How did the Cluster of Echoes saga begin?
During a nightshift, in a hospital, a very long time ago! But it was only as a result of my nostalgic resurgence in gamebook playing, that I rewrote the story and The Cluster of Echoes began. To be honest, it wasn't at all thought out at the start, but the saga grew organically. I felt I kept circling the same theme of control, like an itch you just can't stop scratching, and so The Machinator was born.
Is Horror your favorite genre?
Absolutely. I had a childhood of Hammer films, James Herbert, Graham Masterton, Richard Laymon and Shaun Hutson. It's an oft-dismissed genre, but the ingenuity found in horror films and books is breathtaking, and if done well, has the ability to really reach you on a visceral level.
What type of adventure is a reader in for when they open a Cluster of Echoes Gamebook?
Probably frustrating and confusing but, hopefully, ultimately rewarding. These are books for adults, so if you do succeed, you deserve it. I haven't made it easy, that's for sure. But there is also a weird mix of gore or real-life violence and dark humour within, which creates both a creepy atmosphere and entertaining story. The games centre around 'an ordinary person' and while the adventures are somewhat otherworldly, these are not fantasy stories — people are more likely to die from a hammer blow to the head than from a sword!
One of the central themes of the saga is "less dice, more gore." How does this manifest in terms of the storytelling?
Progression through the book depends on both luck and skill. There are objects to find and clues to solve that guide the journey, but you may not discover them on your first attempt. And there are puzzles of all types that need to be figured out and if not, then you can't get the train working, open the door, or get help from a large talking owl! I did say it was otherworldly...
Please tell us about the upcoming sixth book in the series: Game Over
Game Over brings all 5 previous protagonists together: The nurse (Nightshift); the scientist (The Alchemist's Folly), the investigator (The Phantom Self), the sister (Behind the Weeping Walls) and the genius schoolgirl (Shopping Maul). They know about The Cluster and their demented experiments, and now they're ready for the final battle. You will be able to play as each of the five in different worlds with different game styles. I even have one in which a dice is required! And, of course, the cats make a reappearance; indeed, they are integral to your success!
To visit the official page, click
HERE!
