I wanted to do an FAQ, but no one has actually asked me any questions.  So I decided to a pre-emptive FAQ containing questions that people might ask me once the book is actually released, WHICH IS ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY BY THE WAY OH MY GOD MY BRAIN IS CRYING!

So here you are: questions you have never asked me, so you will never have to.

Is this a young adult book?

Well, yes and no. The characters are all young adults, dealing with young adult issues. But there are some extremely dark and mature themes in the book, so it is probably not suitable for people below 15 years of age. If you think you can handle it though, go ahead!

Is this a paranormal book?

If you define paranormal as being beyond the scope of normal, then yes. But there are no sparkly vampires or shirtless werewolves, if that’s what you’re asking.

 Why are you self-publishing?

I never intended to go down the self-publishing road. When I finished writing HTDC, I shipped it off to every possible publisher. I got a few nibbles, and eventually was picked up by a small independent publisher in the U.S. I was absolutely thrilled. But things didn’t work out. After a year of slow progress, I was told by the publisher that they would not be able to publish me after all. A few months later, the publisher went bankrupt.

The thought of starting the query and submission progress all over again was unbearable, so I decided to just go ahead and do it myself.

Why is your book going to be in ebook format only?

Printing copies is not particularly financially viable, and I’d like to keep my first print rights intact just in case a publisher takes a shine to the story somewhere down the track. You don’t need to have an ereader to read HTDC though. If you have a smart phone or an iPad, you can download the Kindle app for free.

Is the title a Radiohead reference?

Yes. I was really into Radiohead as a teenager, when I began writing this book. But Radiohead actually got the title from a book by Doug Richmond, which was a step-by-step guide on how to change your identity and disappear without a trace. Titles aren’t protected by copyright.

So, which character are you?

This is not an autobiography. None of the characters are supposed to be me. There are bits and pieces of me and other people throughout the whole story, but nothing close to a whole representation. Even when I’ve used names of people I actually know, the characters aren’t supposed to be those people. I just liked the names.

I don’t “get” the story. What does it all mean?

It means whatever you think it means. The story belongs to you now. There are no wrong interpretations.

No, really, what the hell does it mean?

You’re one of those people who wrote to Christopher Nolan to ask whether Cobb’s spinning top fell over at the end of Inception, aren’t you.