This week I am thrilled to be interviewing author Stewart Bint, who will be sharing with us details of his writing life, telling us all about his book ‘In Shadows Waiting‘, which was released on 1st June 2016, and answering a few fun questions. This post contains affiliate links.

I’m 66, a former broadcaster and Public Relations writer. Now semi-retired, just working on my next novel. My wife Sue and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary last month, and we have two grown-up children, Christopher and Charlotte. I usually go barefoot.

Very much so. The writing bug infected me when I was seven, thanks to my favourite television show, Doctor Who. The original series, way back in 1963 inspired me when I became enraptured by the storylines which could take place at any time in Earth’s history and future, and anywhere in the universe and beyond.

I started creating my own worlds and my own characters, writing my stories in little blue notebooks until my parents bought me a portable typewriter for my ninth birthday. Those make-believe worlds became invaluable after my Dad died when I was 11. I retreated
more and more into those places where I was in control of my characters’ fate, knowing that whatever happened to them during the story I’d make sure they were OK in the end. My worlds were certainly better than the real one at that time.

An author who’s fallen out of favour nowadays, due to the ubiquitous politically correct nonsense: Enid Blyton. But in the late 1950s and early 60s when I was starting to read voraciously, she was extremely popular.

Throughout my 20s while working as a broadcaster I set my ambition to become a published novelist by the time I was 30. I was only 26 years too late for that, as I was 56 when my first novella, Malfunction, was published. I’d been writing fiction all my life, but
never considered it good enough for anyone else to read, so didn’t submit it to publishers until a friend convinced me otherwise.

My original plan was just to offer my work to e-book publishers, as I felt that was the future of the book publishing market. Then one of my short stories was published in a paperback anthology, and to see my work in an actual printed book was somewhat magical. So I set about writing a full-length novel and was delighted when it was picked up by a publisher.

I have more of a plot outline than an actual plot itself before I start writing. I know where the story’s going and I usually know the ending right at the start of the process. As I write, the scene unfolds before my eyes, rather like a film, and this is where the pantser comes in, with the characters taking me down uncharted roads doing their own thing. But I’m always happy to let them.

In fact, a fairly minor character in my sci-fi novel, Timeshaft, suddenly said something which changed the entire premise that the hero had been working to throughout his entire life…and that actually changed my planned ending, too.

When I started writing my current novel last year I told myself I’d only work from 10.00 a.m. until 1.00 p.m. But I’m such a slow writer that I often find myself still hard at it at 5.00 p.m.

Where Stewart Bint Writes

Apart from book signings and author talks, which I love…and being able to set my own hours, only working when I want to, it would have to be the social worker aspect. My main genre is paranormal/horror. It seems when we’re scared our bodies release different chemicals which can contribute to feeling good under the right circumstances. I guess those right circumstances are when that fright, that danger, that unknown, that horror, is simply within safe boundaries.

So, with being scared to the point of the screaming heebie-jeebies by horror fiction being so good for us, and my readers craving that chill on their spine and a rise of their neck hairs, I see my role as an author in giving them an intense fix of that, as something akin to a social worker.

The book I’m currently working on is a paranormal medical crime thriller, with a strong COVID backdrop, so I had to undertake extensive research for a full four months before starting to write it, including several lengthy interviews. And I continue to research
individual scenes where necessary. Topics I’ve researched for the book include: COVID, Long COVID, processes and procedures on Intensive Care Units including CPR resuscitation and proning, medical ward procedures, police procedure including the Holmes Computer, out-of-body
experiences, and drone technology.

I’m still working on the first draft. The idea came around a year ago, and I spent several months playing around with it in my mind before putting an initial plotline together and starting research. I anticipate by the time I finish it, it’ll be around two years.

In Shadows Waiting was inspired by a real-life brush I had with the supernatural, and as I’m fascinated by all things paranormal and the unknown, which includes sci-fi, it seemed natural to continue in that vein. Two of my books are pure paranormal/horror; another is
humour/satire but still supernatural; one is sci-fi; and my short story collection contains a number of tales from those genres. I guess it’s like an obsession with me.

In my new book, which will be called When God’s Wind Blows, it was easy. Although not a direct sequel to my first novel, In Shadows Waiting, published in 2015, the new one features the main character from it, Simon Reynolds, so I had to stick with that. The original book was set in 1982 when Simon was 18. I wanted a name that was simple, and one which readers could identify with easily. He’s an ordinary boy from a traditional family of the time.

My books are definitely character-driven. I work out the basic plot first, then create the right characters who are going to live through it. Every step of my stories are determined by the characters and how they react to them. The new book is set in 2020 and 2021
during the COVID pandemic when Simon is 56 and 57, and he’s never really got over the horrific events of 1982.

He’s suffered blackouts ever since then, but has managed to carve a good career as a radio presenter. Because of his past experiences, when events take a paranormal turn in 2020, he quickly accepts it, and sets out on a voyage of self discovery.

I’ve had four novels and a collection of short stories published. The euphoria that comes with submitting the finished manuscript to my publisher is quite a high, but even that pales into insignificance when I held the paperback for the first time.

“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.” This is taken from Max Ehrmann’s incredible poem, Desiderata. I discovered Desiderata as a teenager and have lived by its teachings and ethos ever since.

Bertie. He’s an extremely charismatic and talkative budgie. He has his own hashtag on Twitter I’m sure most of my 18,000+ followers are only with me to share his adventures.

I’m currently reading Finding You, by Elizabeth Holland. Then, I’ll be heading into my TBR list, which includes Mirror Land, by Carole Johnstone; The Institute, by Stephen King; The Man Who Died Twice, by Richard Osman; Paparazzi, by Jo Fenton; The Refuge, also by Jo Fenton; and Rubicon, by Ian Patrick.

One of the patients on the ward when Simon’s brought into hospital with COVID.

Definitely fog-infested London in the Sherlock Holmes era.

“Sorry, mate, don’t mind me. Global warming’s made my habitat too hot for me now. But it’s nice and cold in English houses, as energy’s too expensive for you to put your heating on.”

A big thank you to Stewart Bint for sharing his writing life with us and for a wonderful interview.