Peterborough - United Kingdom

Frequently Asked Questions

How scary are your books? What would say is the "fright factor"?

My novels focus on; atmospheric dread, supernatural terror and psychological tension to name a few. They are designed to disturb, not just scare. There is normally a lot of blood, violence, profanities and sometimes sex within the pages.

 

What should I do If I find your books too intense?

This is a good question and thank you for asking it.
I believe horror is meant to be a safe, thrill seeking experience. If it becomes uncomfortable please;
Try reading through the day. Read with the lights on. And take several breaks.

 

Where can I purchase your books?

My Silver Bow Trilogy are available to buy on Amazon in E-book and paperback.

 

Can my 16 year old read your books?

It is not advised until they are 18. However, when you read the books first you will know if it is suitable for them.

 

Are your books part of a series or are they standalone?

My first three novels The Silver Bow 1, 2 and 3 are in a series and should be read in that order to get the best reading experience from them. 

The two novels I am writing at present; Threshold – A House with a Secret and Millpond – Where the dead come to play are standalone novels. However, there will be parts of the narrative in each novel which cross over to the other one as they are set in the same area.

 

Can you tell us your writing process?

Yes, I can and another good question because my writing process has changed from what it used to be. I was rewriting The Silver Bow a couple of years ago because it needed an update to bring it into the current climate, so to speak. Once that was finished, I felt the storyline needed me to add more content. So, it was just a matter of booting up the computer and writing whatever came to mind.

These days, the process has changed a little. Before I even start writing, I try to have a minimum of fifteen minutes of walking on the treadmill; some days it might be thirty minutes. Quite often ideas will come to mind as I am walking, so I keep a notebook handy nearby. And yes, I have made many notebooks which sell on Amazon.

So, when I am ready, and I finally sit behind my desk with a notebook in front of me, I just write as quickly as I can, not worrying about getting the spelling or grammar right, etc. I just get it onto the page. [I use the notebook first, because I can write quickly by hand. On the computer, I’m like a snail.]

Depending on time, I may transfer the longhand writing to the computer on the same day. But, quite often, I will have to stop because my cat, Messi is demanding that I play with her or feed her. I don’t mind as she is a little sweetheart.

After I finish writing the novel, I will reread it, doing my own edits as I go along. Then I will leave it for a month or two and start on another writing project. When I come back to the novel after a couple of months, it is as though I am reading it for the first time. I can see anything which needs to be deleted or anything which needs to be added to it to make it flow better.

Once I am happy with what I have, I contact my editor, Richard Gibney, to do his edits. While he is doing that, I get my cover designer, Matthew Lewis, to work on the artwork for me.
Once the three of us are happy, it’s just a matter of uploading everything to Amazon to get it published.

Some people might say that is a lot of time and effort and might be put off from writing anything. The simple answer here is don’t be put off because if you don’t put in the time and effort, your readers will probably notice it in your writing and might even give you a bad or negative review.
So, put in the time and effort. Enjoy what you are writing and have some fun doing it. [I’m having a blast.] You’ll be glad you did.

I feel you will eventually find whatever writing process works for you, so just stick with it until something else comes along, as I am pretty sure it will.

I know it has been a long-drawn-out answer, but you did ask.

 

Who would you say has influenced you with your writing if at all?

I love an easy question. Growing up I have always been a reader and fan of Stephen King, James Herbert, Richard Laymon, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, and more recently after her book was made into a series for television, CJ. Tudor. All fantastic writer in their own right.

 

I think I read somewhere that you were ill when you started writing your first novel?

That's correct. I believe The Silver Bow began its long journey in the mid-1980s. I wasn't very well at the time and needed something to occupy my mind.

I'd previously written a number of short stories, and around nine of them were published. But then the idea for The Silver Bow appeared. I have no idea where it came from — it was simply there — and it eventually became the foundation of the trilogy that has been self-published today.

Before I gave the original manuscript a substantial edit, I believe it was around, if not over, 200,000 words when I finally completed it several years later. Considering how unwell I had been, that felt like quite an achievement.

Writing also presented another challenge for me. During my school years, I missed quite a lot of English lessons — because I was regularly dragged out of class to represent the school in cross-country running or rugby.

Looking back, some of the things we were asked to do at school would probably raise a few eyebrows today!

But despite the gaps in my education, I never lost my love of storytelling. I simply kept writing, kept learning and kept improving.

And eventually, The Silver Bow was born.

 

Do you have any hobbies or other interests

I do enjoy pottering around in the garden, I find there is something therapeutic about it. I love photography and I make and sell Notebooks on Amazon.

 

You just mentioned that you like Photography - Do you have a website?

I did have my own dedicated website for my photography, which has since closed down. However, I do have several photographs on a website where they turn them into gifts. If you fancy a look, pop along to Redbubble.com and put in my name, Anthony Hedger to do a search or click on the link below.

 

You also mentioned that you make and sell notebooks on Amazon as well?

That's right. I have actually lost count on how many notebooks there are on there. I believe it to be somewhere between 250 and 300. All of them have a photograph on the cover which I have taken. There is a link below you can click on but it might not direct you to Amazon for your country. And if that happens just click on the Silver Bow link and then when Amazon for your country opens up, do a search for Anthony Hedger Notebooks.

 

What's next for you?

Oh, that's an easy one to answer. I just want to keep writing and have fun while doing it.