Hi, Tim! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Where to start, where to end? OK… I’m 56 (but don’t feel it, whatever ‘feeling’ your age is supposed to be like). Married with two lovely kids. They’re adults now, but I still get to call them kids. We also have a puppy who is chaos—that’s his state, not his name. I’ve been writing all my life, and 2027 will mark 30 years since publication of my first novel. Since 1997 I’ve written over fifty novels (horror, fantasy, a smattering of science fiction, lots of tie-in work), hundreds of novellas and short stories, and I’m currently working on novels, stories, screenplays, comics, and audio dramas. It’s all storytelling, and I love telling stories. Strange for a writer, maybe, but my favourite place is the outdoors—I spend as much time as I can biking, hiking, running and swimming, and sometimes putting them together in triathlons. I like chocolate and real ale.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

In my pre-teens. I read voraciously since the age of 9 or 10, and started writing my own stories almost immediately. It just seemed natural to me that if you enjoyed reading stories, you should enjoy creating them too.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Shadow the Sheepdog by Enid Blyton
• The one that made you want to become an author: The ‘Adventure’ series of novels by Willard Price
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Stand by Stephen King

Your latest novel, Secret Lives of the Dead, is out August 26^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Thrilling. Brutal. Friendship. Trees. Horror.

What can readers expect?

A thrillingly brutal horror story featuring trees and friends. Also… it’s a folk-horror thriller, a fast-moving story taking place over one day, that might or might not have a deep supernatural element. Lem is one of the most memorable and horrific antagonists I’ve ever created. He still haunts my dreams, so I’m sure he’ll haunt yours, too.

Where did the inspiration for Secret Lives of the Dead come from?

There’s an abandoned country house close to me that I cycle past frequently. I got to wondering what might be inside. And that’s generally what happens… one ‘what if?’ or ‘I wonder’ thought that grows and expands and becomes a novel, often with other aspects or ideas merging to bring it alive. I can’t remember the source of all of the inspirations for Secret Lives of the Dead, but it was definitely one of those novels that is built slowly block by block, rather than one that lands in my mind fully formed (that happens only rarely).

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Lem, the main antagonist. He’s brutal, driven, merciless, but he also has his own story that makes him vulnerable, and I hope readers will be able to empathise with him. He’s damaged, but not really evil. Creating his backstory became an important part of telling this story, because I didn’t want him to just be a faceless, mindless evil.

I also loved the scene towards the beginning of the novel set in the country home, where my group of friends are exploring, and hidden agendas start to reveal themselves. It’s a novel of secrets and lies, as much as anything else… and finding those secrets, unearthing those lies, pulls my characters apart bit by bit.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I find writing hard. Writing a novel is always a challenge. If I’m finding it easy, I start doubting the process. It’s not the same for all writers, I’m sure, but I’m never particularly confident about what I’m writing. But I plough through and finish the work, and then start the real work of turning it into something good. I think Secret Lives of the Dead is one of my best novels in years, and I hope the hard work shines through.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently writing a new horror novel. I’m also working on an exciting tie-in novel I can’t really talk about yet, and an audio drama, and two screenplay projects. I also have a few short stories lined up to write, and there are always a few other projects circling. I’m on tour soon in the UK with Christopher Golden, we’ll be signing in Edinburgh, York, Oxford, London, Bristol and Abergavenny starting on 30^th September. Check out my website or social media for details!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

Some books I’ve enjoyed this year include Fever House by Keith Rosson, Body of Water by Adam Godfrey, and The Retreat by Gemma Fairclough. Looking forward to getting through my TBR pile of about 1,000 books (no joking! I love having a library of unread books to dig into). I still buy more books each year than I read.

Will you be picking up Secret Lives of the Dead? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Tim Lebbon, Author of ‘Secret Lives of the Dead’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In her dramatic follow-up to Wicked Saints, the first book in her Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Emily A. Duncan paints a Gothic, icy world where shadows whisper, and no one is who they seem, with a shocking ending that will leave you breathless.

Looking Glass by Christina Henry
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In four new novellas, Christina Henry returns to the world of Alice and Red Queen, where magic runs as freely as secrets and blood.

Master Class by Christina Dalcher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the critically-acclaimed author of the international bestseller VOX comes a suspenseful new novel that examines a disturbing near future where harsh realities follow from unreachable standards.

The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first in a gripping new trilogy, The Book of Koli charts the journey of one unforgettable young boy struggling to find his place in a chilling post-apocalyptic world. Perfect for readers of Station Eleven and Annihilation.

