Lucy Myatt founded the Level Up comics and games store, in Liverpool’s Grand Central Arcade and has now released Peek-a-Boo, a story which explores the power of urban myths. Tony McDonough reports.
Merseyside retail entrepreneur and You Tube star Lucy Myatt has released her debut novel – a chilling tale exploring why you should never trust clowns.
Lucy, who founded the Level Up comics and games store, in Liverpool’s Grand Central Arcade – developed an obsession with horror stories from an early age, watching scary movies with her father – a love which fuelled her passion for writing and literature.
She utilises her broad knowledge of cult fiction to review graphic novels on her YouTube channel TorAthena, which boasts more than 3,000 subscribers.
Irrational phobia
Her novel, Peek-a-Boo, is a story which explores the power of urban myths and seemingly irrational phobia of clowns when a frightening circus comes to town.
Uncle Frank Publications has released the book, the first in a collection of titles it is set to publish, which will celebrate female writers in the horror genre.
Peek-a-Boo is a chilling tale examining one girl’s fear of clowns, which is perceived to be an irrational phobia – also playing on the recent ‘crazy clown’ phenomenon, which many people will relate to.
Evil clown
The story centres around an evil clown and the disturbing role this character plays throughout the life of Jess, a girl-next-door heroine, whose potential is stifled by her early childhood memory of meeting the eponymous clown, when the circus visits her town.
The narrative also explores the psychological impact of not being believed when something bad happens, probing the murky depths of victim-blaming culture within the story.
One of Lucy’s best literary devices is the power of suggestion. For her: “horror is all about the unseen”.
She explained: “The story revolves around a circus, which comes to town and plays on a sinister urban legend – that a ghost clown follows them across the country with murderous tendencies.
“Everyone writes this off as a myth, except for Jess, who is now 27, and she tries to convince the town it’s true, because she witnessed it first hand as a child.
“Now the circus is back in town and she knows that the clown will be back for her.”
Cover design
Reversing the usual trend in publishing, the writing was in fact based on the front cover image of Peek-a-Boo, designed by illustrator and designer Ilan Sheady, whose illustrations are currently featured on a range of covers including, most notably, Stephen Baxter’s “Project Clio.”
Lucy extends credit to Ilan for his co-authorship in creating the the clown character, for whom she has developed a world.
Peek-a-Boo was published on December 9. There will be selected events throughout Merseyside including in Lovelocks, Rococo and the Atrium Cinema.
The events will include a reading of the book with entertainment and prizes.