Horror Author Simon Paul Wilson #Interview
Simon Paul Wilson Interview
Horror Author Simon Paul Wilson
1. Congratulations on your upcoming release Ghost City Girl to be published in 2021! Can you please tell us a little about this story?
Thank you very much! Although it’s still a year away from being published, I’m so happy that Not A Pipe Publishing have given my book a home. GhostCityGirl is a sci-fi horror novel, and the first in a planned trilogy. I started writing it almost 8 years ago, stopped a few times to do real life stuff, and then finally finished it in 2018. after that, I started submitting to various presses and waited with all digits crossed for good news! But enough of that, it’s time for the blurb!
Serial killers, starvation cults, and spicy noodles - It’s just another day In Nihon City for Kichi Honda.
The year is 2155, one hundred years since Tokyo was ravaged by a ghostquake and all talk of the supernatural was made illegal.
To escape her unhappy family life and mundane job, Kichi spends her off days visiting Mister Tanaka, an old man who tells her illegal ghost stories and tales of haunted Japan.
When a hover cab accident strands her on level one of the city, she meets an impossible girl who claims to have come from Tokyo
Kichi soon learns the truth about what really happened all those years ago and that history is about to repeat itself…
2. Do you believe in writer’s block? If so, how do you combat it?
I certainly do believe in writers block. The blank screen of death and I are old friends! When the block hits, I tend to walk away for a while and listen to some music, read, watch a movie. These things usually help me get my writing mojo back. It can be hours til it passes, sometimes days! But it does pass eventually!
3. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A bit of both. Before I start writing any kind of story, I have to plot it all out first and make copious amounts of notes. Then, when I think I know what I’m doing, my characters go off on their own and I end up writing chapters I never planned in the slightest! All good fun though.
4. We all know that authors have, um, unusual search histories. If the FBI were to search through your history, what would that find that is totally, complete for “research?”
Nothing too risky. I mostly search for name meanings, urban legends, and folklore. Mind you, I did look up quite a bit on serial killers for the character, Red Raku. I had to stop after a while, as real life was becoming scarier than fiction!
5. When did your love of all things creepy and eerie begin?
My grandmother introduced me to horror movies when I was really young. I think I was about five or six. She would tell me the plots of all the late night movies she used to watch. So I learned about vampires, zombies, and monsters. Things I shouldn’t really have had in my head at that age. It was great! A few years later, my dad joined in with my tuition on all stuff scary. It wasn’t long until I started watching with him. The first few scared the hell out of me, but I persisted and began to love being creeped out. Then, i discoverd books by James Herbert and Stephen King. And that was it - i was hooked permanently.
6. Do you have a favorite author?
Just one? Damn, that’s tough! If we are talking horror, then I’d have to say Brain Keene. He’s an awesome writer. Much to my shame, I only started reading his books in 2019. However, I now have a vast back catalogue to enjoy! The Complex and Urban Gothic are my favourites so far. Brutal, gory, and just bloody brilliant. I’d also like to mention Adam Nevill. I’ve just finished his latest book, The Reddening, and am definitely going to have to read more of his.
7. What book(s) are you reading right now?
City of The Dead by Brian Keene. It’s the sequel to The Rising. Told you I was a fan!
8. What is next for you? Anything in the works?
I’m now working on a bizarro novella called Evil Anime. I’ll be working on GhostCityGirl edits soon, which will be very exciting! Then I need to map out the sequel, which will be called GhostCityGirl:Armageddonauts.
9. Where can people find you online?
I can be found on Twitter . I do have a website, but it’s now kind of old and needs a refurb. When I get round to that, I’ll let people know. :)
10. Thank you so much! This is your chance to say anything that wasn’t asked. Closing thoughts?
Thank you so much for interviewing me. It’s been a pleasure!
Since Simon took part in this interview, he has learned that GhostCityGirl will now likely be released in the autumn/fall of 2020. He will keep you all informed on Facebook and Twitter of the novels publication date.