Empire City by Matt Gallagher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The author of Youngblood returns with this bold and provocative novel following a group of super-powered soldiers and civilians as they navigate an imperial America on the precipice of a major upheaval—for fans of The Fortress of Solitude and The Plot Against America.

The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A gilded menagerie rules a Gilded Age: Bears and Bulls are not only real, but dominate humanity in The Glass Magician, an amazing historical fantasy by Caroline Stevermer.

Repo Virtual by Corey J. White
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Corey J. White’s debut novel Repo Virtual blurs the lines between the real and virtual in an action-packed cyberpunk heist story.

The post April 2020 Book Releases: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Will you be adding any of these to your reading list? Let us know in the comments below!

Relics by Tim Lebbon | March 21 | Goodreads
There’s an underground black market for arcane things and this group trafficks in mummified satyrs, gryphons claws, and more. When Angela Gough’s lover Vince goes missing, she sets out to find him whatever the risk. She learns he was employed by the infamous London crime lord Frederick Meloy, who provides bizarre objects beyond imagining. Descending into the city’s underbelly, she uncovers a deadly side to the black market which may have claimed Vince, and Angela may be next.

Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves | March 28 | Goodreads
Sixteen-year-old Anna Arden is barred from society by a defect of blood. Even though her family is part of the Luminate, powerful users of magic, she is Barren and unable to perform the simplest spells. She soon finds herself exiled to Hungary after breaking her sister’s spell. But nothing is as it seems as society becomes discontent with the Luminate and a rebellion begins to spread with Anna’s unique ability at the middle of it all.

The Djinn Falls in Love & Other Stories by Mahvesh Murad and Jared Shurin | March 14 | Goodreads
A collection of new and classic tales of the fearsome Djinn from bestselling, award-winning and breakthrough international writers. The Djinn are everywhere—on street corners, behind the wheel of a taxi, between the pages of books. Every language has a word for them. Every culture knows their traditions. Every religion, every history has them hiding in their dark places. There is no part of the world that does not know them.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner | March 14 | Goodreads
Yeva has grown up along the city’s highest aristocrats, but she knows the secrets the forest holds and her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them. When her father loses his fortune, Yeva and her sisters to the outskirts of town. Her father goes missing and Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. She hunts this Beast through a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi | March 28 | Goodreads
Gauri, the princess of Bharata, has been taken as prisoner of war by her kingdom’s enemies. Hope soon comes in the form of Vikram, the cunning prince of a neighbouring land and the enemy kingdom who offers her a chance to win back her kingdom. Together they will team up to win the Tournament of Wishes—a competition held in a mythical city where the Lord of Wealth promises a wish to the victor.

The White Road of the Moon by Rachel Neumeier | March 14 | Goodreads
Imagine living with an aunt who hates you so much she’s selling you into a dreadful apprenticeship, but you escape before it can happen. Then imagine you can see ghosts and can talk to the dead. After your grand escape, you come across a mysterious stranger and a ghost which lead you to a treacherous journey with a task so monumental that it could change the world.

Freya by Matthew Laurence | March 14 | Goodreads
There’s more to Sara Vanadi than meets the eye as she was once known as Freya, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, war and death except her past hardly matters now. Living in the 21st century, true believers in an ancient goddess are hard to fine but when a new power arises threatening to remake the world, she realises her days of hiding are over.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor | March 28 | Goodreads
The dream chooses the dreamer and for Lazlo Strange, a war orphan and junior librarian, he fears his dream chose poorly. Obsessed with a mythic lost city, Lazlo is presented an opportunity in the form of a hero called the Godslayer and his band of legendary warriors. Questions and answers await, along with more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

The post March Book Releases: Fantasy appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Will you be adding any of these to your to-read list? Let us know in the comments below!

Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton | March 7 | Goodreads
In Rebel of the Sands, Amani fled her hometown on the back of mystical horse along with a mysterious foreigner named Jin. Now in the sequel, she finds herself fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan by bringing him down. But forget what you know from the first book, Traitor to the Throne is about to change it all.

