ages 14+ due to violence and adult situations.
Could you first tell us a little more about yourself?
I’m
an English author based in the UK. I was first published back in 2012,
although I’d been trying to get published pretty much all my life. I
write urban fantasy, horror and paranormal romance for both YA and adult
markets. I’m most interested in writing stories that have a sharp dark
edge to them. I grew up in a mid-sized town and didn’t have access to
help or mentors for my writing, so I’ve decided to become that person
for local writers. I run a busy adult writers’ group and also volunteer
to run creative writing workshops for local schools and colleges.
Why did you decide to start writing? What was your inspiration for Battle of the Undead?
I
love both vampires and zombie stories, but when I looked around to try
and find a book that featured vampires fighting for humans in the zombie
apocalypse, I found none. There were plenty that had supernatural
creatures together, but none that showed what it would be like if True
Blood meet The Walking Dead. So I wrote it.
How did you come up with the plot for Battle of the Undead? And did you do any research before writing your book?
Vampires
tend to be old, and I loved the idea of having sworn enemies having to
work together for survival. I included themes of magic VS science as
well as having a protagonist that would have to change her ingrained
ways to help the vulnerable people around her. I did research on
character traits and London, where it’s mainly set. I had the action
centred around specific tourist sites that most readers would recognize
and be interested in. I’d love to say that I did some zombie research by
entering zombie runs, or trying out those live action role play events,
but I just don’t have the courage for something like that!
Was there anything really challenging about the writing of this story? Any obstacles you might have run into?
Not so much with the Battle of the Undead books, but I did with Lost in Wonderland.
My protagonist, Mouse, has the fear of being lost, which is my fear.
It’s a hard one to explain really to most people, especially with cell
phones and satnavs easily available to stop people getting lost, but it
can be crippling, no matter how confident and brave you are in other
facets of your life. I channeled my thoughts and feelings through her in
certain scenes, and it proved to be difficult, but worth it. I think it
perhaps gave her a vulnerable vibe that made her more endearing to
readers.
What is your favorite part about the writing process? Do you have a special writing spot?
I
love plotting and coming up with ideas. I just get frustrated that I
don’t have the time to execute all of them – I have to prioritize. I try
to write outside my home as there are too many distractions – cleaning,
cooking, watching TV. I have a fabulous battery life on my laptop so
love going to different pubs, cafes and places of interest in my area. I
find that I can concentrate more with the sort of white noise of people
around me.
Is there anything about you that would surprise your readers – hobbies, likes, dislikes, etc.?
I’m
a bit of a shopaholic and can easily spend every day all day shopping. I
prefer tea to coffee and will only eat animals that I think would eat
me – if given the chance! I love badminton, but am competitive so can
only play with strangers, I’d ruin friendships if I played with friends!
If you could spend time with any author, who would it be and why?
I
do spend time with another local author, Jane Issac. She writes adult
thrillers and is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. It’s lovely to
spend time with someone who writes; those outside the business tend to
have misconceptions about it. Also, being an author can be very lonely,
so having a cup of tea with someone navigating those same literary
waters can be wonderful.
What are you reading right now? Do you have any book recommendations for the young adult/ new adult reader?
I’ve been reading Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers. I love her books; they are teen historical fiction with a splash of urban fantasy.
