As I've gone on, I've tried to make the choices more interesting. I also think that there is more dark humour in the subsequent books, as so much of a gamebook is fairly nonsensical. The protagonist 'you' has to take a lot of shocking situations on the chin and simply get on with the game, so instead of trying to pretend that this is realistic,
An interview with Victoria Hancox, author of Nightshift, Cluster of Echoes series and more gamebooks. Nightshift is the October book for the 100 Endings Book Club. Latest in series of gamebook interviews.
Disclosure - I'm a DriveThru RPG affiliate.
Chat with Victoria Hancox, Horror Gamebook Author
Victoria Hancox author of horror themed gamebooks, starting with Nightshift and the rest of the Cluster of Echoes. And more books including Black Death & Bluebells, plus other gamebooks.
We have the first gamebook, working in a hospital, evolving style, design goals, writing challenges and the advice for writing gamebooks books. Among other questions.
What was your gaming story before writing gamebooks?
I was a big fan of Fighting Fantasy as a young teen but not really into computer games. That said, I loved Twinsen's Little Big Adventure, Dead Space and Lemmings.
How did your first gamebook come to be?
I had the opening scene and had tried to write a conventional novel, but it was rubbish.
Fast forward a few years, and I was having a nostalgic replaying of the old Fighting Fantasy books, when my husband suggested writing Nightshift in that style.
The book then basically wrote itself - the style fitted me like a glove and made it so easy and fun.
Do you have any experience working in hospitals? What inspired you to use a hospital setting (for Nightshift) and this format?
(Bonus questions from millie9891 and BaronLandscape on the Rand Roll Discord)
I am a registered nurse and worked in Manchester Royal Infirmary in the operating department.
Nightshift was inspired by my experiences on the night shift. Obviously, no one was murdered, but the atmosphere was very creepy.
The initial floor plan (operating theatres + intensive care unit) is exactly like my old hospital.
What made horror your genre of choice?
It's the genre I read the most, so it makes sense to write it. Not sure where it comes from though...
I loved James Herbert, Graham Masterton, Richard Laymon, and Hammer films when I was growing up and there's been no reason to change :)
How has your gamebook writing changed between writing Nightshift and Game Over?
Nightshift was modelled on Fighting Fantasy, so there are a lot of 'Do you want to go here or there?' type options.
As I've gone on, I've tried to make the choices more interesting.
I also think that there is more dark humour in the subsequent books, as so much of a gamebook is fairly nonsensical. The protagonist 'you' has to take a lot of shocking situations on the chin and simply get on with the game, so instead of trying to pretend that this is realistic,
I've got a nod and a wink to the reader that says, 'I know this is nonsense but enjoy the ride!'
How do you decide what your design goals are before writing? And how do those goals change during the writing process?
(Bonus question from butcherplants on the Rand Roll Discord)
It usually starts from a very vague idea of a starting scene or place/baddie involved.
Then I try to decide on the end goal - the destination/ what you have to do to succeed - which is followed by plotting the steps taken to reach it. With that comes the entities that are trying to stop or help you. And it grows and flows organically from that.
When I've finished the first draft, there's usually space to add more layers to the story - side quests etc. The title is often settled on early but cover image ideas are inspired by what I've actually written.
What's the story behind 100-section gamebook Black Death and Bluebells?
I was asked to write a short gamebook for an anthology series and as I have always loved the Plague Doctor character, I thought it would be good to revisit their origin story. I like how the last line is taken verbatim from Nightshift.
What are your favourite gamebooks and favourite horror media?
Some of the new gamebooks around are fantastic - I loved Paulson's Peak by Jörg Benne (GoodReads link in German) and Anthony Johnston's Can you Solve The Murder (GoodReads link) - and my favourite media is both film and books.
What are the highlights and challenges of writing gamebooks?
I think the challenges are the highlights.
They are incredibly complex to both plot and write and my study usually looks like a murder board with post-its and flowcharts and string connecting the different bits together.
But when it comes together, that's a fantastic feeling of achievement.
What advice would you give to aspiring gamebook writers?
Give yourself time.
Time for ideas and solutions to fruit.
And you will see many different pieces of advice on how to write a gamebook - try them but don't give up if one doesn't work for you.
Just try something else.
Where can people find you online?
On Facebook.
Is there anything else you would like to talk about?
Nope, but I should say that I am currently on a hiatus from writing, although I have plotted Books 2 and 3 of the White Collar Trilogy.
My actual job is too crazy at the moment.
Finishing Up
If you haven't tried one of Victoria's gamebooks, go and give them a try.
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