Today is day four of Adult Fiction Week!
Author Michael Cargill is here to share a bit about himself and his thriller
Underneath
Michael Cargill is an up and coming author, who lives in Surrey, England. In mid-2011 he published his first book, and has gone on to publish several more.
Although known for his dramatic and engaging stories, he is also a satirist and humorist. He encourages people to take a look at his humorous work - http://michaelcargill.wordpress.com/
Anyone unsure of which book to read first, should take a look at Shelter from Thunder. It is a short, and easy read, and also a personal favourite of his.
Q: Tell us an unusual fact about you!
A: I have a tattoo of a question mark on my upper left arm.
Q: What gave you your
start as a writer?
A: I always used to send out stupid emails to people at work, and
they often told me I should write a book. I had always ignored this, but
in the middle of 2011 I discovered that I could self-publish on Smashwords for
free. My very first book, Diary of a Dork was just a collection of
emails, but it broke the ice, and I have been writing ‘proper’ stories ever
since!
Q: What has been the
greatest inspiration behind your writing?
A: It’s never easy to answer this definitively, really.
Writing gives me the opportunity to spill out all the bonkers stuff, that
bounces around my head. It means I’m less likely to get into trouble at
work, for sending stupid emails out.
Q: Where did the
concept for Hugh's character come from?
A: I got the idea of writing a story about a sociopath, but
initially he was going to be far more analytical, and intelligent.
However, after a bit of research on sociopaths, which involved popping
onto Wikipedia and typing in ‘sociopaths’, I realised that they weren’t really
like that at all.
Q: What helps you
really get into the heads of your characters?
A: Being a sociopath helps, I find. Mostly, I just think
about the motivations behind doing something, and work from there.
Q: What had been your
greatest challenge while writing?
A: The editing. My God, the editing. It’s boring, it’s
awful, and it’s like being an alphabet accountant.
Q: What is your most
memorable moment in your writing career?
A: Well, my career has been very short so far, so it’s probably
publishing something for the very first time.
Q: Where is your
favorite place to write and what do you snack on?
A: I do just about all of my writing in my room, which is where my
PC is. Coffee, and chewing gum, help me along the way, though not at the
same time of course. Hot drinks, and Wrigleys, they just don’t get on.
Q: Do you have a
favorite book/author?
A: Favourite author is definitely Stephen King. My favourite
book can sometimes change from one day, to the next, but I found The Rise and
Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer absolutely fascinating. Yeah,
it’s non-fiction, and I’m a boring WWII nut. Sue me if you don’t like it.
Actually, please don’t, I’m a bit skint.
Q: What can you tell
us about your works in progress?
A: What?!? How dare you!
Oh, alright then.
I’m working on a book that is set in a school at the moment. Can’t
really tell you much more than that, though. Mainly because I don’t
really know much more than that...!
Look at the person sitting just across from you. It doesn't matter whether they’re a loved one, a friend, or a complete stranger.
Now look at their face. Are they happy? Are they sad? Or are they angry? Can you even tell?
How well do you actually know the people closest to you?
Have you ever seen the real person that lies just underneath what you see...?
~My Review~
Underneath is one of the more unique and compelling books of it's kind that I have read. Michael Cargill is definitely an author to look out for. His writing style really captivates the reader and immerses them in the characters and story line. Cargill masterfully builds the tension through out the entire story, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.
Hugh is quite an intricate and strange fellow to say the least. I really enjoyed his character and the satirical humor that goes along with it. Especially his incident with self service checkout-which I myself find obnoxious-and his use of the term 'slug'. Cargill has really created a character that will entertain and intrigue. Hugh's tendencies progress at an alarming rate and I was not at all surprised to learn he is plagued by blackouts. The author really knows how to get into the head of his characters, which is something I really loved about this book. The author really nails the portrayal of a sociopath and allows us a glimpse into their life. This book points out to reader's that we may not know someone as well as we think we do. It is very possible they have a dark side we have yet to meet.
The story takes place from two different points of view. That of Hugh as he wreaks havoc and that of the cops that are called in to handle the disturbances.
I enjoyed the cop's characters as well. Robert's passion for bacon sandwiches and his continuous banter with his partner really add to the story. The reader also finds that the cops share similarities with Hugh. Perhaps, one human's 'underneath' is not so different from another. If you want a wild ride of a book and a story that will keep you wanting more, I highly recommend reading this book and other's by Michael Cargill!
or visit him on
Underneath and Michael's other works are available on
Sounds like a really good read! I entered! Thanks so much for joining my blog and entering my giveaway too! I know you'll get to 300 soon!
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Hello! Thanks for stopping by and entering! Following you back :D
ReplyDeleteHurrah!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the story - I shall chomp on my four strawberries with delight.
Good luck to anyone entering the draw.