A Time for Monsters by Gareth Worthington

Only a monster can do the wrong things for the right reasons.

Do you remember the first tape or CD you ever bought? Perhaps you waited for the local station to play the top forty songs on a Sunday so you could record your favorite band. Maybe you downloaded a certain track that reminded you of your wedding day or a graduation. Reyna Blackburn remembers. Every single song for every horrific event in her life. She remembers what song was playing on the radio the first time he hurt her. And she remembers what was playing through her headphones the first time she killed.

Gareth Worthington recently spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing his latest thriller, A TIME FOR MONSTERS:

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

This book is steeped in my own experience of domestic abuse as a child. I hope readers take away that judging people—women in particular—who stay in abusive situations isn’t helpful. And that the world is a grey place; good people do bad things and vice versa.

Everything is about perspective.

Gareth Worthington

What attracts you to this book’s genre?

I normally write hard sci fi in the realms of Michael Crichton or Philip K. Dick, but this story was cathartic.

Was there anything new you discovered, or that surprised you, as you wrote this book?

It was hard to choose songs—you’ll see what I mean when you read it—because there are so many that mean so much to me. It was surprising how many of them could elicit quite an emotional response in me.

No spoilers, but what can you tell us about your book that we won’t find in the jacket copy or the PR material?

Well, I guess as above the book is very much inspired by my life and what happened to me growing up.

What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

As I say, I mainly write hard sci fi, but it was actually The DaVinci Code that kicked my writing into high gear because I love mixing facts and theories into my work. So I guess Dan Brown. But overall I am a huge fan of H.G. Wells. I just love his foresight.

What’s the one question you wish someone would ask you about this book, or your work in general? And, please answer the question too!

Q: Why didn’t I write an autobiographical book instead?

A: To be honest, I tried three times but failed. In the end, I think allegory works a little better. Some people will relate to the book and characters more than others—and they know why.

*****

Gareth Worthington holds a degree in marine biology, a PhD in endocrinology, an executive MBA, is board certified in medical affairs, and currently works for the pharmaceutical industry educating the world’s doctors on new cancer therapies.

Gareth is an authority in ancient history, has hand-tagged sharks in California, and trained in various martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai at the EVOLVE MMA gym in Singapore and 2FIGHT Switzerland.

He is an award-winning author and member of the International Thriller Writers Association, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the British Science Fiction Association.

Born in England, Gareth has lived around the world from Asia, to Europe to the USA. Wherever he goes, he endeavors to continue his philanthropic work with various charities.

Gareth is represented by Renee Fountain and Italia Gandolfo at Gandolfo Helin Fountain Literary, New York.

To learn more about the author and his work, please visit his website.