Today I’m delighted to welcome a relatively new author to Writers With Vision. Sarah England is here to talk about her recently published supernatural psychological thriller Father of Lies.
JULIET: Hi Sarah. Welcome to Writers with Vision. Would you mind telling my readers a little bit about yourself?
SARAH:
Thank you for inviting me, Juliet. I am delighted to be here. I’m Sarah England and I’ve been a writer for about 12 years now – mostly short stories and serials for magazines, but I also have a collection of tales from the dark side – ‘3am and Wide Awake’ – and a couple of years ago I wrote a comedy novel – ‘Expected’ - which was originally published with Crooked Cat. I am now writing on my own label – EchoWords – and have republished all 3 books onto that label. When I say all 3 – I have just released my first supernatural horror novel, ‘Father of Lies’.
Originally I trained as a nurse in Sheffield, and then I worked in medical sales and marketing, specialising in psychiatry – so a lot of medically based themes are used in my stories!
JULIET: Could you sum up the plot of Father of Lies in a short paragraph for the benefit of those who have not yet read it?
SARAH:
‘With no known family or identity, Ruby is the most aggressive and disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate High Security Forensic Unit, high on the Derbyshire moors. After two years with no improvement, psychiatrist Jack McGowan, decides to hypnotise her – with horrific consequences. A dark force is now unleashed on every member of the medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby’s shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such evil when no one else can?
Set in a desolate northern mining village, where secrets are kept and intruders hounded from their homes, soon enough all paths lead to a deserted mill…the heart of darkness…and The Father of Lies.’
JULIET: What gave you the idea for Father of Lies? I have to say I am not easily scared but this book freaked me out in parts so I guess horror writer’s objective achieved.
SARAH:
Lots of things came together – my psychiatric background, an interest in clairvoyance, meeting someone with DID (disassociative identity disorder), and some personal experiences with the supernatural. I’d been writing for about 10 years for magazines and really wanted to do something with gravitas – something that would both entertain and bring out a strong message. I hope I have achieved this.
JULIET: Did you have to do much in the way of research into psychiatric disorders and treatments or into the paranormal?
SARAH:
Yes I did a lot of research into DID – this used to be known as multiple personality disorder – as I’d met someone with this condition and wanted to know more about it. I also researched exorcisms and demonology. In fact those books were so terrifying, based on true stories as they were, that I gave them away to a friend and she burnt them – wouldn’t have them in the house!
JULIET: Who is your favourite and least favourite character in the book and why?
SARAH:
My favourite is the nurse, Becky, because she’s so real and so brave. Her heart is there with Ruby, and even though she almost loses her sanity in her efforts to help her – she still rolls up her sleeves and goes back in there to finish the job.
My least favourite is Paul Dean….now it would be a spoiler if I said any more!
JULIET: Are you planning on writing any more books like Father of Lies? (Hoping for a yes answer)
SARAH:
Yes. I very much wanted to make the leap from magazine writing to novels. I had thought it would be comedy after Expected, but now am planning a sequel to FOL. Because I decided to publish my own work I’ve had a huge learning curve in terms of proofreading and editing, formatting and publishing. I’ve made mistakes (hopefully now put right) but am determined to carry on down this path. This way I can get the work out quicker and make the changes I want to make. So yes – another week and I’ll be back to writing with bells on!
JULIET: Do you have any other writing projects in the pipeline? If so would you be kind enough to tell us a bit about them?
SARAH:
My next project is the sequel to Father of Lies. I was going to write some more serials for magazines, and may still do this, but right now I’d like to be the next Stephen King! Stephanie King maybe?? But that depends on the readers and if they like what I do.
JULIET: Would you be prepared to share a short excerpt from Father of Lies with my readers? Please bear in mind some of them may be reading this while eating dinner.
SARAH: Of course! Here’s the possession scene…. J
‘The treatment room had been designed for both relaxation and safety. From the large, double glazed window there was a breathtaking view of wild moorland, painted that day in a glory of purple heather. Clouds scudded across the sky, a weak winter sun chasing shadows over jutting rocks, a kestrel hovering with fluttering, shrouded wings.
Jack pulled the blinds, and slats of crystal light filtered onto the walls. Next to his armchair there was a panic button; and high on the walls, tiny, electric blue lights inside the cameras, signified he and his client would be observed by security staff.
Overhead, fluorescent tubes fizzed, and bulky radiators thumped out suffocating heat. There were no other sounds, save for the wind buffering the solid walls and occasionally rattling the windows.
A small comfortable sofa had been placed beside the window, and in the far corner of the room there was a desk and another chair. A couple of Monets broke the monotony of magnolia paintwork. And the whole room smelled of floor polish.
