We chat with author Tim Lebbon about Secret Lives of the Dead, which is a dark folk horror tale of a deadly family curse, crime and murder that is sure to turn your blood cold.
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 26th! 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 30th 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.
