A Year Inside The Madhouse: Looking Back at a Wild Ride

It’s a year to the day since the Madhouse audiobook was released through Tantor, and honestly, it feels like only yesterday. They say that time flies when you’re having fun, but when you’re navigating the dark, twisting corridors of a project like this, time seems to operate a little differently.

Reflecting on the last twelve months, I am struck by how much this story has shaped my life. Madhouse was by far my most successful standalone book to date. For months after its release, I was consistently seeing those KDP bonuses roll in, which was a thrill in itself. But more importantly, it was the book that caught the attention of an LA movie producer and, of course, the team at Tantor Media, a gigantic audiobook publishing company.

When those conversations began, I knew I had to protect the soul of the project. There was one specific condition that was a total deal-breaker for me: the voice of the book. Thankfully, I successfully got it written into the contract that my dear friend, Kim Bretton, was the narrator. She brought a dimension to the story that I could never have achieved alone, and I remain incredibly grateful for that collaboration.

Madhouse is the book that has surprised me more than any other, and it’s the book that’s taught me more than any other. It opened up doors in the industry for me, but it also opened up doors in my mind—psychological and creative pathways that continue to help me to this day.

I often question whether I would have had the confidence to write my latest protagonist, Erin, if I hadn’t first written Mitzy. The two are very different characters, living in very different worlds, but they possess some of the same core vulnerabilities. Seeing how readers connected with those vulnerabilities has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey.

More than any other book that I’ve written, Madhouse constantly surprises me. From unexpected, glowing reviews by other horror authors to inquiries from agents, it’s truly the book that keeps on giving. I am constantly humbled by the feedback that comes my way:

• ★★★★★ “This is the wildest story I've ever read. It is filled with tension and terror.”
• ★★★★★ “Twisted, dark, violent, and uncomfortable but also impossible to put down.”
• ★★★★★ “The single most horrifying book I've ever read.”
• ★★★★★ “Completely and utterly insane.”

(I still haven’t clarified if that last one was about me or the book, but since it’s five stars, I’ll take it as a compliment!)

Thank you to everyone who has listened, read, and shared this story over the last year. It has been a wild, terrifying, and deeply rewarding ride. Here’s to many more stories to come.

A blast from the past. The real-life inspiration for The Devil's Face.

A while back, I told the gang in the fan club on Facebook that I would one day reveal the very real inspiration for The Devil’s Face.

Several years ago, before I became a full-time author, I was in a turbulent, high-stress job. I lived out in the sticks, enduring a fifty-mile round trip through pitch-black, unlit country roads in the middle of winter.

One morning, at 5:40 a.m. as I passed a church, the temperature in my car seemed to plummet. My eyes were drawn to a figure in the periphery of my vision. It was freakishly tall, hooded, and seemed to be walking with jerky, frame-by-frame movements. I had never believed in supernatural forces, yet every alarm bell in my body told me to get out of there. I hit the gas and didn't look back.

I convinced myself it was stress-induced, but weeks later, it happened again. This time, the figure stood straddling the white line near a bridge—closer and more threatening. Later that January, I saw it a third time, hunched and walking uphill. Each time, I was left almost hyperventilating, covered in goosebumps, checking my mirrors, and wondering if my car would suddenly quit, trapping me with whatever the hell it was.

Eventually, the sightings stopped. Looking back, I still maintain they must have been hallucinations caused by an unparalleled level of stress. It’s the only logical conclusion I can offer. However, I knew I needed to harness that visceral fear for a horror novel.

The true "seed" of the book came later. We installed a new light fitting in our dark kitchen. At night, for a split second, a weird reflection hits the window when you turn the light on while the door is still opening. The first time it happened, I did a double-take. Then, the realisation hit me. This could be the perfect hook for a horror novel. What if these fleeting glimpses weren’t just optical illusions?

What if that figure I saw on the road was real? What if these shadows are stalking us, waiting for our moments of vulnerability? That question sparked the idea. Suddenly, Lev, Jodie, Beth, and the rest of the cast were in my head, demanding to have their story told.