Ruby sat curled up on the sofa like a small child with her knees drawn up to her chest, holding tightly onto Becky’s hand. Only the slight judder of her legs and the occasional tic in her jaw, gave away the use of anti-psychotic drugs.
Jack sat down. “Are you feeling okay, Ruby?”
Barely perceptibly, she nodded.
He raised an eyebrow. Exchanged a look with Becky. This was not her usual behaviour. Normally Ruby would be eying him suspiciously, recoiling visibly, and kicking if he got too close.
Today though, she appeared to be almost inhumanly calm, gazing at the far wall with her pale blue eyes unfocussed and glassy. Not really there, Jack thought. Far, far away…
Who knew when the monster would leap out of that tranquillity, though? They’d all been caught out before. She could switch in a heartbeat.
“Ruby, you know we want to help you, don’t you?”
No response.
“Thing is - I have something new I’d like to try. Is that okay with you?”
No response.
Then faintly, oh so faintly…Jack strained his ears… there came the silvery humming of an old nursery rhyme, as if it had arrived on a mystical breeze from a time long, long ago…‘Four and twenty blackbirds…’
Fairy-like, he recalled later, a tinkling, ethereal tune, which gradually increased in strength and volume as he explained about the tiny dose of LSD and the gentle hypnosis technique he’d like to try. Anytime she wanted to stop or if she became too distressed, he would bring her out of it. And Becky would be with her the whole time.
The humming grew ever louder. He glanced at Becky. This wasn’t going to work, was it? She was blocking him out.
Then suddenly it stopped. Ruby turned and looked at him with a clear, somewhat challenging expression. Snatched and swallowed the proffered tablet with a glass of water. Folded her arms across her chest and waited.
A sharp gust of wind shook the window.
JULIET: Where can my readers get their own copy of Father of Lies?
SARAH: Both kindle and paperback are on Amazon. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015NCZYKU and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NCZYKU
It will shortly be on nook and kobo, plus smashwords… hopefully by w/c 12th October – and I will post that on my author facebook page as soon as it’s available.
JULIET: Where can people connect with you in cyberspace?
SARAH:
https://www.facebook.com/sarahenglandauthor
http://www.sarahengland.yolasite.com
twitter @sarahengland16
JULIET: Thanks very much for taking time out to talk to me. I wish you every success with Father of Lies & hope it goes on scaring people for years to come.
JULIET: Hi Sarah. Welcome to Writers with Vision. Would you mind telling my readers a little bit about yourself?
SARAH:
Thank you for inviting me, Juliet. I am delighted to be here. I’m Sarah England and I’ve been a writer for about 12 years now – mostly short stories and serials for magazines, but I also have a collection of tales from the dark side – ‘3am and Wide Awake’ – and a couple of years ago I wrote a comedy novel – ‘Expected’ - which was originally published with Crooked Cat. I am now writing on my own label – EchoWords – and have republished all 3 books onto that label. When I say all 3 – I have just released my first supernatural horror novel, ‘Father of Lies’.
Originally I trained as a nurse in Sheffield, and then I worked in medical sales and marketing, specialising in psychiatry – so a lot of medically based themes are used in my stories!
JULIET: Could you sum up the plot of Father of Lies in a short paragraph for the benefit of those who have not yet read it?
SARAH:
‘With no known family or identity, Ruby is the most aggressive and disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate High Security Forensic Unit, high on the Derbyshire moors. After two years with no improvement, psychiatrist Jack McGowan, decides to hypnotise her – with horrific consequences. A dark force is now unleashed on every member of the medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby’s shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such evil when no one else can?
Set in a desolate northern mining village, where secrets are kept and intruders hounded from their homes, soon enough all paths lead to a deserted mill…the heart of darkness…and The Father of Lies.’
JULIET: What gave you the idea for Father of Lies? I have to say I am not easily scared but this book freaked me out in parts so I guess horror writer’s objective achieved.
SARAH:
Lots of things came together – my psychiatric background, an interest in clairvoyance, meeting someone with DID (disassociative identity disorder), and some personal experiences with the supernatural. I’d been writing for about 10 years for magazines and really wanted to do something with gravitas – something that would both entertain and bring out a strong message. I hope I have achieved this.
JULIET: Did you have to do much in the way of research into psychiatric disorders and treatments or into the paranormal?
SARAH:
Yes I did a lot of research into DID – this used to be known as multiple personality disorder – as I’d met someone with this condition and wanted to know more about it. I also researched exorcisms and demonology. In fact those books were so terrifying, based on true stories as they were, that I gave them away to a friend and she burnt them – wouldn’t have them in the house!
