FAQ

What made you start writing in the first place?

My son had an argument with gravity. Gravity won. Since in the days following my ability to retain information was around the same level as filling a sieve with water - I wrote him a diary for when he woke up. My family and friends encouraged this behaviour.

What’s the fastest way to tell one of your books was written by you?

My name on the cover is usually a big give-away.

Why are your books so dark?

I'm still discussing this with my therapist.

What’s the difference between writing something dark and writing something just to shock people?

Anyone can write something shocking, I wanted to write something dark enough to stick with you when the book is closed.

What fictional trope annoys you enough to make you want to write an entire book out of spite?

All of them, to varying degrees.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever researched for a book?

"What's the quickest and safest way to give someone hypothermia?"

What’s currently sitting in your search history that would concern a normal person?

'What's the best drug to use to render someone unconscious but able to feel?'

Which of your characters would survive five minutes with you in real life?

Kellan - he's as unhinged as I am.

Which character would you immediately tell to fuck off?

Styx - if he appears he can absolutely go away, I'm going nowhere with him.

What’s the most “what the actual fuck is wrong with you?” idea you’ve had while plotting?

Read Clinical Judgement. That's an entire collection of them.

Do you plot everything, or do your characters regularly ignore the plan and ruin your life?

I plan nothing - that way I'm never disappointed by the outcome.

What’s one writing rule you happily ignore?

Word counts - it takes as long as it takes. I'm not shortening a story to stick to a pre-conceived notion of how big a book should be.

What writing habit do you have that would horrify an editor?

I will delete entire chapters if they don't fit. I do not care.

What’s the hardest thing for you to write?

Anything remotely sensible.

What’s the easiest thing for you to write?

Violence.

Why do you care so much about consequences in fiction?

Because there's only so much plot armour I can stomach before I stop believing in the premise.

What’s your biggest problem with dark romance tropes?

There's never any consequences.

What kind of reader are your books actually for?

Anyone with a strong stomach, unhinged mind, and a penchant for chaos.

What should readers absolutely not expect from your books?

A Happy Ever After - nothing is safe here.

What’s the most ridiculous sentence you’ve ever said while explaining one of your plots?

"Do you think it's a step too far?" (For those curious the reply was - "For you? No.")

Do you ever scare yourself with your own ideas?

No, I scare myself with how many I can have in a day.

What happens when curiosity gets hold of you?

Usually sleep deprivation and a rabbit hole I've made with an excavator.

Why do your stories keep crossing genres instead of behaving properly?

I write story-led, not genre-led. It ends up where it ends up, that's future me's problem.

If someone asked what your author brand is in one sentence, what would you say?

Sarcasm, caffeine and spite.

What should people know about you before they decide to stay?

That I’m probably not going to behave like an author is “supposed” to. I swear, I question everything, I take tropes apart to see how they work, and I have a bad habit of turning passing thoughts into entire books. I write dark things, but I’m not interested in darkness for the sake of looking edgy. I like consequences, uncomfortable questions, complicated people and humour in places it probably shouldn’t be. If you need everything neat, romanticised and genre-compliant, I’m probably going to irritate you. If you like your fiction a little feral, welcome.