NK Chats To… Hanna Jameson
Hanna Jameson is the author of The Last, published by Viking, 31st January.
Hi Hanna, thank you so much for joining me today. Your book is called The Last and it’s been released today. Can you tell me a little about it and what inspired it?
The Last is a murder mystery narrated by an American academic, stranded in a remote hotel in Switzerland following the outbreak of nuclear war. It was inspired by me needing to write something else before I ran out of money, and also our political landscape. I started writing it almost immediately after the 2016 US presidential election, an event that I think many still haven’t recovered from. I tried to channel that sadness and anger, and also the ever-looming dread and grief about the impending climate apocalypse, into something constructive. Otherwise I’d just be yelling on Twitter.
Which author has inspired you the most and why?
This is a tough one, but taking someone’s work as a whole, probably J.G. Ballard. His work affected me profoundly when I was a teenager and it dictated a lot of my future taste. People describe The Last by referencing Agatha Christie but I’ve never read Agatha Christie. The influence I was drawing from was actually Ballardian; novels like Concrete Island and High-Rise, which create this atmosphere of extreme claustrophobia in an intimidating – almost devastating – amount of abandoned space. I was obsessed with his particular brand of near-future dystopia and I think he is still unparalleled.
What’s your typical writing day like, where do you like to write and do you prefer to write in silence?
I either write at home with headphones on, or at a coffee shop with headphones on. The latter gets expensive so I only do it when I need to get words out quickly, or when I’ve been struggling to focus. I like coffee shops because, even though I put my headphones on to lock down my emotional space with my own playlists or even a TV show in the background, I can still see and hear activity, which is very motivating and distracts the part of my brain that likes the distract me. I only work in silence when reading my work out-loud, which I always do when editing.
What is your route to publication?
Same as everyone else’s. A lot of hard work and perseverance, deluded levels of self-belief, that only amounted to anything due to luck.
What elements do you feel make a good novel?
Character, character, character. I could not give less of a shit about your plot or how good it is if I don’t care about your characters. If I realise I don’t care, I shut the book. In terms of creating good characters, there are many ways to do that. It mostly involves being honest, aware of how your limited perspective could cause you to rely on harmful stereotypes instead of empathy and genuine attempts at research and emotional interpretation.
What is your favourite word and why?
It changes all the time according to mood, but I love the word ‘epicaricacy,’ which is the English word for ‘schadenfreude.’
Are you able to tell me a little about your current work in progress?
I’m working on two projects currently. One is a TV show, a historical drama. The other is my fifth novel, which – like The Last – is also a near-future dystopian thriller.
by 
Book Review: An Unconventional Affair Book 2, A Risk Worth Sharing by Mollie Blake
Black Opal Books, Jan 2019
This second part of An Unconventional Affair finds Barrington Stone working in Australia for a year. Tranquility “Tee” Hammond, fifteen years his senior, has ended their affair, but for Barrington it was never over. He can’t wait for the year to pass to go back to her. However, after a drunken encounter, with a woman he later discovers is a sex worker, his life is changed forever. How can he possibly leave Australia, now that he has a daughter?
After accepting that Barrington won’t be coming back to the UK, Tee rekindles her relationship with the charming-yet-unconventional Sebastian Chandler, owner of a motorsports racetrack. Although living with Sebastian is “complicated” and life for the couple isn’t perfect, they are settled and Tee is happy.
But everything changes when Barrington returns. Tee’s heart is in turmoil, and Sebastian is afraid he will lose the woman he loves. As the plot thickens and twists unravel, Barrington must decide if there is one risk worth sharing.
An Unconventional Affair Book Two, A Risk Worth Sharing is the latest novel in the Cheshire Love Stories series.
Tranquility ‘Tee’ Hammond has ended her relationship with Barrington Stone. Heartbroken, Barrington focuses on his new temporary job in Australia as he tries to forget the love of his life.
