 C S Alleyne grew up in Australia and originally trained as a hotel manager in the UK. After several postings in the Caribbean she changed tack and completed her MBA followed several years later by a PhD in Information Systems. She is a management consultant and also lectures in several universities. With a lifelong love of reading, anything historical and a fascination with the supernatural and death, her vacations usually include visits to such places as the Pere La Chaise cemetery and the catacombs in Paris, the tombs in Egypt, the Popes’ crypts in the Vatican and any church yard with gravestones – you get the picture… Cheryl was inspired to write Belle Vue by her daily journey past a block of luxury apartments that had been converted from an old asylum. Like her protagonist, Alex Palmer, she started to investigate its past and learnt that one of the inmates was murdered there in the late 19th century. The victim’s sister was hung for the crime. Cheryl was also thrilled to discover the asylum’s overgrown cemetery in her explorations of the area! Her novelette, POWEЯ, tale of horror and revenge, was published in December, 2019. WEBSITE LINKS Website - http://www.csalleyne.com Excerpt (Prologue & First 2 Chapters) - http://csalleyne.com/excerpt-belle-vue/ Blog - http://csalleyne.com/blog/ Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19806081.C_S_Alleyne https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53318594-belle-vue Twitter - https://twitter.com/csalleyne Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/csalleyne/ Amazon Author Page US: https://www.amazon.com/C.S.-Alleyne/e/B082P1H49C%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Amazon Author Page UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1646693116/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 Universal purchase link – Belle Vue http://getbook.at/BelleVue Universal purchase link – POWEЯ http://getbook.at/CSPower Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? My name is Cheryl Alleyne. I grew up in Australia and originally trained as a hotel manager in the UK. After several postings in the Caribbean, I changed tack and completed my MBA followed several years later by a PhD in Information Systems. When not writing, I am a management consultant and also lecture in several universities. Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life and have them complain at you about they way you treated them in your work. For complaining about their treatment in the novel (and not to give away any key plot points), probably Adelaide Fishburn who is the Matron at Belle Vue Lunatic Asylum in the 1860s. She is a menopausal, dyspeptic old harridan who uses cruelty and lies to retain her perception of superiority but she is played by several other characters who are far nastier than her. Her ultimate fate is a particularly unfortunate one too. Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing? Life and my experiences of it as well as reading or watching as much as I can about subjects that interest me and am writing about. I read widely from all genres and non-fiction too and often when thinking about what to write various snippets of remembered information will influence the development of a plot point, character, location or event. The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations. What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions? I think it’s like any label – it strips it down to one thing and one assumption but books - as with people - are much more complex. There has been a trend to sub-categorise so the reader will have more of an idea of the nature of the story such as paranormal suspense, psychological crime, supernatural slasher etc and make their decision to read or watch. Often the word ‘horror’ doesn’t appear in these main categories. Sometimes when writing to reviewers I would use a different term such as paranormal suspense or crime or mystery as I had noted how much this was done with other ‘horror’ books and so Outlander is categorised as a romance to also pick up that part of the market (but have noted from some of the reviews a number of shocked reader sensibilities!) It’s just a matter of playing the game using everyone else’s rules. A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years? With so much real-life material readily being dropped into horror writers’ laps, there’s probably going to be a steady stream of pandemic, fanatic, narcissistic, -ism focused, weather related horror tales. What will be interesting is to discover those writers who can rise above the mediocre repetitious fare to produce imaginative and fresh takes with powerful stories that capture the essence of horror and are superb reads. Given the dark, violent and at times grotesque nature of the horror genre why do you think so many people enjoy reading it? Because in our everyday lives we (mostly law abiding people) are constricted by so many rules and regulations that horror enables you to vicariously experience – as both perpetrator and victim –thrills that are not possible , or recommended, in real life. For others such as serial killers, knife lovers, sadists and the like it is either reliving past glories and/or giving them ideas. What, if anything, is currently missing from the horror genre? For me, subtlety. While I do like full on horror and use it where I feel it’s most effective, often a scene can be just as powerful or tense or scary or unsettling – whatever you are aiming for – if you imply things and do it subtly and use nuances to create and build the atmosphere. In the past authors were able to write about almost anything with a far lesser degree of the fear of backlash, but this has all changed in recent years. These days authors must be more aware of representation an the depiction of things such as race and gender in their works, how aware are you of these things and what steps have you taken to ensure that your writing can’t be viewed as being offensive to a minority group? Since a lot of my writing is set in Victorian times and deals with controversial events, I focus on what is realistic for the period for language, attitudes, behaviours. The past is the past and presenting it as something it wasn’t (as I’m not writing for Mills & Boon) is unrealistic and reviewers would soon pick that up. For writing about the present day while I don’t intend to be offensive just as with a democracy it is about being concerned for the majority of people. If I had to consider every possible minority viewpoint that might take offence then I and no one else would get very much written. These days even seemingly simple bland words can find someone who doesn’t like them and takes their displeasure to social media. This is creating an unfortunate culture of bullying and fear. I also feel that I may disagree with something someone’s written but as long as it is not inciting dangerous behaviour then it is my choice not to listen to them or read their words. I would not prevent them from saying or writing them. Does horror fiction perpetuate it’s own ghettoization? I think the trend I mentioned earlier of listing wider sub-categories is helping to offset this. Horror – just as with other genres – has a wide range of approaches – one size doesn’t fit all and we should build on that diversity and its linkages with other genres to produce high quality and captivating novels and stories. What new and upcoming authors do you think we should take notice off? Apart from me you mean lol? What are the books and films that helped to define you as an author? Over the years if I I find an author and enjoy what they write I will try to read all their books and dip back when they release a new novel. I read a lot and in a variety of genres. It can also depend on the path their writing direction takes over time. Sometimes they veer off into areas I’m not that keen on such as alternative universes or change the lead character to a series about someone else which can go either way – but the latter I will definitely give a test read. I love dark books and films – all the well-known horror writers but for the visual side (although I also like Murder, She Wrote and soppy romances occasionally) my favourites are things like Peaky Blinders, Taboo, Outlander, Gangs of New York and Gladiator. Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative that have stayed with you? As a newbie author, I haven’t had many yet. The ones that describe my writing as ‘riveting’ ‘powerful’ and give 5 stars are like manna from heaven to me and are treasured. For the negative comments, I accept they will come and it’s about improving my skills and taking on board what is said. I think I will have to grow a thick skin though as at the moment I read them all and take them to heart. For instance one review said I overused the word ‘lunatic’ in the present day Belle Vue story (half the book) and that university students would know not to use such language. But there were only 4 mentions (yes I did count – thank god for the search function lol) and 2 were in someone’s thoughts and the others 2 were referring to the past. There’s obviously nothing I can do but it niggles and so another skill I’ve got to learn is to ignore those lol. What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult? Keeping track of different plotlines. Belle Vue is set in two time periods with a lot of characters and a lot happening and also linkages between the time periods. So I write all of these down in tables and steps of the different plotlines so as not to contradict myself or write something that doesn’t fit the jigsaw I’m creating. Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? Not that I can think of. Most of it is in the media anyway and nothing seems off limits. I think the important point is how you handle it. How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? I think names are very important in my book but won’t give you a full answer to that because of a plot spoiler! One half of Belle Vue is set in Victorian times and I had most fun with these. I love all those evocative Dickensian names and researched what names were most common for the time as well as trying to find some that were amusing or fit their character but were not too outlandish. So the Matron at Belle Vue is called Adelaide Fishburn (mentioned above), one of the asylum doctors is called Sheridan Lush, the insurance agent, Solomon Pecker and the police comprise Superintendent Gostick, and Constables Grubbe and Cruikshank. Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years? I am much better at pruning! I also have learnt to overcome any writer’s block or worry that what I write has to be perfect. I simply picture the image of the scene in my head and write what I see. I can zoom in and out and do it in technicolour lol. You may laugh but we all have to find what works for us. What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing? If you love to write or have a story you want to tell, then - as long as you are enjoying yourself - keep at it. Passion for the process as well as the subject is very important – especially if you want a long writing career. To many writers, the characters they write become like children, who is your favorite child? I always have a preference for ‘baddies’ and there are numerous in Belle Vue but my favourite (and goodness knows what this says about me lol!) is the aristocrat, Johnson Nottidge. He is completely amoral, a cunning schemer and cares not a jot for anyone or anything but his own pleasure. For those who haven’t read any of your books, which of your books do you think best represents your work and why? I think Belle Vue rather than Power, best represents my work. Power is a bit of a gore-fest though all part of the plot and both in the early Victorian times and today what is done happened in reality - perhaps just not on a live model! A strong stomach is required whereas for Belle Vue it is dark and hard-hitting, there is minimal gore. Power is also only a novelette so very much shorter and not enough room to explore the full world it is set in whereas with Belle Vue I was able to create two worlds and exploit the motivations and actions of a wider range of characters. Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us? ‘The weather was dank and overcast. A suitable morning for a hanging.’ Short but I like it as it sets the scene for the chapter. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? Belle Vue, my debut novel, is a paranormal horror which is told in two strands – past and present – around a Victorian lunatic asylum and the people who live there. It is very dark and focuses on an unspeakable crime, the hunger for justice and how when revenge is paramount, innocence doesn’t count. It will be published on 25th August 2020 by Crystal Lake Publishing. Belle Vue is now planned to be the first of a trilogy. I am in the middle of writing the sequel – Secret Nemesis is the working title - and in it, the main characters from both the Victorian and present day move to the United States and face a cross-fire of evil and danger. So more research on murder and general skullduggery, asylums in the US and satanic societies that side of the pond. It’s continuing my characters’ journeys in a new location and facing new challenges and what they want me to write! If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice? That people don’t turn on the light when they walk into a dark room. What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you? I am going through another Preston & Child phase at the moment. Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities are 2 particular old favourites and I have recently been working my way through the Agent Pendergast books who I am rather partial to. The latest was Crooked River which I thoroughly enjoyed I’m not going to mention one that disappointed me as I don’t want to be on any hit squads lol. But those in general that disappoint are where they have been artificially hyped up so much or the blurb doesn’t accurately convey what the novel is about. What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do? And what would be the answer? Will you accept this gift of £25 million? Yes.  Jealousy. Betrayal. Murder. And a hunger for vengeance that spans the centuries... History student Alex Palmer is thrilled when his girlfriend, Claire Ryan, buys an apartment in Belle Vue Manor, formerly a Victorian lunatic asylum. But as Alex begins to discover the dark truth about the asylum’s past, he, Claire, and their friend Marianne find themselves on a nightmarish journey. Each will face the deadly consequences of the evil that began with the construction of the first Belle Vue Manor by an aristocratic French émigré in 1789, as well as the cruelty and satanic practices that continued when it became an asylum for the insane. As the two strands—past and present—unfold, Alex uncovers a supernatural mystery where revenge is paramount and innocence irrelevant—without being aware of the price he, and those around him, will pay.   THE HEART AND SOUL OF HORROR INTERVIEWSComments are closed.
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