An Interview with R.L. Parker

Hey everyone! I am a 33-year-old first-time author from Lancashire, UK. I love animals and spend the majority of my free time caring for my two cats and two horses. One of my horses was abused by his first owner, so the past four years specifically have been devoted to dealing with his many anxieties and turning him into a much happier horse. I also play guitar, but between my full-time job in the motor industry, my animals, and trying to find time for family and friends, I have very little time for writing! So I have to squeeze it in at every opportunity as I absolutely love writing and hope to one day be able to devote more of my time to my stories.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I write how I feel, and when I started writing this book, I was just so upset and angry at quite a lot of recent cases of animal cruelty that had appeared in the news. This novel was my way of venting my anger and creating the ultimate form of punishment for people who think it’s okay to be cruel to animals as, in my opinion, there is no justice for the animals who fall victim to these cruel people. I wanted to create a system that would keep them safe, all of them, and protect them from the darker side of humanity. My favourite character, the twisted sociopath Nathaniel, also sprang from my mind as a protective form of villain, to discard the world of all of its cruelty. This novel consumed me and I am currently working on the sequel.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

It quite literally just appeared in my head. It’s a metaphor for my state of mind at the time of writing. I have had a broken brain (obsessive-compulsive disorder) for as long as I can remember, and found myself in vicious cycles of checking, counting, and repeating mantras over and over in my head to try and calm my anxiety and, as my broken brain believed, keep my animals and loved ones safe. The vast majority of people don’t actually know what OCD is but it is like being a witch that has so many rituals to perform to keep his/her loved ones safe. This novel came from my deepest, darkest fear that someone would hurt my animals and it was my brain’s way of trying to find a solution to keep not only my animals safe, but all of them.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I’m not sure if you will have heard of them, but I was listening to a lot of Palaye Royale while I was writing this book. A couple of their albums really got me in the zone. If I found myself staring at my laptop screen without any inspiration, I’d just chuck on ‘Don’t Feel Quite Right’ or ‘Nervous Breakdown’ and the words would soon start flowing.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is one I read for motivation. I love her writing style and wanted to be able to create a similar aesthetic with my own writing. I am currently reading Hooked by Emily McIntyre, which is so dark and messed up, I absolutely love it! And especially with me being in a much better headspace now, I need something dark to keep me in the zone for the sequel.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I sort of fell into the motor industry as a means of earning money while I pursued writing. I did, however, go through a stage where I wanted nothing more than to be a guitarist in a band and I played with two bands! (We failed miserably, haha.)

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I’ve always loved writing. I started my first book when I was still in primary school and it was a horror about a haunted pile of slime. Thankfully, I never finished it! I always remember a Monty Roberts’s quote about never letting anyone put a ceiling on your sky and it has always stuck with me, especially when I’ve felt really low with myself and my work and thought about giving up.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My ‘library’ at home (it’s really just the spare room with a sofa and bookcase in there), but I can relax under a fluffy blanket on the sofa with my laptop and either one or both of my cats snuggling up next to me and it is just the perfect place to write.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Don’t give up just because of the way you’re feeling. Never let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do!

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

Don’t be cruel to animals. Treat them with respect. Simple as that.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.