Then he finds out something that will keep him in Australia longer than a year; something that will change his life forever.
Tee, also brokenhearted finds comfort in the arms of an old friend, Sebastian.
Years later, when Barrington returns to the UK, Tee doesn’t know how to handle it.
Sebastian also senses the threat.
Can Tee and Barrington be together again?
by Book Review: Black Matter by GD Parker
The future is now… it’s terrifying!!!
Humanity locks jaws with the ever-increasing human desires towards highly advanced technological innovations making the world a dangerous place.
Unanticipated horrific consequences unfold for Tommy McGregor when he partakes in a new high-tech innovation to enhance his health and wellbeing.
He thought it would make him healthier, better looking and live forever…DI Valentina is out of her comfort zone when she’s tasked to track down a killer, unknown to her, hidden behind a digital mask.
The future has already fallen upon humanity as she soon discovers, nothing is as it seems anymore as society embarks in technology that’s already here.
A terrifying mystery, it feeds your imaginative mind’s eye – a fast-paced “whoisit” thrilling crime, novel that will leave you guessing until the end, (or will it?) As it leaves the hairs on your arms stand on end as you uncontrollably turn each page in this 3 part series.
Black Matter is the debut novel from British born author Gareth Parker.
It is a glimpse into a very near future where technology is deeply ingrained, in some cases physically, into our lives.
The story follows Tommy, a young man in his early thirties who makes the decision to have a medical implant placed in his brain which will allow him to monitor his health more accurately.
Little does he know that this is slightly more sinister than advertised.
A pretty good read. It takes a few pages to find its feet. For me, it did feel like a debut novel to begin with.
However, as it progresses and it gets into the rhythm it starts to flow nicely.
The characters are, on the whole, pretty believable and I felt that I had a good feel for the main ones by the time I was about a quarter of the way through.
by Upcoming Books & Book Haul
Viking, January 2019
New books, new books, oh how I love new books.
This my first book haul post of 2019 and the following is a list of books I am very much looking forward to reading.
The Last by Hanna Jameson is due for release on 31st January.
As a nuclear weapon detonates over Washington, historian Jon Keller is on a trip to Switzerland
As the reality of what’s happened unfolds, he wonders if his wife and children are still alive. Jon is also wishing he’d not ignored Nadia’s last message.
Twenty people remain in Jon’s hotel waiting and just trying to survive. One day, the body of a girl is found murdered. The killer is someone in the hotel. Jon decides to investigate but what justice can he hope for when society doesn’t exist anymore.
This book sounds so interesting and one I am so looking forward to reading.
Penguin, January 2019
Another book which was released this month was the latest by the brilliant Jane Fallon, Tell Me a Secret. I am so excited about reading this book.
Holly and Roz spend most of their time together. They share everything.
When Holly gets her chance at a dream job, she assumes Roz will be happy for her.
Something is off.
As Holly begins to look at Roz’s life beyond their friendship, things don’t add up. Was Holly wrong to trust Roz with her secrets?
One Minute Later by Susan Lewis is due to be released next month and again, the story sounds very intriguing. I am loving all the mysteries right now.
HarperCollins, February 2019
An overall description of this book is Vivienne is living the dream. She has a beautiful home, great friends and a successful job.
Then, on the afternoon of her twenty-seventh birthday, one minute changes everything.
Forced to move back to the small seaside town she grew up in, it doesn’t take long for her to remember the reasons she left.
Shelley’s family home has always been a special place until something bad happens.
As Viv and Shelley’s worlds begin to entwine, it only takes a moment of truth to unravel all their lives.
by Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Wishing
It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.
Fiction Friday is our weekly writing prompt. The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can. Once you’ve finished, don’t edit, just post in the comments box below.
‘I am always wishing for.’
Starting with that line, write about someone (usually sad, cynical and bitter) who suddenly finds themselves with one wish.
However, the wish comes with a price and a choice that has to be made.
There will be a consequence.
by Book Club
