BooksChatter: ℚ In Shadows Waiting

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Stewart Bint to talk about In Shadows Waiting (3 August 2015, BookTrope, 158 pages) a supernatural horror.

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Tour Stops

Hello Stewart, welcome to BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for In Shadows Waiting?

"Three things. My own personal experience of seeing the ghost that I describe in In Shadows Waiting. It stood at the top of the stairs at around 4.30 a.m. one November morning when I was leaving my lodgings to go to the BBC for my job at the time of early morning newsreader into the breakfast show.

Secondly, although my book is not a vampire story, I have always been fascinated by the concept that vampires can only enter a house by invitation. In my new book the apparition is outside first of all, and then makes its way into the house.

Thirdly, my previous house bordered a massive farmer's field, which had a bomb crater in it from the second world war. I wove those three aspects into the story, and In Shadows Waiting was born. "

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Several readers who know me personally say they can see a lot of Simon in me, or a lot of me in Simon! That wasn’t intentional, but I suppose it came out subconsciously as I was developing my main character’s persona. Probably the strongest trait is Simon’s love for his family. Maybe I’m a little jealous of him, too, as I am only child, and my Dad died when I was 11. So, it could be that I was writing into Simon what I was missing."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for In Shadows Waiting - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"The cover was created by one of my publisher’s designers, Troy Johnson, and he’s currently working on the cover of my next novel, a time travel story called Timeshaft. I loved his concept of showing the spectral face at the window, because that is the essence of how the story starts."

Why should we read In Shadows Waiting and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"I’ll let the words from one of the book’s five-star reviews speak up for that. Novelist DM Cain said in an Amazon review:

“I love a good creepy horror story and this one had me jumping at every noise and shadow.”
But that aside… I’m passionate about my writing, and hope that shines through. This book is unique because I actually saw the apparition that I describe in Chapter 15. Everything about it is absolutely real."

Can you tell us something quirky about In Shadows Waiting, its story and characters?

"The vicar is based almost 100 per cent on the vicar at the church where my Dad played the organ when I was a young child. When my Dad died when I was 11 the vicar really took me under his wing…so I suppose I wanted to immortalise him in some way. "

Who would you recommend In Shadows Waiting to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I personally believe the book is suitable for all ages, including YA, as the story is written in the first person by an 18 year-old, and features his 14 and 18 year old sisters. But the paranormal aspect also makes it suitable across the board. There is the occasional four letter word, and a very mild sex scene."

If you could / wished to turn In Shadows Waiting into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Location would have to be a quaint English village in keeping with the storyline.

Director – it’s got to be Clint Eastwood, because he knows creepiness inside out from his portrayal in the brilliant film Play Misty For Me.

Sterling Beaumon to play Simon, Luke Benward for Mark, Mia Rose Frampton would be ideal for Helen, with Ryan Simpkins playing Sarah. I know she’s three years older than my character, but she just seems ideal. However, I think they’d all have to work on their English accents, unless the story is switched to the States – in which case the location could be set somewhere in the mid-West. And the Vicar has to be Michael Caine!"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"My novels are paranormal and sci-fi/fantasy (although The Jigsaw And The Fan is a satirical comedy ghost story!). Those two genres also feature heavily in my short story collection, Thunderlands, but there are a few other genres thrown in there too, including crime and humour. But my novels will always be paranormal or sci-fi/fantasy. And yes, they’re my preferred reading genres."

What is your writing process?

"The ideas can come from anything – and have included a walk in the park, reading an article on the Chernobyl disaster, even being bullied and harassed on Twitter. Then I start to flesh out the storyline and get a rough idea where things are going. As the story progresses I often find the characters taking me down a different route – that’s happened in Timeshaft, although in In Shadows Waiting the Reynolds family plunged headlong to the climax in exactly the way I had foreseen."

People actually do that to you on Twitter?! ... there isn't a polite comment I can write about that...

What is in store next?

"All my books are stand alone, although the stories of my first two books (novellas Malfunction, and Ashday’s Child) are contained within Timeshaft. No-one reading the novellas in isolation can see how they are connected – many people come up with the same wrong answer! I had actually started writing Timeshaft, and used Malfunction as its opening chapter, before I had one of those incredible Eureka moments, and realised how I could bring Ashday’s Child in."

So, just like with In Shadows Waiting, Timeshaft has been revised and re-edited and this new edition will be published by BookTrope shortly! We look forward to that! Although we should be reading the two novellas first, as there definitely seems to be a challenge in there.

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"Two pictures: one of me with my pet budgie Alfie, who never leaves me alone! And as I go barefoot almost all the time, a picture of me barefoot is entirely appropriate."

I am glad you introduced us to Alfie! As we have been anticipating the new release of In Shadows Waiting, we have stalked your Twitter account and have noticed that Alfie is featured there regularly. With good reason... he seems to be an incredibly hard-working companion... hence I thought I'd share a few images here, as I think I have pieced together "A Day in Alfie's Life"... (hover on the pics to see the captions)