Indie horror author Daniel Willcocks looks back at the creation of Jack, the first novel in his new Goosebump-inspired Twisted Tales series co-written with R.P. Howley.
Name: Daniel Willcocks (he/him)
Based in: Cambridgeshire, UK
What genres/subgenres are you drawn to?
Horror (particularly cosmic and folk), as well as most dark fiction.
Is writing your full-time focus, or do you have a day job as well?
I was full-time for five years; I’m now in a day job working as a digital marketer in the education sector.
The book: from pen to print
What was the genesis of this book? Where did you get the idea from?
“Jack” is the first novel in the new Twisted Tales series. The genesis of this book came when walking through a forest in Lincoln in the summer sun in 2021 and asking the question, “Why has no horror writer tried to reignite the excitement of R.L. Stine’s ‘Goosebumps’ series that rocked the late-90s / early 2000s—but for grown-ups?”
And thus, the seed was sown. Over the last four years, I’ve ruminated on the idea, slowly concocting the brand, the villains, and assembling the team needed to bring this vision to life. After bringing R.P. Howley on board as a co-writer and publishing partner in early 2024, we had all the components we needed. The last piece remaining was “Which is going to be the first villain to launch the series?”
It was a simple answer, really. Horror equals Halloween. Halloween equals horror. With visuals of pumpkins and scarecrows we set our fingers to create the creepy rural town of Brackenholt where this feverish, fast-paced nightmare is set.
How many drafts did you go through before you felt it was ready to query? How long did that take you?
The book went through four or five drafts in total before we were in a place that we were happy with. One particular scene had a major overhaul three or four times before we were happy with it (look out for the warehouse scene…). We started writing the story in January of 2024, and completed the tale by March 2025, so this one took a little over a year.
Did you work with beta and/or sensitivity readers? How did you find them? How did you incorporate their feedback?
Beta readers are a core part of my system. Over my decade in publishing, I’ve created relationships with readers who are excited to be involved in the process, and who understand the kind of books I write. Often I will give them a book in early drafts so I can get their comments on the story. I focus on a reader-first approach with my books, because if the readers don’t enjoy the stories, then what’s the point in going through the rest of the editorial process? Feedback is sent in a variety of ways (including email, DMs, and through my Devil’s Rock Discord community).
What was your querying process like? How long did it take?
[N/A] I did not query this book. This is independently published.
Once it was in the hands of your publisher, what was the process to get it ready for release?
[As above]
And now your book is about to be unleashed on the world! How are you feeling?
I could not be more thrilled to see Jack come alive and hit the bookshelves. Early reader reviews and feedback has been amazing so far, and this is one of the first writing projects where I feel like Rob (R.P. Howley) and I have achieved exactly what we set out to achieve. It’s humbling to hold in my hands a paperback that was dreamed about four years ago, and I know that we’re both very excited for this series to grow over time.
What would you like us to know about this book?
Jack has been specifically written for two types of readers:
- Grown-up fans of the original Goosebumps series (the 90s called, they want their nightmares back…)
- Readers who are looking for an entry point into horror
This story is a pulpy, fast-paced read that mixes the fun, the disturbing, and the outright weird into one delicious Halloween-y tome. Follow the story of Charli as she unwinds the mystery that’s taking hold of Brackenholt, while trying to save her brother and fiancé along the way…
Who’s the ideal reader for this one? What sort of things do they like to read about?
For fans of Goosebumps, Fear Street, Stranger Things, and Clown in a Cornfield. If you like your dark tinged with a pinch of humour, and your chapters swift, then this is a great read for you.
Your writing process
Are you a plotter or pantser or somewhere in between? How do you do your first draft?
The way I see it, if I was to rank myself on a scale of 1-10 (1 being pantser, 10 being plotter), I would be a 3 or 4. Generally all I need is the main idea for the story, an idea of who the big bad is, and the emotional arc that the main character will go on, and I let my mind do the rest.
My first drafts are fast, and they are messy. I focus on making sure that the idea for the story is on the page, then I sprinkle the magic in editing. Few people see the first drafts, but they are often fun to dive into and explore the kind of story I want to write.
How do you approach writing? Are you the type or writer who needs to treat it like a job? Is there a particular time of day you find best for you to write?
When I was early in my writing journey, I was very strict with a routine. I would get up early before work (usually 5.30am or 6am) and write for up to an hour before work.
Now that I’m further along, I have honed my skills where I am more flexible throughout the day. I generally have a word count target I’d like to hit, and I much prefer writing in the morning to afternoon/evening. There’s something about hitting your word count goal and knowing that the rest of the day is free that I really like.
Geek out about stationery: do you use a notebook? A specific type of pen? Or are you computer all the way?
Writing-wise, I’m computer all the way. Ideas I tend to play around with on both my laptop and scribbling in a book. I do have a productivity diary that I take advantage of, and while it’s not necessarily for my writing, I recently got a book stamp that I absolutely adore and use it to mark the books I’ve read when I’ve finished reading. It’s one of my favourite things on the planet now (thanks Lewis for the gift).
Is any of that different for editing?
Editing is all digital for me. Writing takes place on a program called Scrivener and editing happens in Microsoft Word. I spent several years as a proofreader and copy-editor using Word for edits, so it’s just how I’ve wired my brain.
Where do you work? Do you have a comfy, creative space at home or are you someone who has to grab the moment wherever it comes?
Sometimes at home in my office, but mostly outdoors in cafes. My life is pretty chaotic right now, and I’m often on the road, so I have taken to adopting cafes as my own private office. I have headphones that I put on to block out noise, glasses to indicate I need to focus, and then I crack out my MacBook and get to writing. I’ve seen a lot of cafes across England in the last few years.
What’s your writing soundtrack?
I’ve created my own Spotify playlist of dark and atmospheric music from movies to help me get in the horror headspace. For anyone who wants to listen, it’s called “The Horror Writers’ Mix”.
Do you have a writing ritual?
I used to, when my life allowed for more of a routine. Now, it tends to be the aforementioned headphones, glasses, and music, and I can get myself into the zone. Generally I tend to try and work in a minimum of twenty-minute focused increments with short breaks in between (when I can).
Where can we follow you / find out more about your work?
The best place to find me is at www.danielwillcocks.com
Or you can find me on most socials with: @willcocksauthor (I’m most active on Instagram).
You can also keep up to date with the Twisted Tales series at www.twistedtalesbooks.com
Jack is out on 23 July; get all the details on the Twisted Tales website, here.
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