Author Interview – Nick Pease – Revelation

Author Nick Pease talks on The Table Read, “The Best Book Reader Magazine in the UK” about his new thriller book, Revelation, and what inspires him.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed author Nick Pease about his career, what inspires him, and the creative work that went into his new thriller book, Revelation.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I am an advertising copywriter and spent much of my career working for some of the most creative advertising agencies in London. I now work independently from home in Gloucestershire where I live with my wife, two daughters and two dogs.

I have a degree in Philosophy, with English Literature as the secondary subject and have a lifelong interest in spirituality, although not tied to any one religion or movement. And I believe passionately in free thinking, unfettered from political, religious, scientific or other imposed restrictions.

I read widely – mostly factual, biographical and music-related – love rock music, films and the Arts in general. I also have a lifelong interest in Native American culture.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

From early childhood, I liked to create my own stories, so the idea of writing a book one day has been with me for most of my life. But my career was just too busy until I became a freelancer and more in control of my own time.

When did you take a step to start writing?

My whole career has involved writing and I’m used to seeing my words in print, but within the advertising world. Over the last 10 or so years, I started writing two or three books, but they never quite felt right and so I didn’t progress with them. I first got the idea for my novel ‘Revelation’ in about 2016.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

As an advertising copywriter, the writing process comes quite fast to me – often out of deadline necessity! So, I wrote the first draft of ‘Revelation’ in a matter of a few weeks, but in film script format, as that’s how I originally saw it. But I then spent a long time crafting it into a novel, editing it (latterly with my excellent editor Kirsty Jackson at Cranthorpe Millner) and then, once finished, waiting patiently in line for its scheduled release date of 29 March 2022.

What made you want to write Revelation?

Life after death has fascinated me from the time when, as a young child, I could first hear spirits. I then also began to see them in my teens. This inspired my lifelong quest to discover more about the nature of existence – a journey that has taken me through gaining a degree in Philosophy, developing as a spiritual medium via the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain and taking a keen interest in the dilemma between science and religion. So, writing ‘Revelation’, albeit within the framework of a thrilling novel, very much encapsulates my life’s learning.

What were your biggest challenges with writing Revelation?

Attention to detail – making sure chronology is correct, all the key action points flow seamlessly into one another and ensuring the American dialogue is authentic!

Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?

I believe a good protagonist should embody an inner personal struggle whilst trying to do the right thing and ultimately win through. I wanted to create a very believable, relatable main character who we want to succeed, but also recognise his very human frailties that are going to make it a challenge for him.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?

I love ambiguity in a main antagonist character. So, my main antagonist, whilst sanctioning awful things, isn’t entirely a bad man and the reader is shown his own inner difficulties and contradictions. This makes him a more rounded and believable character.

What is the inciting incident of Revelation?

The scientific discovery that life after death is a 100% provable fact.

What is the main conflict of Revelation?

Truth v suppression. The book poses many fascinating, challenging questions about how people would react to the factual, provable discovery of life after death. The conflict in the book is created by those who wish to suppress the truth to suit their own agendas.

Did you plot Revelation in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?

The main plot was conceived in advance of the main writing process. Some of the sub-plot elements and development of minor characters happened during the writing process.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Revelation need?

As my editor, Kirsty Jackson, will tell you, the book didn’t need much editing at all. But there were minor things that needed addressing such as publishing formats regarding things like single rather than double speech quotes for dialogue. Kirsty also helped me with certain character development advice and some suggested edits to let the reader ‘fill in the gaps’.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?

Make sure you’ve got a great storyline that’s really going to hook readers’ interest. Make sure your characters are believable and relatable. Try to counterbalance action and drama with a lightness of touch and some humour. Keep checking the chronology of events.  

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

I’ve already started writing a novel exploring reincarnation. But I also have one or two other ideas which may overtake it!

And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

Yes. It’s been quite a journey overall, but I’ve learned a huge amount and enjoyed it immensely. There’s nothing quite like creating something from start to finish and seeing others enjoy the finished thing!

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

Facebook:  nick.pease.35

Instagram:  pease_nick

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