Ask the Author: Peter Topside
Answered Questions (27)
Peter Topside
Hi Jerry! Novelizations are not something that I ever thought much about. But, if I had to choose something really unique, that strums my heartstrings, it'd probably be Killer Klowns from Outer Space.
Peter Topside
Hi David! I definitely utilized my writing as an outlet for my complex PTSD. It helped me make sense of certain aspects of what happened and bring about a new clarity for my own self-care. It wasn't immediate, but took some time after each book was written.
Peter Topside
Great question! So, for the most part, I tend to have the endings figured out first and then work backwards. Although there have been cases where I just start writing and have 0 idea where it’s going to end up. Both processes have their charm, but, ultimately, I just love just exploring my stories from all angles. It looks like we’re of similar mindsets! Great minds think alike! :)
Peter Topside
I think that is a very complex question. The necessity of suffering and/or deprivation early on is not indicative of motivation. Many other factors can be applicable, i.e. love of competition, intrinsic rewards, great interest or drive for a specific purpose, etc.
Peter Topside
Morning. I'm not sure that I fully understand your question. Can you clarify a bit further?
Peter Topside
Those are extremely complex questions that cannot be simply or easily answered. And I am not a mental health professional. I can only speak from my experience. Mental illness can be rooted in many different origins, ie genetics, early trauma, war, natural disasters, abuse, discrimination, racism, sexual or physical abuse, newly diagnosed or longstanding health conditions, etc. There is no magic bullet when it comes to treatment. Each form of treatment has its pros and cons, and there isn’t anything ‘better’ than another. A proper treatment plan can greatly differ depending on someone’s preferences, level of mental illness, tolerance, etc. It may be just a single form of treatment or a combination of several types to align with a particular case.
Peter Topside
I would be more than happy to contribute. Please let me know what specific information that you're looking for.
Peter Topside
Hi Sherrie! I agree in that, in some cases, revisiting past events can retraumatize, rather than heal. And writing is a form of therapeutic expression that may not be suitable for all situations, or may need to be accompanied by other forms of healing and/or treatment modalities. That’s not to say it can’t ever be helpful for some, but the timing and methodology must be right. What it did for me, personally, is allowed me an open forum to funnel all of my experiences, feelings, past and present mindsets, etc all into these plots and characters, allowing them to organically interact with one another. And that let me further explore parts of myself and get clarity on where I was versus where I hoped to be. It also let me further process certain events by viewing them through the eyes of fictional people. Sort of like letting myself zoom out and see the situations through a viewpoint that wasn’t skewed. It was all a very emotionally exhausting and time-consuming process to craft my books, but I can honestly say that, looking back, I’d do it all over again, simply for the therapeutic benefits it provided me with. But I wish you the very best with your healing and writing, and hope this gave you some additional insight!
Peter Topside
Ooh, good question, Pat! Elias Witherow, David Sodergren, and Anna Willett all come to mind.
Peter Topside
Hi Nikola! I'm so glad that you enjoy my reviews and are finding books that you're enjoying, too! Lol, I remember Satan Burger.
So I can better respond, when you say make me think differently about fiction, in what capacity are you referring to? Certain genres, plots, characters, tropes, etc?
So I can better respond, when you say make me think differently about fiction, in what capacity are you referring to? Certain genres, plots, characters, tropes, etc?
Peter Topside
Morning Nathan! I hope you’re having a great start to your day!
So my next project, which I hope to release sometime in the Fall of 2023, is called Love & Pieces. It’s a very different tone and type of story, as compared to my Preternatural trilogy. However, it takes place in the same world, despite being a completely different story with different characters and horrors. Let’s just say that it involves a man who loses a loved one, and isn’t quite ready to say goodbye yet. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!!
So my inspiration and concepts tend to come from lived experience. Loss, depression, death, anger, abuse, etc. And my characters all are based, albeit not completely, on unique people that I’ve encountered. To me, in order to write something accurately, I need to be personally involved in it in some capacity. And once I start to sketch concepts out, and put these characters on the same page together and stylize it with some of my favorite horror elements, the stories just organically happen after that. And I also tend to find a playlist of of songs that help me focus when I begin writing my manuscripts, too. Almost like my own personal soundtrack for each book. I know that this all may be a little unorthodox, but that’s what’s worked for me.