JULIET: Who is your favourite and least favourite character in the book and why?
SARAH:
My favourite is the nurse, Becky, because she’s so real and so brave. Her heart is there with Ruby, and even though she almost loses her sanity in her efforts to help her – she still rolls up her sleeves and goes back in there to finish the job.
My least favourite is Paul Dean….now it would be a spoiler if I said any more!
JULIET: Are you planning on writing any more books like Father of Lies? (Hoping for a yes answer)
SARAH:
Yes. I very much wanted to make the leap from magazine writing to novels. I had thought it would be comedy after Expected, but now am planning a sequel to FOL. Because I decided to publish my own work I’ve had a huge learning curve in terms of proofreading and editing, formatting and publishing. I’ve made mistakes (hopefully now put right) but am determined to carry on down this path. This way I can get the work out quicker and make the changes I want to make. So yes – another week and I’ll be back to writing with bells on!
JULIET: Do you have any other writing projects in the pipeline? If so would you be kind enough to tell us a bit about them?
SARAH:
My next project is the sequel to Father of Lies. I was going to write some more serials for magazines, and may still do this, but right now I’d like to be the next Stephen King! Stephanie King maybe?? But that depends on the readers and if they like what I do.
JULIET: Would you be prepared to share a short excerpt from Father of Lies with my readers? Please bear in mind some of them may be reading this while eating dinner.
SARAH: Of course! Here’s the possession scene…. J
‘The treatment room had been designed for both relaxation and safety. From the large, double glazed window there was a breathtaking view of wild moorland, painted that day in a glory of purple heather. Clouds scudded across the sky, a weak winter sun chasing shadows over jutting rocks, a kestrel hovering with fluttering, shrouded wings.
Jack pulled the blinds, and slats of crystal light filtered onto the walls. Next to his armchair there was a panic button; and high on the walls, tiny, electric blue lights inside the cameras, signified he and his client would be observed by security staff.
Overhead, fluorescent tubes fizzed, and bulky radiators thumped out suffocating heat. There were no other sounds, save for the wind buffering the solid walls and occasionally rattling the windows.
A small comfortable sofa had been placed beside the window, and in the far corner of the room there was a desk and another chair. A couple of Monets broke the monotony of magnolia paintwork. And the whole room smelled of floor polish.
Ruby sat curled up on the sofa like a small child with her knees drawn up to her chest, holding tightly onto Becky’s hand. Only the slight judder of her legs and the occasional tic in her jaw, gave away the use of anti-psychotic drugs.
Jack sat down. “Are you feeling okay, Ruby?”
Barely perceptibly, she nodded.
He raised an eyebrow. Exchanged a look with Becky. This was not her usual behaviour. Normally Ruby would be eying him suspiciously, recoiling visibly, and kicking if he got too close.
Today though, she appeared to be almost inhumanly calm, gazing at the far wall with her pale blue eyes unfocussed and glassy. Not really there, Jack thought. Far, far away…
Who knew when the monster would leap out of that tranquillity, though? They’d all been caught out before. She could switch in a heartbeat.
“Ruby, you know we want to help you, don’t you?”
No response.
“Thing is - I have something new I’d like to try. Is that okay with you?”
No response.
Then faintly, oh so faintly…Jack strained his ears… there came the silvery humming of an old nursery rhyme, as if it had arrived on a mystical breeze from a time long, long ago…‘Four and twenty blackbirds…’
Fairy-like, he recalled later, a tinkling, ethereal tune, which gradually increased in strength and volume as he explained about the tiny dose of LSD and the gentle hypnosis technique he’d like to try. Anytime she wanted to stop or if she became too distressed, he would bring her out of it. And Becky would be with her the whole time.
The humming grew ever louder. He glanced at Becky. This wasn’t going to work, was it? She was blocking him out.
Then suddenly it stopped. Ruby turned and looked at him with a clear, somewhat challenging expression. Snatched and swallowed the proffered tablet with a glass of water. Folded her arms across her chest and waited.
A sharp gust of wind shook the window.
JULIET: Where can my readers get their own copy of Father of Lies?
SARAH: Both kindle and paperback are on Amazon. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015NCZYKU and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NCZYKU
It will shortly be on nook and kobo, plus smashwords… hopefully by w/c 12th October – and I will post that on my author facebook page as soon as it’s available.
JULIET: Where can people connect with you in cyberspace?
SARAH:
https://www.facebook.com/sarahenglandauthor
http://www.sarahengland.yolasite.com
twitter @sarahengland16
JULIET: Thanks very much for taking time out to talk to me. I wish you every success with Father of Lies & hope it goes on scaring people for years to come.