The Cuckoo Wood
A THRILLING, MELODICALLY CREEPY MYSTERY.
Samantha Jaynes took her life in the cold lake. Now Rosie Trimble has
done the same. Both claimed they had seen an angel. And they're not
the only ones.
done the same. Both claimed they had seen an angel. And they're not
the only ones.
A spate of teenage suicides rattles the rural community of Kirkdale, in
England's Lake District. Before they died, each of the girls talked about
seeing an angel. Is this collective hallucination, or is something more
sinister leading these young girls to their deaths?
England's Lake District. Before they died, each of the girls talked about
seeing an angel. Is this collective hallucination, or is something more
sinister leading these young girls to their deaths?
That’s a question for Dr Alex Ripley, the so-called Miracle Detective.
Brought in to help the police, she finds a community rooted in fear and
suspicion, bound by their strange faith, unwilling to help, unable to
forgive.
Brought in to help the police, she finds a community rooted in fear and
suspicion, bound by their strange faith, unwilling to help, unable to
forgive.
Because the people of Kirkdale have buried their dark past once, and
they’re not about to let Ripley dig it up again.
they’re not about to let Ripley dig it up again.
The Cuckoo Wood is the first Alex Ripley Mystery
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Tell us a bit about you, how did you become a writer?
Anyway, despite studying Scriptwriting at university, it took a long time for me to become a full-time writer. I taught English and Media Studies for a while, then I became a web developer, then an Interactive TV producer, as well as several other, less profitable professions.
I would always get to a certain point and feel the need to break away and go back to writing, but then I would run out of money or determination, and slip back into paid work.
It was only when I began writing and producing online drama series that my two worlds collided, and when I was asked to write a graphic novel as part of a multi-platform series, followed by two novels for the same series, my path was finally set. I haven't looked back since.
Your books are all in the crime genre. Why crime?
I also think that crime stories are popular because they allow us to look into a darker place, both within ourselves and society, and that fascinates me too.
I know it worries my Mum that these worlds and characters are all in my head, but I try to reassure her that they're better out than in.
How important is the setting of your books in telling the story?
Small village mentality can hide a number of secrets and create a sense of isolation and fear, which is perfect for the kind of stories Ripley finds herself in.
How did you come up with the character of Dr Alex Ripley, Miracle Detective?
I think she's an interesting character in that she is a skeptic, but she has her own understanding of faith and would love, one day, to find divine proof. Perhaps there's a little of me in her there.
If you could sit and chat to Alex Ripley for a while, what would you say? Any advice for her?
What do you do to shut off, or are your characters always talking to you?
That being said, character and plot are never far away, and sometimes these activities away from the desk are more productive than bashing away at words which aren't flowing. You can't stop your characters talking to you, sometimes even after you've killed them.
Author Bio – Born in the UK and raised in South Africa, M. Sean Coleman
Author Q&A: M. Sean Coleman
Well, I was born in England, and part-raised in South Africa, which I think gave me a slightly different perspective on the world, but also meant that I was always something of an outsider at school, once I returned to the UK.
I didn't have many friends, and I spent a lot of time playing computer games on my Commodore 64, or reading and then writing my own stories. I was big into horror in my teens and wrote some pretty dark short stories back then. I guess I was exorcising my own demons, to an extent. Anyway, despite studying Scriptwriting at university, it took a long time for me to become a full-time writer. I taught English and Media Studies for a while, then I became a web developer, then an Interactive TV producer, as well as several other, less profitable professions.
I would always get to a certain point and feel the need to break away and go back to writing, but then I would run out of money or determination, and slip back into paid work.
It was only when I began writing and producing online drama series that my two worlds collided, and when I was asked to write a graphic novel as part of a multi-platform series, followed by two novels for the same series, my path was finally set. I haven't looked back since.
Your books are all in the crime genre. Why crime?
I love it, is the simple answer. Not in the real world, obviously, but I am always interested in what tips people over that moral line into committing a crime.
I enjoy writing crime because there is a certain order and neatness to a crime plot which feels reassuring to me. But at the same time I enjoy exploring the depths of human depravity or frailty. I also think that crime stories are popular because they allow us to look into a darker place, both within ourselves and society, and that fascinates me too.