Hopefully that all made sense and I didn’t prattle on too much. :)
Peter
So my next project, which I hope to release sometime in the Fall of 2023, is called Love & Pieces. It’s a very different tone and type of story, as compared to my Preternatural trilogy. However, it takes place in the same world, despite being a completely different story with different characters and horrors. Let’s just say that it involves a man who loses a loved one, and isn’t quite ready to say goodbye yet. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!!
So my inspiration and concepts tend to come from lived experience. Loss, depression, death, anger, abuse, etc. And my characters all are based, albeit not completely, on unique people that I’ve encountered. To me, in order to write something accurately, I need to be personally involved in it in some capacity. And once I start to sketch concepts out, and put these characters on the same page together and stylize it with some of my favorite horror elements, the stories just organically happen after that. And I also tend to find a playlist of of songs that help me focus when I begin writing my manuscripts, too. Almost like my own personal soundtrack for each book. I know that this all may be a little unorthodox, but that’s what’s worked for me.
Hopefully that all made sense and I didn’t prattle on too much. :)
Peter
Peter Topside
Any time! Ooh, I like the way that sounds and appreciate how you have that sort of length as a standard that you want to keep. I did that sort of focus with my Preternatural trilogy, in that the antagonist is the main focus throughout. I guess it would depend on how the background on your antagonist will impact how you establish your protagonist throughout. And will this be a self-contained story, or will it branch into sequels, or in conjunction to other works you may have in mind? There are a lot of variables to consider. Sometimes, depending on the genre, it also benefits a character to have little to no background, while others may greatly depend on having a rich introduction of sorts.
Peter Topside
That's a wonderful goal and I wish you nothing but the best of luck in your literary journey! My best advice is to be true to yourself. You'll get a ton of mixed feedback from reviewers on how to craft your story and characters. Some will recommend you to take risks and be really different, while others will try to get you to comply with many of the norms. But in the end, despite however many copies are sold or how your works are rated, you should be happy with the end result. That's not to say that I don't fully endorse help from editors and such, and they often have wonderful advice. And it's never a bad idea to check in with other seasoned authors of a similar genre for their tidbits, too. But you alone control your books. So let your imagination fly!!
Peter Topside
All good! I would recommend are Elias Witherow, Kristopher Triana, Matt Shaw, Hunter Shea, Wayne Smith, Carlton Mellick, Chad Lutzke, Jayson Robert Ducharme, and HG Wells.
Peter Topside
The Black Farm by Elias Witherow. It is literally one of the most intense, meaningful, and impactful stories that I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
Peter Topside
Love this question! I think Peter Pan has so many ways that the original premise could be reimagined. So I’m always up to see what ny colleagues come up with. And I know this sounds strange, but part of me would love to see someone cover my first Preternatural book, focusing on someone else’s perspective as the main story is happening. So not a total cover, but like a pivot of sorts.
Peter Topside
Oh that's a good one! I would love to see a book about something very simple, but could go in a great deal of interesting directions. For instance, when you drop something like a piece of paper, remote control, etc, and it's just suddenly gone. Like you see it hit the ground, but then when you attempt to retrieve it, it's nowhere to be found. Then maybe like several weeks later, you find it in a different room or in a spot that you would never have imagined. Could it be ghosts, little goblins hiding in my house, the remote control is alive or all just a psychotic episode?!?! That kind of thing just always fascinated me, lol. :)
Peter Topside
Hey Miguel!
I just sent you a private message on this, as I had too many characters to post the entire response here.
Peter
I just sent you a private message on this, as I had too many characters to post the entire response here.
Peter
Peter Topside
I've been to Acadia and it's beautiful!
I haven't considered making that a setting for a book, but it's not a bad idea at all. :)
I haven't considered making that a setting for a book, but it's not a bad idea at all. :)
Peter Topside
My inspiration for my Preternatural stories is a direct reflection of my very abusive upbringing. I spent the last 25 years working on these books, taking all of the feelings I went through, at various ages, and saw the others around me experience, and molded them into characters. At that point, the story wrote itself, and I just described how these types of people would engage one another and react to certain circumstances. It was a very emotional and taxing process, but is meant to inspire my audience in a myriad of ways, as well as myself, as I continue my journey to manage my PTSD.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more
Oct 23, 2025 08:41AM · flag