Dark fiction explores what lies beneath civility—the impulses, tensions, and moral fractures people prefer to ignore. These posts delve into stories shaped by unease and ambiguity, where characters are driven by instinct as much as choice, and outcomes rarely offer comfort or resolution.
This character was one of the last to be included in this psycho-thriller. Maxine was designed to be colourful when sober, but when drunk, she is obnoxious enough to unsettle dinner guests. Maxine heads a group of small business owners who specialise in photographing weddings. Most of the newer, inexperienced photographers trying to break into
Character Spotlight: Maxine Sewell. Read More »
When writing dark fiction, the villain matters as much as the hero. Without a formidable antagonist, a hero has nothing meaningful to overcome. The strength of a protagonist is measured by the challenge they face. Instead of two opposing forces, imagine one person wrestling with both sides of the moral equation. Could a character pursue
Writing Tips: Villains, Heroes, and the Space Between Read More »
When it comes to lovable evil characters, Hannibal Lecter is one I’d like to give one big ‘ol squeeze. Isn’t he just the best? You can’t help but fall in love with the good Doctor’s wit, intellect and sense of propriety. If it weren’t for the odd liver and fava-bean request, you’d be happy to
Redeeming Evil Characters Read More »
He had learned early that people wanted endings that behaved. They wanted pain to tidy itself away. They wanted meaning to arrive on schedule, carrying reassurance. Stories were supposed to heal, to close wounds cleanly, to leave the reader better than they were before. Anything else was considered indulgent. Or cruel. But life had never
The Lie of Resolution: Why Some Stories Should Not Heal Read More »
Villains do fiction a great big, delicious favour. Without a particular kind of evil present in stories, heroes can’t develop into what they are meant to become. Thank God for the darker elements of humanity and the baddest of bad boys (or girls) to show our heroes (and readers) the way into the light. That’s
Stories With Great Heroes Demand Quality Villains To Make Them Phenomenal Read More »
I don’t remember when my thoughts first became louder than my voice. Somewhere between the stillness of my house and the storms that visit me without warning, words started pressing in from the inside. They needed release. Not confession—documentation. Evidence of what it feels like to live quietly while everything in you screams. These recordings
My Ache. This Groan. Read More »
SEETHINGS didn’t just test my ability to write—it dismantled me, rebuilt me, and demanded persistence long after quitting felt reasonable. Eight years, three books, and one obsession later, the story finally learned how to breathe. Now that SEETHINGS III is finally out in the world, there’s a strange stillness I didn’t expect. Relief, yes—but also
SEETHINGS Nearly Killed Me Read More »
Assuming you didn’t get caught the first time, you’ll probably want to know how to do it better the second time. Luck isn’t always going to save you. There are far too many people and cameras out there and too much science to guarantee anonymity or legal immunity forever. Proper preparation before a kill is
How To Hide A Body Properly Read More »
There’s a point in every long-term writing project where the story stops being a story and becomes a living, breathing thing. SEETHINGS III was pronounced alive at 3.05 am today. [Official release December 1st from Barnes and Noble here or Smashwords here] For a long time, I wasn’t sure if this book would ever let
SEETHINGS III Release — The Darkest Waters Yet Read More »
Neo-noir is gritty, sexy and nasty. You won’t find anything like it anywhere else. It’s one part psycho-thriller, part twisted nightmare. I’m pleased to inform readers that my third neo-noir novel is about to be released – someone is about to get steamy love in the sunshine, while another will be found after a night of
Exploring the Allure of Neo-Noir Read More »