The Devil’s Face was born from one of the most tempestuous periods of my life. It turns out that fear can be a powerful creative tool—provided you survive the experience. 

Finding Sanity in the Soil: Life in the Tunnel

There is a specific kind of quiet that exists inside a polycarbonate tunnel. It’s different from the silence of an empty room; it’s a living, breathing stillness. Lately, I’ve been spending a significant amount of time in my Polycrub—or as I’ve come to affectionately call it, "the tunnel."

When I first had it built, I had a very practical checklist of expectations. I knew it would keep me physically active and provide a necessary tether to the real world, far away from the glowing blue light of my computer screen. As an author of post-apocalyptic fiction, specifically while working on The Burning Tree, I also viewed the tunnel as a living laboratory. I wanted to run experiments to see exactly what it takes to coax life from the earth when the modern systems we rely on begin to fail.

What I didn’t envisage was the mental alchemy that happens the moment I step through the door.

The Ultimate Creative Reset

Writing is a heavy business. It’s an exercise in building worlds and inhabiting the minds of characters who are often facing the absolute worst of humanity. After a particularly gruelling session, my brain feels like a tangled web of plot points and dark imagery.

The tunnel has become my sanctuary for a "reset." In the solitude and the silence, the noise of the narrative fades. There is something deeply grounding about the tactile nature of gardening—the grit of the compost, the specific scent of tomato leaves, and the humid, earthy air.

The Window Garden Transition

We are still early in the season, and the transition is in full swing. My windowsills have been crowded with green hopefuls for the last couple of months. I’m currently tending to a vibrant crop of:

• Tomatoes: Already showing off their first green fruits and yellow blossoms.
• Aubergines: Striking with their deep purple stems and delicate flowers.
• Cucurbits: Courgettes and cucumbers stretching their broad, fuzzy leaves toward the light, eager for the space the tunnel provides.

While it’s still a bit too chilly to move all these delicate seedlings into their final home, there is still a "tonne" of work to do. Prepping the beds, checking the irrigation, and managing the temperature—it’s a constant dance with the elements.

Growing for the Future

The news seems to get a little grimmer every day. This morning, the headlines were filled with talk of future shortages and the ripple effects of the ongoing situation in the Middle East. It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of global instability.

However, every calorie I expend growing my own vegetables right now feels like a quiet act of defiance. Every seed that germinates is a small victory for self-reliance. We are still a long way from being fully self-sufficient, but bit by bit, plant by plant, we’re getting there.

In the tunnel, the post-apocalypse isn't just a sub-genre I write about; it’s a reminder of why these skills matter. But more importantly, it’s where I go to find the peace required to keep writing about it.                                     

From Page to Screen: The Madness Continues for Madhouse

There is a real kind of electricity that hits an author when they realise their characters might soon have faces, voices, and a life beyond the printed page. For those who have been following the journey of my splatterpunk horror, Madhouse, you know that the road has been nothing short of a rollercoaster.

As we move through this year, I wanted to take a moment to circle back to some of the most exciting news in my writing career: the shopping agreement for Madhouse. While the ink has been dry on the contract for a while now, the momentum behind the scenes is still very much alive.

The Journey So Far

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade since I published Rise of the RAMs. Back then, if you had told me a film producer would finish Madhouse, "absolutely love it," and immediately reach out to secure the rights to pitch it to major studios and networks, I would have told you the chances were somewhere around zero.

But as the saying goes—and as Marillion so eloquently put it—"Happiness is the Road." The shopping agreement essentially gives our producer the green light to find the perfect home for this story, whether that’s a gritty limited series or a feature film. Even though the book is rooted in its atmospheric Scottish setting, the current vision involves adapting the story for a US audience. It’s a transition that opens up fascinating new avenues for the narrative's tension and psychological depth.

Dreaming in Technicolor: The Madhouse Dream Cast

One of the most frequent questions I get from readers is: “If you could cast a movie for one of your books, who would you pick?”