I know it worries my Mum that these worlds and characters are all in my head, but I try to reassure her that they're better out than in.
How important is the setting of your books in telling the story?
I do like creating a sense of place. I guess partly because I began my writing career as a scriptwriter for film and television, and setting is a big part of the visual whole. I like my settings to be an integral part of my stories—almost another character.
In the Alex Ripley series, for example, most of the stories are set in small, remote, rural villages around the UK. I am fascinated by these places which exist in the modern world, but are somehow removed from it, and able to self-govern to an extent.Small village mentality can hide a number of secrets and create a sense of isolation and fear, which is perfect for the kind of stories Ripley finds herself in.
How did you come up with the character of Dr Alex Ripley, Miracle Detective?
I had been reading an article about the beatification of saints, specifically I think around the time that the church was trying to beatify Mother Teresa. There was a section in the article about the professional skeptics who are hired to examine the miracles attributed to the potential saint, to verify that they were indeed miracles and couldn't be explained any other way. I thought that sounded perfect for getting under the skin of religion. That was the root of it, really.
Also, I am quite fascinated by religion, and particularly in the things people will do in the name of faith, so I think I also wanted to create a character who could let me explore that subject matter.I think she's an interesting character in that she is a skeptic, but she has her own understanding of faith and would love, one day, to find divine proof. Perhaps there's a little of me in her there.
If you could sit and chat to Alex Ripley for a while, what would you say? Any advice for her?
Stay out of trouble and tell people what you're doing! Alex Ripley has a tendency to charge in to dangerous situations all gung-ho, without waiting for help, and that gets her into hot water quite regularly—or cold water, in the case of The Cuckoo Wood.
She's brave though, I admire that in her. But she could do with being a little more cautious if she wants to survive—and I would really like her to survive. To be honest, she is far more intelligent and sensible than I am, so I would imagine, if we did sit down for a chat, the majority of the advice would be flowing the other way.What do you do to shut off, or are your characters always talking to you?
I walk my dogs. I have Hungarian Vizslas and they love a good run. They are very grounding. They make me laugh every day, and they make sure I have time away from the desk and out in the real world, observing the changing seasons and breathing fresh air.
I also love gardening, so I spend an hour or so in the garden each day if I can. I find the process of sowing, growing and tending plants very peaceful. It's my little way of being finding time for mindfulness in the day.That being said, character and plot are never far away, and sometimes these activities away from the desk are more productive than bashing away at words which aren't flowing. You can't stop your characters talking to you, sometimes even after you've killed them.
Author Bio – Born in the UK and raised in South Africa, M. Sean Coleman
developed a love for reading and writing novels in his early teens,
thanks to two incredibly passionate English teachers who infected him
with their love of words and stories. Over the intervening years, he has
written film and television drama, cross-platform series, an interactive
children’s storybook and a graphic novel series.
He finally found his niche as a thriller writer when he was asked to write
a novel as part of the cross-platform project, Netwars. His first book,
The Code, was published six months later, with the sequel, Down Time,
hot on its heels. There was no going back.
He is obsessed with crime, mystery and thriller stories, especially those
with a fresh or surprising angle. He writes novels from his home in
The Cotswolds, where he lives with his husband and their three red dogs.
thanks to two incredibly passionate English teachers who infected him
with their love of words and stories. Over the intervening years, he has
written film and television drama, cross-platform series, an interactive
children’s storybook and a graphic novel series.
He finally found his niche as a thriller writer when he was asked to write
a novel as part of the cross-platform project, Netwars. His first book,
The Code, was published six months later, with the sequel, Down Time,
hot on its heels. There was no going back.
He is obsessed with crime, mystery and thriller stories, especially those
with a fresh or surprising angle. He writes novels from his home in
The Cotswolds, where he lives with his husband and their three red dogs.
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organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time
I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery
of the prize.
Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.
The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter
from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email.
If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to
select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.
Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for
this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the
exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway
organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time
I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery
of the prize.
