Today I am delighted to be part of the blog tour for Jon Richter’s dark thriller Never Rest, and share my review of this exciting read as well as have Jon join me to take part in the author feature for Celebrating Indie Publishing!
Never Rest was published by Bloodhound Books on 30 March 2018 and is available to buy now.
Book Feature:
Description:
Author Feature:
Jon Richter lives in London and spends most of his time hiding in the guise of his sinister alter ego, an accountant called Dave. When he isn’t counting beans, he is a self-confessed nerd who loves books, films and video games – basically any way to tell a good story. Jon writes whenever he can and hopes to bring you more dark tales in the very near future. If you want to chat to him about this, or about anything at all, you can find him on Twitter @RichterWrites; he’d also love it if you would check out his website at www.jon-richter.com
What’s your most favourite thing about being an author?
I still think of myself as something of a newbie writer after my first book was released last year, so I’m learning all the time. One of the most pleasant surprises has been how unbelievably supportive your fellow authors can be, not just those signed to your publisher but also people you encounter at events, on social media, etc – they’re a priceless source of advice and knowledge for a ‘noob’ like me!
What’s your least favourite thing about being an author?
When you have a full-time job and are trying to write ‘on the side’ whenever you can, it does put a lot of pressure on your free time. I’m writing this on a Saturday afternoon after a busy day getting some chores done, and now instead of looking forward to a relaxing evening I am instead stressing about the writing I ‘ought to be doing’… I think the secret is to only write when you’re in the mood, and not beat yourself up if you just don’t fancy it one day.
If you could have written any book what would it be and why?
That’s a great question! I’d like to write something dark (obviously) and truly iconic… perhaps one of the great original monsters, like Dracula or Frankenstein. The idea of coming up with a character/creature that endures for decades, providing entertainment and terror for generation after generation of readers, is a compelling one!
How do you spend your time when you’re not wrapped up plotting your next book?
I love a good (dark) story, so I enjoy reading, watching TV and movies, and playing video games – basically any vehicle for delivering something powerful/unsettling (as you can tell, I don’t really do romance or comedy!) I also go running a lot to try to fend off my horrendous diet… as I write I’m preparing for the London 10k Winter Run tomorrow, so that means a huge vat of pasta for tea!
Do you have a set routine for writing? Rituals you have to observe? I.e. specific pen, silence, day or night etc.
If I can, I like to block out an entire day, start writing in the morning and just keep going until I ‘run out of steam’ late in the evening. I don’t use pen/paper (I have absolutely no idea how anyone can do this – my work would deteriorate into an unreadable morass of crossings-outland edits within minutes!!) so it’s just me and the laptop, and I definitely need suitable background music: ideally something ambient and ominous, like Aphex Twin.
What’s on the horizon? What can your fans look forward to next?
After the release of my latest book, I’m hoping to write something a little different before the end of the year, with a bit more of a sci-fi angle… and of course, I’m always working on short stories, and hope to publish a second volume of my Disturbing Works at some point in the near future (those are my most esoteric creations, so if you’re a fan of sinister tales with a shocking twist, be sure to check out the first collection!)
Finally, if you could impart one pearl of wisdom to your readers, what would it be?
If you like reading great stories but you don’t play video games, you are missing out on some unforgettable experiences!!
Go and immediately buy a PS4 and check out What Remains Of Edith Finch, Firewatch, or Gone Home… all are incredibly easy to play and are focused on delivering a fascinating narrative, whose impact is greatly elevated by the interactivity of the video game format. Then tweet me @RichterWrites for some more recommendations!! In all seriousness, I would love to see video games get the mainstream recognition they deserve: it isn’t all mindless shooters, gratuitous violence and FIFA.
A huge thank you to Jon Richter for joining me today and giving such brilliant answers that tell us so much about himself! Have to admit, I’ve never been one for video games but I may have to give them a go, I’m quite intrigued about the storytelling aspect of them! You can find out more about Jon and his books on the links above and can buy a copy of his book via Amazon UK now!