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel | March 7 | Goodreads
After her mother’s suicide, fifteen year-old Lane Roanoke moved to Kansas to live with her cousin and their grandparents. Lane knew little of her mother’s family, but soon uncovers a dark truth causing her to run away. Eleven years on, her grandfather becomes concerned when Lane’s cousin goes missing which causes her to return and face her families secrets.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor | March 28 | Goodreads
The dream chooses the dreamer and for Lazlo Strange, a war orphan and junior librarian, he fears his dream chose poorly. Obsessed with a mythic lost city, Lazlo is presented an opportunity in the form of a hero called the Godslayer and his band of legendary warriors. Questions and answers await, along with more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

The Cutaway by Christina Kovac | March 21 | Goodreads
Enter a tangled world of corruption and cover-up as a young television producer investigates the strange disappearance of a beautiful Georgetown lawyer. Risking her career, her life, and perhaps even her own sanity, she dives deep into the dark underbelly of Washington, DC business and politics in an investigation that will drag her mercilessly through the inextricable webs of corruption that bind the press, the police, and politics in our nation’s capital.

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco | March 7 | Goodreads
Tea is different from other witches in her family as her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. But great power comes at a price and it forces her to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch to learn to control her elemental magic. She must be strong—stronger than she even believes because a war is brewing in the eight kingdoms.

Nemesis by Brendan Reichs | March 21 | Goodreads
Since Min was eight, every two years, a strange man finds her and murders her in cold blood. Hours later, she’ll wake in a clearing outside her hometown completely fine. Meanwhile, across the valley, Noah is tormented by nightmares of murder and death. But everything is about to change when an asteroid threatens all life. For Min, she’s had enough of being hunted and vows to discover what is happening in Fire Lake. She soon uncovers a lifetime of lies including a vast conspiracy involving the sixty-four students of her sophomore class.

The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon | March 7 | Goodreads
The Bone Season series continues in the third instalment with a bloody battle against foes on every side. Paige Mahoney has risen to the dangerous position of Underqueen, ruling over London’s criminal population. But after turning her back on Jaxon and with vengeful enemies at large, the task of stabilising the fractured underworld has never seemed so challenging. Little does Paige know that her reign may be cut short with the introduction of Senshield, a deadly technology that spells doom for the clairvoyant community and the world as they know it…

Relics by Tim Lebbon | March 21 | Goodreads
There’s an underground black market for arcane things and this group trafficks in mummified satyrs, gryphons claws, and more. When Angela Gough’s lover Vince goes missing, she sets out to find him whatever the risk. She learns he was employed by the infamous London crime lord Frederick Meloy, who provides bizarre objects beyond imagining. Descending into the city’s underbelly, she uncovers a deadly side to the black market which may have claimed Vince, and Angela may be next.

Unfiltered by Lily Collins | March 7 | Goodreads
In this groundbreaking debut essay collection, Lily Collins is opening a poignant, honest conversation about the things young women struggle with: body image, self-confidence, relationships, family, dating, and so much more. Sharing her life and deep secrets, she underlines everyone experiences pain and heartbreak, and her honest voice will inspire you to be who you are and say what you feel. It’s time to claim your voice, it’s time to live your life unfiltered.

The Illusionist’s Apprentice by Kristy Cambron | March 7 | Goodreads
Houdini’s one-time apprentice holds fantastic secrets about the greatest illusionist in the world, but someone wants to claim them…or silence her before she can reveal them on her own. In 1926 Boston, Jenny “Wren” Lockhart is a bold eccentric and in the months following Houdini’s death, she is drawn into a web of mystery surrounding a spiritualist. She becomes forced to team up with the newly formed FBI and they race against time to prove the innocence of a hated man.

Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love | March 21 | Goodreads
The Crenshaw Six are a small but up-and-coming gang in South Central LA who have recently been drawn into an escalating war between rival drug cartels. To outsiders, they appear to be led by a man named Garcia…but the real leader (and secret weapon) is Garcia’s girlfriend, a brilliant young woman named Lola. She has mastered playing the role of a submissive girlfriend and she is consistently underestimated. But she is much smarter, tougher and ruthless than any men around her and with the gang increasingly sucked into a world of high-stakes betrayal and brutal violence, her skills and leadership become their only hope of survival.

Silent by David Mellon | March 7 | Goodreads
Set during World War I, Adi is an outrider, rejected by both her British father’s and Indian mother’s cultures, so she is no stranger to trouble. But when a mysterious agitator called “Coal” kidnaps her twin brothers, she has to rely on herself to find them. With strength and cunning, Adi cuts her hair and dons a military uniform to join the chaos of the early days of World War I. She soon finds a pocket watch that could be a clue to her lost brothers, she must decode it before time runs out.

The post 12 March Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.