Since Madhouse is currently being "shopped" in the industry, I’ve had some time to indulge in a bit of fantasy casting. If I had a magic wand and a Hollywood budget, here is exactly how the staff and residents of the Madhouse would look:

The Faculty of Fear

• Dr Lavender: Kim. Without a second of hesitation, I would cast Kim. Her performance on the audiobook for Tantor was nothing short of legendary. She captured the "creepy as hell" essence of the characters so perfectly that she genuinely gave me nightmares. Seeing her bring that terrifying energy to Lavender on screen would be a masterclass in horror.
• Dr Rupert: Ethan Hawke. Ethan is one of the most authentic performers working today. He has this unique ability to balance vulnerability with a simmering sense of menace. (Though, if Ethan’s busy, Nestor Carbonell is a hauntingly close second—he has that Anthony Perkins vibe that fits the story’s DNA like a glove).
• Dr Razzle Dazzle: Freddie Highmore. After seeing him in Bates Motel, I know there isn't a complex psychological layer Freddie can’t peel back. He would absorb this role completely.

The Unforgettable Residents

• Mitzi: Samara Weaving. Samara is the queen of the "innocent-to-insane" pivot. Whether it's Ready or Not or The Babysitter, she has the range to make Mitzi both captivating and terrifying within the span of a single sentence.
• Miss T: Jessica Chastain. This role requires a powerhouse who can juggle strength, humour, and raw emotion. Jessica is a personal favourite because she "kills" every role she touches. She is exactly who I see when I think of Miss T’s resilience.
• Zack: Niles Fitch. Every story needs its hero, and Zack is the heart of Madhouse. Niles Fitch (from This Is Us) has a depth that is rare for a young actor. He has the "barrels of soul" needed to carry the emotional weight of the book.

What’s Next?

Whether a studio picks up the option or the clock runs out on the contract, the "buzz" of this journey has already been a gift. Madhouse continues to be the title in my catalogue that surprises me most—it simply refuses to sit still.

For those who haven't experienced the story yet—or for those who want to hear Kim’s "nightmare-inducing" portrayal of Mitzi before the potential movie arrives—I highly recommend grabbing the audiobook.

Thank you all for being part of this ride and stay tuned!

So, I got ideas for two books at the same time. I started writing one, and then the other was screaming for attention in my resting hours, so I pivoted. I’m really glad I did. This story is set in the Safe Haven, but despite this, it’s like nothing that I’ve written before and I’m really excited by it.

Anyone across in the fan club on Facebook knows that I don’t do spoilers, but with this one, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I have no idea where the story will take me.

The Story That Wouldn't Wait: Why I Pivoted to My New Project

We’ve all heard the advice: pick a lane and stay in it. In the world of writing, that usually means finishing the manuscript you started before even glancing at the "shiny new idea" sitting in the corner. But recently, I found myself in a creative tug-of-war that forced me to throw the rulebook out the window.

It started with a bit of a double-whammy. I had two distinct book ideas hit me at almost the exact same moment. Naturally, I picked one, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work. But as any writer will tell you, characters have a funny way of ignoring your schedule. While I was working on the first story, the second story wasn't just knocking at the door—it was screaming for attention during every resting hour I had.

Giving In to the Creative Pivot

Eventually, the noise became too loud to ignore. I decided to pivot, setting aside the first project to see where the second would take me.

I am so incredibly glad I did.

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you stop fighting your intuition and just follow the flow. Since switching gears, the words have been coming with a speed and intensity that I haven't felt in a long time. It’s a reminder that sometimes the "distraction" isn't a distraction at all—it’s the story you were actually meant to be telling right now.

A New Side of Safe Haven

For those of you who have followed my work, you know I love writing the Safe Haven universe. This new book is set in it, but I want to be clear: it is like nothing I have ever written before.

Many aspects of this new story are uncharted territory for me. It’s darker, deeper, and frankly, a bit of a creative rebirth. It’s exhilarating to take a universe I love and give it a completely different feel.

The No-Spoiler Zone (Even for Me!)

Those of you in the FB fan club know my stance on spoilers: I don’t do them. I love the "aha!" moment too much.

But with this particular book, I couldn't give you a spoiler even if I wanted to. I have no idea where this story will take me.