A psychological thrill: interview with best-selling author John Nicholl
Author John Nicholl introduces us to When Evil Calls Your Name, the sequel to his best-selling, dark, psychological thriller White is the Coldest Color.
Can you tell us what prompted you to become a writer?
I retired early from my job heading up child protection services for Carmarthenshire in Wales, and needed something constructive to fill my time. I’d always liked the creative process, and I decided to give it a go.
What do you love most about writing?
I find writing intellectually rewarding. It makes me think.
Where do you get you inspiration from?
Both my books draw heavily on my experiences as a police officer and child protection social worker. I think, for me at least, it’s good to write from experience. I’m told that the books smack of gritty realism. That’s what I’m aiming for.
How would you describe When Evil Calls Your Name?
When twenty-nine-year-old Cynthia Galbraith struggles to come to terms with her traumatic past and the realities of prison life, a prison counsellor persuades her to write a personal journal exploring the events that led to a life sentence for murder.
Although unconvinced at first, Cynthia finally decides she has all the time in the world and very little, if anything, to lose. She begins writing and holds back nothing: sharing the thoughts she hadn't dare vocalise, the things that keep her awake at night and haunt her waking hours.
Even the darkest secrets can't stay hidden forever…
Why should people read When Evil Calls Your Name?
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers or gritty crime novels, I like to think you’ll like the book. Pre publication reviews are very positive.
You can check out reviews for When Evil Calls Your Name here.
What inspired you to write When Evil Calls Your Name?
I’ve worked as a police officer, and as a child protection social worker, manager and trainer. Experience gained during my career shapes my books.
What do you expect to accomplish with When Evil Calls Your Name?
Primarily, it’s intended to be an entertaining psychological read, but if it raises awareness of the heinous realities of domestic violence towards women, I’ll be gratified by that.
What can you tell us about When Evil Calls your Name, without giving away spoilers?
It’s the story of an ordinary, intelligent young woman, whose life is blown apart by the attentions of a predatory psychopath.
Which were the easiest and the hardest parts for you to write?
It’s an emotive story born of experience, and so the writing brought aspects of the past back into sharp focus. With that said, it’s much easier to control events on paper than in real life!
Do you have a favorite character, scene or situation in When Evil Calls Your Name, and can you tell us why he, she or it is your favorite?
As I’ve indicated, the book is dark, gritty and realistic, but ultimately hopeful. I think that’s what I like best. The fact that humans can overcome great adversity and overcome.
Some stories are what some have taken to calling Message Fiction, due to the fact that there are (conscious or unconscious) messages to be found in those stories. Did you insert any conscious messages in your story, and if so, what do they try to convey?
Be careful who you trust.
If your story is mature in nature (containing graphic sexual scenes, violence, swearing, etc.), what led you to decide that this was the right way to go, despite the fact that it might limit your potential readership?
The book is set in a women prison and tells the story of the events that led to the key characters incarceration. Aspects of the book are violent in nature, which is inevitable given the storyline. I’ve only addressed these issues when it’s necessary to the story.
And finally, is there anything else that you’d like to add?
Just a thank you to everyone who has bought White Is The Coldest Colour and/or When Evil Calls Your Name. Where would writers be without readers?
Indeed, John, indeed. Thank you very much for your time!
John Nicholl has worked as a police officer and as a social worker and operational manager for the child guidance service, two social services departments and the NSPCC. He has also lectured on child protection matters at several colleges and universities.
His debut novel: White is the Coldest Colour, a gripping dark psychological suspense thriller, entered the Amazon UK top 100 bestsellers chart after just 15 days, and reached # 1 in British Detectives and Vigilante Justice. It also reached # 1 in British Detectives and Psychological Thrillers in France, # 1 in British Detectives and Psychological & Suspense in Spain, and # 1 in British Detectives in Australia, where it reached # 10 of all books in the Kindle store. The sequel: When Evil Calls Your Name, is now available.
