My brand new release, ‘The Intruders’ is currently 99p across all eBook platforms – Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and the paperback is just £5 on Amazon.
Today, I wanted to share a little about why I added a supernatural element to my latest psychological thriller.
The supernatural has always fascinated me. I remember, as a child, my Aunt Sally taking me to our local spiritualist church. At the time, I had struggled to make sense of how generic statements from the medium such as ‘I have a man trying to make contact, who has brown hair’, or ‘I have an elderly woman here who used to like cake’ could result in so many raised hands, so many tears.
So much hope.
But of course, that was before I had lost someone, before I searched for meaning in everything, looking for signs that there was something else. Seeking the comfort, so desperately needed after a bereavement, when you question your own mortality, question everything.
As a young mum I moved into a house where I immediately sensed… something. Something I didn’t understand and couldn’t explain. The radio would turn itself on, the temperature would drop drastically, things would move, once right before my eyes a DVD case shot across the table as though it had been pushed. Often, I’d smell cigarette smoke. I’m a bit of a science geek and I explored all possible explanations but couldn’t find something to explain everything that was going on. I didn’t feel threatened though. Whatever or whoever was in my home, and I was convinced something was, seemed very much benevolent.
I was asking the neighbour about the previous occupants, and he told me that an elderly man, Sid, had lived alone in my new home. Had died in his favourite armchair in the lounge. Gradually signs of Sid faded but every Christmas the radio would switch itself on, we’d smell cigarettes again. A lonely man wanting a family Christmas?
About four years ago my son wanted to watch classic horror films with me. Of course, The Amityville Horror, supposedly based on a true story, was one of these.
Fascinated with the house, after we’d finished the movie, we googled. We learned more about its dark history, the murders of the previous occupants – the DeFeos – that had taken place before the Lutz family who featured in the film brought the property for a knock down price.
We researched the people who had brought the house after the Lutz family fled after allegedly terrifying supernatural experiences.
We began to discuss whether we would knowingly move into such a property. The people who did, seemingly without reservation. Perhaps enticed by the financial saving.
I knew I wanted to base my 9th psychological thriller in an abandoned house which had a dark history, a dark energy and a horrifying secret at its heart.
Immediately a couple popped into my head, Cass and James who become my main characters in ‘The Intruders’.
Cass and James want to live together but due to the cost-of-living crisis have been unable to save for a deposit. They are offered the chance to act as caretakers in Newington House and live there rent free. At first, James is aware of the history of Newington. 30 years previously almost all the occupants of the Madley family had been murdered there. Cass, initially, is unaware.
When she discovers the truth, she’s reluctant to move in but James persuades her there is no chance of the past being recreated.
After a few days of living there Cass very much believes that the spirit of one of the murdered occupants still lingers in Newington House. James, is much more logical, batting away all of Cass’s concerns with a rational explanation. James comes up with all sorts of reasons why the clock at Newington constantly stops at 8.15, why the same window on the landing seemingly opens itself.
Much like Cass and James, my husband and I have different views. When writing this book I was coming up with creepy ideas and telling him there couldn’t possibly be a rational explanation for it other than a spirit, and my husband was coming up with something based in reality I could use for James’s point of view.
Is there really a supernatural presence at Newington House? I’ve left it up to readers to make their own mind up. Not everyone believes in dark energy and spirits and you don’t need to in order to enjoy unravelling the mystery at the heart of Newington House. The shocking reason for the Madley’s downfall. But if you do believe in ghosts, you might just be convinced that Cass is right.
Team Cass or Team James? Read the story and decide for yourself.
It’s been wonderful seeing The Intruders hit the Top 30 on Amazon and the Top 20 on Apple. BIG thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed and recommended. Grab yours today while the special offer is on. 99p – Kindle, Apple, Kobo, paperback £5 Amazon.
fabricating fiction 