Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome Andrew Masseurs, author of A Day in the Life, The Day After, Days of Fury, and The Uncles of the Apocalypse for an author interview with The Reading Bud.
About The Author
Andrew Masseurs is a creatively restless spirit. While spending over twenty years creating music, four albums and an ep, he found himself inexplicably focused on writing one day on holiday. The result, his first exciting novella, A Day in the Life Novella (A Day in the Life Series, Book One) Relishing the experience Andrew has now released book two, three and four of the A Day in the Life series, The Day After Book Two, Days Of Fury Book Three and The Uncles of the Apocalypse Book Four. Andrew is currently writing Book Five.
Andrew is a loving husband and father to four kids living in the beautiful country that is New Zealand.
You can find author Masseurs here:
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Interview
Welcome to TRB! In addition to your formal bio, could you share a deeper, more personal insight into your life that influences your poetry?
My name is Andrew Masseurs. I’m a novelist, past songwriter, father and husband. I love creating. It keeps me busy. I love learning new things. I’ve got four kids who keep me super busy. I have two cats and two dogs. I also have a business that I run. My life is crazy and busy. Just the way I like it.
Beyond the official blurb, could you offer us a unique insight or a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your book?
Days of Fury Book Three of the A Day in the Life series was one of the hardest books I’ve had to write. In the past two books of the series, it was always the world that was the antagonist. In this book we meet Tony. A person that is out for himself. I wanted him to be the ultimate baddie. He is the opposite of Michael Stevenson, our hero. I was uncomfortable writing a lot of what he was getting up to. It really was unsettling. If I was ever stuck, I’d just ask myself what is something Michael would never do and then I’d make Tony do it. Some of the things he says and the actions he comes up with I was always questioning if I’d pushed the boat too far and then I’d push it even further. I wanted to be uncomfortable. I’m sure certain moments in this book will shock people. I knew it would make the reader feel something. It would also lead to further consequences later in the series and keep the reader guessing as to what might happen next. I want the reader to never feel safe while reading. Just like being in the world where no law exists. This book also explores a family breaking down under immense pressure.
The Uncles of the Apocalypse Book Four of the A Day in the Life series was a joy to write. From start to finish everything was smooth and just fell into place. I’ve always wanted to write something where the heroes are threatened by an ominous entity. Creating paranoia and suspense in a controlled space. It’s probably my favourite book in the series as my favourite characters are all under threat. I hated the idea but also loved it. I didn’t want anyone to go. If I pick up the book and start reading a chapter, I find myself getting lost in the book yet again. This book also introduces Gavin and Morgan. Two characters that were extremely fun to write. It carries on the story of Oscar, Margery and Terrance. Let’s just say, I hope the readers get lost in the suspense and twists and a totally left unsuspecting of how it all concludes. I didn’t want any of the uncles to leave this world. But at the end of the day this world takes no prisoners and the threat of dying at any stage is very real. As my editor said, “this book was such a wild ride, I was entertained the entire way through.”
Every book has a starting point. What was the spark or pivotal moment that inspired you to write this one?
Days of Fury Book Three runs in tandem with The Day After Book Two. The timelines are the same. It explains what happened to Teresa Stevenson who disappeared at the very beginning of The Day After only to appear near the very end as something very different. The questions from The Day After needed to be answered. How does a person change so much in an apocalyptic world?
The spark for The Uncles of the Apocalypse was exploring the very simple idea of having the uncles trapped in a house for one night with a prophecy of one will die and one will be chosen to be a minion of The Hunter. I wanted to try and write something that was suspenseful and thrilling with a known threat and countdown. Each time I write a book in the series I want it to be a little different from the last. This I hope keeps the reader on edge as well as eager for the next novel. Keeping the unexpected, expected.
Is there a core message or theme in your book that you wish readers to discover?
Family. Love. The themes are of family and how groups of people grow together under pressure. How they must trust each other to survive and in doing so become so much closer to one another. How also under pressure families and friends can fall apart when death is around every corner.
Of all the characters in your book, do you have a personal favourite? What makes them
special to you? They are all favourites in certain ways. I try to create characters that I would want to be around. Even the bad ones are interesting. Its funny as I write the book, I am always thinking someone should die at some point but I love them all so much I can’t do it. If you ever listen to an audiobook, I’ve narrated you will hear the pain as something happens to one of my characters. Its very real for me. Can’t we all just live and be happy? Not in this world.
How do you approach character development, ensuring they resonate with readers and feel authentic?
As I said previously, I try to create characters that are relatable to me. It makes it so much easier. I also have fallen into writing a chapter for a character that will explain what makes that character tick. I don’t mean it to but usually it will have an emotional pull that will come out later in the story. A lot of it is instinctive. Each character will have a trait that can be explored and as a result will give the reader and me as a writer a better understanding for why they do what they do. Whether it be a reason for making horrible choices or correct ones. The themes are normally related to family as we all have been moulded and created by our loved ones.
Thank you, author Masseurs, for taking the time to answer our questions and for all your insightful and interesting answers!
About the Book
Days of Fury
Who can you trust?
They called it, The Vanishing. When the world’s population mysteriously disappeared. Where new predatory species stalk the earth. Where every turn could lead to certain death. In book three of the A Day in the Life award winning series we will find out what happened to Teresa, Michael and Pup on that fateful night of terrors. When Shelby and Lucy found themselves separated from their family. In a world that sees humanity as a virus that must be eradicated. The worst enemy could be yourself or the person standing next to you.
How did Teresa come to hold the fatal dagger’s handle? Who is the villainous Tony? How did Steven become a prisoner? What new secrets is the Earth unveiling?
All will be revealed and more, in this must-read thrilling sequel, Days of Fury.
You can find Days of Fury here:
Books2Read (all platforms)
The Uncles of the Alocalypse
Who will survive?
They called it, The Vanishing. When the world’s population mysteriously disappeared and predatory species walked the earth.
Horror! The Uncles of the Apocalypse have found themselves prisoners in a house stalked by The Hunter and his chained minions. The owner of the house, Tiberius, a soothsayer and dreamer, has prophesied one of the uncles will die and one will be chosen to be a minion of the hunter. Join author Andrew Masseurs on an action packed, heart stopping, thrilling adventure to find out who will survive and who will be chosen in Book Four of the A Day in the Life award winning series, The Uncles of the Apocalypse.
You can find The Uncles of the Alocalypse here:
Books2Read (all platforms)
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The Reading Bud 