Published Works: Dream Merchant (2024)
Tell me a bit about yourself?
I am the eldest of three siblings, with a brother and a sister. I was born and raised in Wigan, but I still don’t know what a Wigan Kebab is, and part of me prefers not to find out. I have dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia, which have made school quite challenging for me. Nevertheless, I have always had a passion for storytelling and enjoy creating new characters and the situations they find themselves in.
What sort of literature do you write?
Many classify my debut novel as horror, but I consider it a supernatural thriller. My next book will also fall into this genre, but I would like to explore various genres in the future.
What inspires you to write?
My passion for storytelling has always inspired me. As a devoted bookworm and film nerd, I find it especially motivating to hear about people who have overcome challenges to achieve their dreams. This inspiration comes not only from other authors but from individuals across all creative art forms.
How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?
My characters are often downtrodden and face significant challenges throughout their stories. In a way, they reflect my own experiences; being neurodiverse often feels like trying to climb Mount Everest in nothing but slippers.
Tell me what your latest creative work is about?
In 1997, in the small town of Mayfield, a petty thief is desperate to escape his life of crime and build a respectable future with his beautiful next-door neighbour. During what should have been a routine burglary, he stumbles upon a dream recorder, a discovery that will turn his life upside down. Someone told me it was like a Stephen King novel mixed with Koji Suzuki’s The Ring and I like that description.
What do you hope your readers will get from your latest creative work?
Thrills, excitement, some tears and some laughs.
What are you working on at the moment or what do you have planned for the future?
I am currently working on my second novel called Locked in the Void which is a story that revolves around a British soldier who becomes a ghost after dying in World War 2. Stuck in a house in France, he observes those living in the house while reflecting on his life before and during the war.
I do have plans for a novel after that but that’s top secret. Sorry.
What is the most exciting thing and the most challenging thing about writing?
The most exciting thing about being a writer is a tough question because there are so many aspects to choose from. However, I would have to say that receiving compliments from strangers who tell me how much they love my story is incredibly thrilling. The thought of them reading my work and envisioning my world and characters coming to life in their minds is truly exciting.
The most challenging thing is my own self-doubt. Sometimes, it can be a fight against that little voice in my head telling me I’m not good enough. Although the first novel got so much praise, the voice isn’t as loud as it once was.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be a writer?
Write what you would want to read and get lost in the story you are telling. If it doesn’t feel real to you, it won’t feel real to anyone else.
Where can readers learn more?
Here: Pegasus Publishers – Darren Turnerhurst
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