Author lounge Article.
To The Bitter End, Debut Novel. By Nicky Shearsby
Breaking into serious novel writing wasn’t something I began in earnest until taking early retirement in 2020. Since then, I have concentrated my efforts on producing my debut novel, To The Bitter End, which was released worldwide in February 2022 by award winning independent publication house, SRL Publishing. The Author Lounge has been amazingly kind to include me in their author promotions and I am genuinely excited for my writing future and what I hope to achieve moving forward.
To The Bitter End tells the tale of Craig Marshall, a young man with his entire life mapped out, everything to live for, great things ahead of him. After seeing first hand the devastating results a brutal sex attack has on his best friend Rebecca, however, nineteen-year-old Craig sets out with the sole intent of exacting revenge on the men who attacked her. Police justice had failed to protect the friend he loves, the 1980s a decade where sexual assaults were not often taken seriously. Craig therefore takes matters into his own hands, kick-starting a rollercoaster ride of emotion and suffering. Never in his wildest nightmares could he imagine his actions would trigger a series of catastrophic events that would all but destroy everything he had ever known. To The Bitter End is an extreme, emotional read, testing every aspect of human life, from trusted friendships to how far a person is seriously willing to go for love.
I am fascinated by the human mind, our emotions, how we think, those nonsensical things we do, including the struggles life too often throws our way. Because of this, my writing directly reflects the questions I feel are not asked often enough, and with writing ‘To The Bitter End’, I have hopefully pushed boundaries, challenging reader perspective by tackling complex issues through powerful characterisation and twisted plot structure. My debut novel sets the precedence for my writing, asking serious questions that promote deeper and more profound thinking, with challenging mental health issues at the core of each plotline. My aim is simple. To open up emotional and inspirational thinking that guides others within their own lives, helping them to see things differently, appreciating those around them. We all struggle, and escaping into fiction is the perfect way to unburden a busy mind, whilst hopefully learning valued life lessons along the way.
My novels are targeted for the adult reader market due to the sensitive, often triggering content included. Those who enjoy a dark psychological thriller, told from a first person viewpoint that dives directly into the troubled, emotional mindset of the main character, will hopefully find my books intriguing and enjoyable. I am currently busy building a strong social media presence with my website now showcasing my books and my future goals. My website, nickyshearsby.com outlines each novel, including retailer links, release dates, synopsis and excerpts of the books.
Traditionally published in the UK with a small independent publication house, my publishers will release two novels per year moving forward, both in the spring and the autumn. I have already written and submitted a duology thriller series, ‘Green Monsters’ and ‘Black Widow’, telling a dark and twisted story of hated and jealousy, directly from the mindset of the antagonist. Green Monsters will be released on 6th September 2022, and Black Widow on 7th March 2023. From there onward, I also have an ongoing psychological thriller series planned, called The Flanigan Files, the first in the series called ‘Beyond The Veil’, told from both the viewpoint of the protagonist and the antagonist. Beyond The Veil is booked in for release on 5th September 2023. I am now planning a further two novels for release in 2024, with two every year moving forward.
I spent two decades running businesses in graphic design, magazine publication and web development before setting up and selling a successful organic vegan skincare manufacturing company. I have written several non-fiction books over the years, including training courses on nutrition, skincare, self-help coaching and business mentoring. I am trained in psychology, life coaching, counseling and nutrition. My days are now spent writing, walking my little dog Charlie and enjoying the beginning of my author journey.
