Author Alethea Lyons on Writing
Interview with the debut author of the speculative, fae/horror novel 'The Hiding' set in York.
Alethea Lyons (she/ze) writes various forms of SFF, with a particular love for science-fantasy, dark fantasy, dystopias, and folklore. Her short stories can be found in a variety of publications and links for these are on her website. Alethea lives in Manchester, UK with her husband, little Sprite, a cacophony of stringed instruments, and more tea than she can drink in a lifetime.
Bonus content for ‘The Hiding’ & other works can be found on her website and on social media.
Hi Alethea. Thanks for appearing on my Substack. Your debut novel ‘The Hiding’ publishes on 5th March 2024, which is very exciting. I’m currently reading an ARC copy via NetGalley thanks to publisher Brigids Gate Press, and its so gripping! I love any books set in York, but it’s a different York-with-a-twist, which I’m enjoying immensely.
Tell us, what was your route to becoming a published author?
‘The Hiding’ is the second book I queried, so even before started trying to get that one published, it had been a long road. I got a couple of Revise and Resubmits from agents on The Hiding, both relatively small things and easy to implement. After that I started getting a few requests and ended up getting an offer from a small press. When I nudged everyone, I had a couple of other small presses make offers as well, so I was lucky enough to have some options. Part of me wonders what would've happened if I'd kept trying for an agent, but in the end I decided a book on the shelf was worth going ahead with.
‘The Hiding’ is set in an alternate York, why did you choose that location and what kind of research did you focus on to develop the world-building?
I already had a good idea of the religious and political backdrop of the story, and that needed a location with suitable age and history to be powerful enough. I did consider Chester as it's close to home, it certainly has the age and atmosphere, but it wasn't big enough to be a major political player (sorry, Chester). Canterbury also made the shortlist but it's too far to research well and I'm from the north of two countries, so I am biased towards setting my books up here. Really, York was the only place that ticked all the boxes. It's been a major political player in things like The Pilgrimage of Grace and The War of Roses, it's home to one of only two archbishops in England, and has a history of multiculturalism. Of course, one of the biggest factors is that I knew it best and it's easy to get to. Almost all my childhood holidays were spent in Yorkshire and I have a deep love for the county. I spent a lot of time over there just walking around to research, and also took a ton of videos and pictures to use at home. I had an A1 map of York City Centre on my wall so I could get things as accurate as possible. A lot of reading as well, and going into tourist places and quizzing them.
Yes, I mean York is a city very close to my heart too and I can see that it’s rich in history and possibilities for an SFF writer.
You feature a diverse and interesting cast of characters in ‘The Hiding’. What kind of characters do you like to write about most?
My favourite type of characters to write are my non-human characters. In ‘The Hiding’, that's Usa, the antagonist. In book 2, it's the cat/shifter, Zero. I have a short story coming out where the protagonist is the North Sea. It's really fascinating to try and get into the head of someone completely unlike you. I think that's one reason I love my Hiding cast. They all have a very different voice. In terms of human characters, I like writing characters with deep feelings and a dose of trauma, which sounds really mean, but I find they're the ones who really take up residence in my heart.
Okay, the question on every writer’s lips: Are you a plotter, a pantser or a planster?
Definitely a plantser. I tend to know the beginning and end-ish when I start, but if I plot too closely, it gives me writers' block. My characters like to make their own decisions, and sometimes that leads me in weird and wonderful ways. Once I have a zero draft, then I get out my post its and start plotting all over my walls.
Hooray - another plantser! These characters keep us on our toes, don’t they? Tell us a bit more about your process for writing ‘The Hiding’.
It was chaotic. I actually wrote book 2 first, then realised it was a book 2 and went back to do book 1. I did a load of short stories in order to get to know the characters and setting, some of which are part of the collection coming out in September. When I wrote ‘The Hiding’ itself, it was a NaNoWriMo project and I then didn't do anything with it for a couple of years. I came back to it while querying another book as ‘The Hiding’ seemed more marketable. Then it was lots of research and post it notes and beta readers.
It’s great that you have other projects ready and waiting to go.
On the subject of reading, if you could only take one book with you on your next trip away, what would it be and why?
One book?! Tough question! I'm currently beta reading a brilliant speculative novel by a friend. I'd take that, if I'm allowed an unpublished book. I'm enjoying it immensely but I'm a slow beta reader so I'd use my travel time to make lots of comments.
You are also on Substack. How have you found the Substack experience so far?
Well, talking about myself is one of my least favourite things, second only to trying to be interesting. Have you ever played 'my new best friend'? Nightmare. It's not been too bad though. There's a number of newsletters I follow that I really enjoy.
I think the key thing to Substack is to follow the writers you enjoy reading and anything else is a bonus. ‘The Hiding’ publishes on 5th March 2024, so what projects have you got coming out next?
In September, there's the short story collection I mentioned earlier, Reawakening. These are all set in ten weeks or so following ‘The Hiding’ and show a bit more about the world, the repercussions of Harper's actions in ‘The Hiding’, and introduce a new POV character. Then in March next year I have book 2 coming out, ‘The Somnia’ which will explore a lot more about Harper's past.
Very exciting, I can see there would be lots of potential to do a prequel. Lots of books to look forward to! Thanks for answering my questions and I wish you every success for your upcoming Book Birthday!
If you enjoyed reading this interview with Alethea and hearing about her debut, speculative fae/horror novel ‘The Hiding’, you can also follow her on Substack. I will be sharing a review of ‘The Hiding’ on my social platforms very soon.