Hello, people! We have a great interview for y'all today. This time, we interviewed author of The Medea Complex, Rachel Roberts. Let's get on to all the stuff we have in line for you.
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
****BASED ON A TRUE STORY***
1885. Anne Stanbury - Committed to a lunatic asylum, having been deemed insane and therefore unfit to stand trial for the crime of which she is indicted. But is all as it seems?
Edgar Stanbury - the grieving husband and father who is torn between helping his confined wife recover her sanity, and seeking revenge on the woman who ruined his life.
Dr George Savage - the well respected psychiatrist, and chief medical officer of Bethlem Royal Hospital. Ultimately, he holds Anne's future wholly in his hands.
The Medea Complex tells the story of a misunderstood woman suffering from insanity in an era when mental illnesses' were all too often misdiagnosed and mistreated. A deep and riveting psychological thriller set within an historical context, packed full of twists and turns, The Medea Complex explores the nature of the human psyche: what possesses us, drives us, and how love, passion, and hope for the future can drive us to insanity.
BOOK LINKS:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
British born and raised, Rachel Florence Roberts is a registered nurse, fiancée and mother of one based in Malta, EU. The Medea Complex was written shortly after the birth of her son, and took almost two years to complete. She suffered with postnatal depression in a country that did not understand her, and was henceforth the inspiration behind the novel. The Medea Complex will make anyone who has ever thought, lived, laughed, and loved, question the importance of those and everything around them.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Newly 30 (!) born in Liverpool. I'm a nurse by profession, though now I'm a stay at home mum. I love shopping, travelling, spending time with family and friends, watching funny videos on youtube, good food, good wine, and a comfy bed. I'm scared of cows, hate ants, and think a tiger would be the best pet EVER.
2) Tell us about your book, The Medea Complex and what inspired you to write it.
Blurb (from the book jacket)
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
1885. Anne Stanbury. Committed to a lunatic asylum, having been deemed insane and therefore unfit to stand trial for the crime of which she is indicted. But is all as it seems? Edgar Stanbury. The grieving husband and father who is torn between helping his confined wife recover her sanity and seeking revenge on the woman who ruined his life.
Dr George Savage. The well-respected psychiatrist and chief medical officer of Bethlem Royal Hospital. Ultimately, he holds Anne’s future wholly in his hands.
A deep and riveting psychological thriller set within an historical context, packed full of twists and turns, The Medea Complex explores the nature of the human psyche: what possesses us, drives us, and how love, passion, and hope for the future can drive us to insanity.
The inspiration behind the novel was my own encounter with postnatal depression following the birth of my (now two year old) son. Unfortunately, compounding this was the fact that I was living in a foreign country without any sort of support network (no family, no friends, etc),so I decided to do some research into the subject myself. I was astounded to find that PND is something that goes back through the ages, and somewhere along the way I fell into the Victorian Era. Subsequent research resonated with me personally: such as women being the property of their husbands, no rights to their children etc...and I thought to myself: "Just how far would a woman, any woman, go to protect their child?" Like that, The Medea Complex was born in its infancy. During the writing process, the story changed drastically and veered off the original course I had set inside my head: with each nugget of information I gleaned, every report from the 19th century I read, it somehow expanded and shaped the course of the novel. A lot can be gleaned by the title: but I warn you, don't judge a book by its cover, nor its title. Remember, The Medea Complex is a psychological thriller...and I like to play with my reader's minds!
3) Are you an avid reader? Who are some of your favourite authors and what are some of your favourite books?
I read every single day, and I never go to bed without a book in my hand. I can't sleep without reading first! I think I've been reading my whole life. My absolute favourite books of all time (so far) have to be: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Post-Birthday World and We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (took me three times to get 'into' it but I'm so glad I did!), and The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory. I could add more! Recently, I have enjoyed Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, and The Silent Wife by A S A Harrison...though i wouldn't consider them to be my 'favourites', they really are very good reads. More than anything, I love to read books that are original in some way. If I read ONE more novel about a stereotypical cop and serial killer, I'm going to scream.
4) What do you like to do when you’re not writing? What are your hobbies?
I wish I could say I had a hobby, but I really don't! (Does reading count as one?) I would love to take up horse riding one day, I have that whole image of trotting along a sandy beach in my head....*sigh*. In the summer, I like swimming in the sea and doing a bit of snorkelling.
5) Give us a glimpse into a regular day in your life.
Up at 6-7am with little one. Spend morning entertaining him (on the days he is at nursery in the mornings, I usually catch up on housework, sometimes I pamper myself and get a bath!). In the afternoons I take him to the park, and try to do something fun with him in the evenings. I guess an average day for me could be described as 'being a mother'.
We also have a fun This or That round lined up for you. You can pick only of the two choices. Have fun!
1) Black or white?
Black. White shows up sticky finger marks too easily!
2) Day or night?
Night. I love long, peaceful summer evenings.
3) Beach or mountain?
Mountain.
4) Tea or coffee?
Tea. I hate coffee.
5) Team Edward or Team Jacob?
Erm...what?
6) Sweet or sour?
Sweet.
7) Novels or novellas?
Novels, I always feel bereft when a novella finishes so quickly!
8) E-books or physical copies?
Physical copies. I love to hold a book...but that said, since I received a Kindle for a present, I've barely bought any paperbacks at all. It's just so much more convenient to download a book. I guess both have their perks.
9) Success or happiness?
Happiness. Though one normally leads to the other...dont you think? (Love a bit of controversy!)
10) Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset. When the sun rises I like to be buried underneath my duvet.
There’s also a Favourite section where you again give us one word answers!
1) Favourite author?
Philippa Gregory.
2) Favourite book?
Catch-22.
I'd like to wish Rachel all the very best with everything and I'd like to thank her again for the interview. I hope you, readers, enjoyed reading it as much I did. Thank you for stopping by!
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