Q&A: Cheryl Isaacs, Author of ‘The Others’

We chat with author Cheryl Isaacs about The Others, which is a  haunting sequel that explores the sharp edges of lingering trauma and the bonds of love that heal us–for fans of She is a Haunting and Sawkill Girls!

Hi, Cheryl! Welcome back! How has the past year been since we last spoke?

Busy but fulfilling. I really appreciated the reception that The Unfinished received from readers. It has been a pleasure to connect with them and hear about the nightmares I’ve saddled people with! I think people underestimate how happy writers are to know that readers enjoy their stories.

The Others is the sequel to your debut The Unfinished and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Eerie, nerve-wracking, mind-bending, sweet and hopeful.

What can readers expect?

Definitely expect some surprises. The sequel has the same flavour as The Unfinished – creepy, unsettling and tense – but the plot goes in a different direction and then just when you think you know what’s going on, takes another hard right. It’s some of the same characters and the same setting, but a whole different problem.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?

I really enjoyed writing more of Frank and Foster. They’re such an unlikely but charming pair. Although they initially seem to not have much in common, we get to learn more about their shared past and how it’s shaped their lives.

I also loved revisiting Key, because he’s a more complicated character than maybe readers thought based on the first book. He’s full of surprises in The Others – you’ve been warned.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing the sequel? How did you overcome them?

They say second books are hard and I’m here to report the legends are true! Writing a sequel required a balance between referencing the events of the first book without dragging down the pace and becoming repetitive, and setting up the new story. I also wanted The Others to be enjoyable for readers who may not have read The Unfinished, which made it even trickier.

I tried to manage the process by using a lot of visual planning, which I don’t normally do. In this instance it helped by letting me see a map of the book – what was new and what might need to be explained or refreshed briefly – it definitely gave me some confidence that the book was going to continue the story in a clear way.

What’s next for you?

Definitely more horror! I’ve just finished a new dark and twisty YA book that I’m excited about. I’m also working on some adult horror that is haunting my brain.

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I’ve just started reading The End of the World as We Know It, which contains stories from a lot of horror writers that I love. The stories are all so different but each one is satisfying in a different way. I’m trying to ration it and savour because there’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a great book and realizing there’s no more. Big sad.

Will you be picking up The Others? Tell us in the comments below!