Name: Nicky Peacock

 

 
Age: Old enough to keep that to myself 😉

 

 
Where are you from: The UK

 

 
A little about yourself. i.e your education Family life etc
I’m an English author based in the UK and have two YA book series out through the publishers, Evernight Teen. I started my writing career in the short story market and gained over 30 publishing credits before I sold my first novel. I write horrors, urban fantasy and paranormal romance, but do enjoy a good genre mash-up so tend to be open about what I write. As long as it has a sharp, dark edge to it, I’m a happy author!

 

 
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
I’m currently still promoting my newest release, Lost in Wonderland, which is a contemporary supernatural thriller using the themes of Alice in Wonderland. I’ll also be doing a Twitter takeover for Young Entertainment Magazine on Thursday, Oct 27th 4-6pm EST for a Halloween tweet-feast https://twitter.com/YoungEntmag Everyone is invited!

 

 
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
I’m not sure I ever had that eureka moment. Literary apples didn’t konk me on the head one day. My mum had always wanted to be an author, and I think she passed that onto me at an early age. I loved writing at school; English was by far my best subject – it just came real easy to me. Especially with reading being a close second love to writing.

 

 
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’d always considered myself a writer. Anyone who has the courage to put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard, deserves to call themselves a writer, but I considered myself an author, once I was published.

 

 
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
Bad Blood was born from me wanting to read a book that had vampires and zombies pitted against one another, but I couldn’t find it – so I decided to write it myself,

 

 
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m very action orientated, so my books are quite fast paced. I also have a very dry sense of humor that seems to seep into anything I write. I don’t like to just re-hash plot lines, so I’m always experimenting with different twists and turns.

 

 
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
Bad Blood (the first in the Battle of the Undead series) was always there; it works for both the zombie blood that vampires cannot drink and the bad feelings between the two main characters. Lost in Wonderland (the first in the Twisted and the Brave series) was down to the book being all about getting lost and a secret vigilante group that hunt serial killers called Wonderland – so that was always the working title too.

 

 

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I always have a theme and a message in my books, but it’s more fun for readers to discover it there themselves. I always hope that readers find my characters at just the right time in their lives when they need some guidance or a bit of fun to take them away from this dreary reality.

 

 
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Both my book series have supernatural elements, so thankfully very few aspects of either have autobiographical scenes. I do try to have relationships from my life echo through my books. When writing about the paranormal, it’s good to liberally sprinkle it with some reality, makes the crazy bits seem more real somehow.

 

 
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? A mentor?
I don’t have a mentor – I really wish I did. That’s why I run a local writers’ group to try to help fledgling writers with their own careers. When I was younger I loved the work of the classics like Poe and Lovecraft, I then moved on to Richard Laymon and Stephen King and Poppy Z Brite.

 

 
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest and who is your favorite author and what is it that strikes you about their work?
I’m not sure she is considered new, but I’ve been reading Robin LaFever’s books. Fascinating to have historical supernatural stories for a YA audience. There had clearly been a massive amount of research into the time period, which I admire greatly.

 

 
Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
I’m actually going to struggle to answer this one! I grew up in a smallish town in the UK where there was little money put into the creative arts. That thankfully has changed now, but it wasn’t there when I needed it. I started my writers’ group 6 years ago now, just before I was published, so creating an atmosphere of like-minded individuals helped me.

 

 
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
Very much so. It’s a hard one that takes up a lot of time and gives very little back regarding salary (unless you hit it big that is!) but I won’t stop working on it until I do get that runaway hit that means I can write for a living and comfortably support, my family.

 

 
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
The reviews have been great for Lost in Wonderland. However, readers are saying that would have liked it to be longer – so perhaps I would add a little more in there, carry the story on for a few more chapters. I am currently working on the sequel, The Assassin of Oz, so I’m adding in more to that one to answer the open questions from Wonderland and give the readers what they want.

 

 
Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
My mum. She always wanted to be an author but never had the time. I guess it was in my DNA.

 

 
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I’m currently working on the sequel to Lost in Wonderland which is The Assassin of Oz and the third in the Battle of the Undead series called Bad Karma.

 

 
Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Time. Finding the time not just to write, but edit and promote your author brand on social media and promote your work, it’s exhausting. I wish I could write full-time, but if I want the luxuries in life like food and shelter, I need to have a regular full-time job too!

 

 
Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
If only! I always envy those writers that can just take off to far and wide exotic destinations to use first-hand experience. I just don’t have the time or the money right now. Thankfully Google Earth is free and much less time consuming.

 

 
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
My publishers, Evernight Teen, had them designed. There’re some lovely and talented designers out there.

 

 
Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
I enjoy the whole process, but the toughest part is letting it go and letting your publishers read it for the first time. I just keep prodding the manuscript and working on it, knowing full well I have to let it go.

 

 
Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
LOL, I’d like to say I did, but I always tell the truth in interviews, so probably very little apart from if you write when you’re tired, expect to spend twice as much time editing!

 

 
Fiona: If any of your books was made into a film who would you like to play the lead
I’m a massive Game of Thrones fan so, for Lost in Wonderland’s Mouse it would have to be Maisie Williams.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Start small to learn your craft, go for the short story market in the first instance.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Please buy my books! LOL, but seriously, the more you buy, the more time I can spend writing them for you 🙂

 

 
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
The Coffee Table Book of Doom by Steven Appleby & Art Lester -both educational and funny.

 

 
Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
Dracula by Bram Stoker. Because it was in the horror section, it felt like I was being naughty by reading it!

 
Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?
People falling over makes me laugh; I know I’m evil! Animals being mistreated makes me cry and get angry.

 

 
Fiona: Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?
Emelia Earhart. I’d love to know what really happened to her.

 

 
Fiona: What do you want to be written on your headstone and why?
Here lies Nicky Peacock, One dark and stormy night she will rise from this grave then come and get you!

 

 
Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?
I work full time on a trade magazine and spend the rest of my time writing and promoting my work (a massive part of the modern author’s life) I try to exercise, but to be honest, my heart is rarely in it and I usually find an excuse – I’ve gotten quite a bit of writing done in the past trying to avoid the treadmill! I’m a big movie and TV addict and run a local writers’ group to encourage others that need help on the road to their literary dreams.

 

 
Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Bitten, Vampire Diaries, Hunted (UK reality show about ordinary people evading capture by the government) and Lucifer on Amazon Prime.

 

 
Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music
Chocolate, Green, anything except jazz.

 

 
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
An English teacher. At least then I could still be near creative writing.

 

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?

Blog:   Twitter: Y  A Facebook Page:   UK Amazon Author Page:

US Amazon Author page:   Good Reads: Tumblr:  Authorgraph:

 

Buy Bad Blood here…

Buy Lost in Wonderland here…

Bag yourself a FREE Halloween read, Traitors’ Gate here…

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