What would happen if the sun wasn’t around?

Here Lies Love follows Abbey as tries to escape her prisoner. She learns that her father has sold her to this evil man, but she knows deep down that she won’t be another one of his victims. She knows she will escape.

Things on the outside, however, aren’t as good as they seem. The world is a cold place, and Abbey struggles to cope with the mounting paranoia inflicted by her time locked up. Can Abbey find the one glimmer of hope, or will she be overcome by the darkness of revenge? Only time will tell.

What genre is this?
Here Lies Love is quite a dark book, but that’s OK, right? Sometimes, ‘Happily Ever After’ isn’t quite right.

Here Lies Love is my first foray into the dystopian and NA genres. I mainly write YA (teenage) fiction, but as this is a pensive read in places, I was always aware of my audience. I also feel that NA (new adult) is the correct transformation from young adult.

So who exactly is it aimed at?
Oh it’ll certainly appeal to dark thriller and horror fans, but I’m hoping that it will appeal to almost anyone who enjoys a good story. Here Lies Love explores some of the more uglier faces of love and so won’t appeal to anyone who enjoys romance novels and light reads. I’ve been told that Abbey is a compelling protagonist and so if you really like to get behind the characters, then I’m sure Abbey is one that will stand out to you.

Tell us about her.
Abbey is a fighter, although she doesn’t quite realise it yet. She often wants to please everyone, but she unfortunately learns the hard way. In Here Lies Love, the world is a cruel and evil place, and she is yet to learn how to work it. She’s also quite naive on the how the world works. She has taken for granted the everyday things, but as she is thrust into the lonely place, she must learn quickly on how to survive.

I deliberately made her naive on certain situations, because I wanted the reader to experience everything for the first time just like she does. I don’t give a lot of explanation on the how the world works, because I felt that would be ‘telling’ them, rather than showing them. But Abbey is often quick on her feet and has the ability to adapt to the situations she faces. She is a striking young woman, characterised by her bright ginger hair – and this plays a vital role within the story.

How much of you – or the person you wish you were – is in Abbey?
It is often difficult to imagine what the world would be like if … for instance, and so I couldn’t really put a lot of myself into Abbey, but I pay close attention to body language. It’s important for me to get the characters just right, as they are, after all, just as important as the story you are trying to tell. When she is nervous or lonely, Abbey pulls the sleeves of her jumper over her hands, and that is exactly what I do. I thought it would be a nice touch for me to include that.

You say you’ve written other novels?
The first novel-length story I ever wrote is being published at the end of the year by Ghostly Publishing. The Black Petal is a young adult fantasy novel inspired by my love of mythology. If you love magic and epic fantasy then you are sure going to love that one. It is the first instalment of an exciting trilogy, and I can’t wait for readers to experience that one.

Last year, my first adult novel was published, called The Caseworker’s Memoirs, which follows Malcolm, struggling to cope after the death of his dear wife. It explores her past profession; curing patients of their phobias. It’s quite experimental in form, but feedback was great. I’m really proud of that one.

We’ll check it out.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Well, my name is Dan (Hi, by the way) and from a small town in England. I have a young daughter, who keeps me very busy. She’s 5 going on 15, let me tell you!

I’m a lover of YA and fantasy fiction and you can often find me writing on my blog, writing book reviews and connecting online with other writer-type people and interviewing authors. I grew up reading Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five series, secretly coming up with my own inventive adventures, and R.L Stine’s The Goosebump series, before turning to the works of Philip Pullman, Eoin Colfer and Marcus Sedgwick and slipping away into alternate realities. I also love a good Historical Thriller too. Deborah Harkness, Danielle Trussoni and Dianne Gray are some of my favourite authors who write for adults.

You say you have a blog?
I certainly do, come and join me on my website – http://danthompsonauthor.com.

How can we follow you on Twitter and/or Facebook?
My twitter feed is @dan_pentagram and my facebook page is facebook.com/theblackpetal – come and say Hi, i don’t bite.

What’s next?
For me? Well, I’m currently writing the sequel to The Black Petal, which at the moment has a working title of: The Golden Lyre. Of course, I can’t really reveal much without the first instalment not being released yet, but do keep following. I have a feeling that this one is going to be huge!

How easily do new storylines come to you? If we give you four random words – Man, Woman, Mexico, Future – can you give us a brief storyline?
What a great question! OK, here goes.

In the future, Mexico rules; a superpower considered the leader of the known world, and indeed the unknown world too. Marine Biologist Sarah has made a unique discovery. Upon finding a journal, Sarah believes that an ancient civilization existed to the north. The more she discovers, the more Sarah begins to be overwhelmed by the fascinating prospect of a free world, and she can’t help but fall for the man who wrote the journal. Who is he?

Sarah is on a journey of self discovery, as well as to find proof of a long lost land so powerful, it could rival Mexico today.