My Porter Biggleswade series is aimed at both believers and sceptics of the paranormal. While the lead character has the ability to see ghosts, she is sceptical of the fact. 

Amy Flint 19 October, 2014

The Back Flap

Nicknamed ‘the Shadow Reader’ for her ability to see ghosts, Dr Porter Biggleswade is a straight-talking paranormal investigator. While Porter’s work takes her to the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth, ghostly feuds are the least of her worries. A woman haunted by her living mother; a farmer plagued by spectral ewes; and a developer desperate to evict his mediaeval tenants show Porter that the living are as troubled as the shadows she is investigating.

Shadows in the Mist is the first book in Amy Flint’s Porter Biggleswade series. 

About the book

What is the book about?

Nicknamed ‘the Shadow Reader’ for her ability to see ghosts, Dr Porter Biggleswade is a straight-talking paranormal investigator.

Porter leaves London to join the recently formed Paranormal Investigation Unit (PIU), based at All Saints University in York. Not everyone is happy about the unit’s creation – the university’s Parapsychology department thinks that PIU is nothing more than a band of ghost-hunters, draining funds and scientific credibility.

Porter avoids university politics to focus on her first major case – claims of poltergeist activity at the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth. She meets the curator, a sceptic struggling to find earthly explanations for incidents happening at the parsonage. Porter agrees to investigate and discovers that the old occupants are reluctant to leave. Charlotte Brontë roams the graveyard, while her father awaits his drunken son’s return.

A woman haunted by her living mother; a farmer plagued by spectral ewes; and a developer determined to evict his mediaeval tenants, are just some of the claims Porter investigates while working on the Haworth case. She also has to cope with warring parents, jealous colleagues, and a former boss who won’t accept that she no longer works for him.

As Porter tries to settle into her new life in York, she realises that the living are just as troubled as the shadows she is investigating.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing Shadows in the Mist in 2011, after completing my Masters in Forensic Archaeological Sciences at UCL and moving to York.

How long did it take you to write it?

Shadows in the Mist took me eighteen months to write.

Where did you get the idea from?

York is purportedly one of the most haunted places in England, drawing visitors from around the world. I find it interesting that so many people believe they have had a ghostly experience, or know of someone who has. Their interest in the paranormal gave me the idea for my Porter Biggleswade series.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

No, I did a lot of research, and planned every chapter in detail, so the process was straightforward.

What came easily?

The dialogue.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The characters are fictitious, but there may be the odd quirk or two, which I have ‘borrowed’ from real world people.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

That’s a tricky one! I love to read, and would suggest that I am, subconsciously, influenced by every author that I’ve ever read. That said, I love Joseph Heller’s wit, but I also enjoy Lindsay Davis’s relaxed style (particularly her Falco series).

Do you have a target reader?

My Porter Biggleswade series is aimed at both believers and sceptics of the paranormal. While the lead character has the ability to see ghosts, she is sceptical of the fact. Training as a parapsychologist, and becoming a paranormal investigator allows her to explore what she and other people think they see.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I view writing as a full time job. I’m also not very good at switching off, so it’s more like a 7am-10pm role! The key thing for me is discipline, and not letting people distract me from work.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I plan extensively. I’m writing a series, so it’s important that I know what’s going to happen in subsequent books.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I prefer to wait until I’ve finished, it makes the process a lot quicker.

Did you hire a professional editor?

No, I edited the book myself.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I tend to listen to film scores (Gladiator, Braveheart…), anything without words. I have it playing in the background – it helps me to focus.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

A few, but sadly had no joy.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I opted to self-publish because I wanted to get Shadows in the Mist in the public domain as soon as possible.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I do a lot of artwork, so I designed the cover for Shadows in the Mist. I wanted to keep the image simple and clean.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

This is the first book that I’ve marketed, so while it started out as winging it, I quickly realized that I needed a marketing plan. I’m learning as I go along, but when the time comes to marketing the second book in my Porter Biggleswade series, I will have a marketing plan in place months before the book launch date.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

As long as you believe in your work, stay focused, and you’re prepared to invest the time to market your work, then this could be the route for you. I’ve gone down the self-publishing route because I believe in Shadows in the Mist, and I’m determined to make my Porter Biggleswade series a success.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Halifax, West Yorkshire, although I went to a small boarding school in North Yorkshire.

Where do you live now?

Stunning York!

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m a left-handed Libran who only needs four hours sleep a night.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on the second book in my Porter Biggleswade series, and I love it!

End of Interview:

For more, visit Amy’s website or like her Facebook page.

Get your copy of Shadows in the Mist from Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Barnes & Noble.