Sarah Tipper is a metal novelist from Oxford and has written eight books with a metal theme. Her release is The Very Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard. It’s written by a metal head for metal heads and the synopsis is below.
The year is 1997. Cleo Howard is at a very awkward age, she’s sure she’s an adult, so why won’t everyone realise this? Why won’t her chest realise this? Why is Maths so hard? When will she stop feeling sad that her Dad doesn’t live with her and her Mum? Music and men are her twin fascinations and she thanks Almighty Lemmy for metal and mates. Her diary is home to her deepest thoughts, fondest wishes and often what she had for tea.
You can buy the book here!
We managed to catch up with Sarah as she talked about the release of the book and more!
So how has the initial release of The Very Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard gone so far?
The initial release of The Very Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard has gone well. It’s been favourably reviewed in Terrorizer, Devolution, Fireworks and in other music magazines/on websites. It’s sold 31 copies and been downloaded 440 times when I’ve offered the ebook for free on Kindle. The YouTube episodes have been viewed over five hundred times. I’ve had very lovely comments on Twitter and Facebook from readers saying it reminds them of their teenage metal years and readers of The Very Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard 1997 have gone on to read Cleo’s 1998 and 1999 diaries, not wanting the story to end.
What inspired you to write this book?
Two things; firstly, I always regretted not keeping a teenage diary, secondly I loved Sue Townsend’s Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole. Although The Very Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard is in no way my teenage diary, it has some similar situations and the things Cleo likes are mostly the things I like.
Tell us something about the book nobody knows?
I chose to set it in Reading because Oxford (where I live) already has so many books and films set in it. I went to university in Reading and it’s a town that I love.
What would be the dream for you as an author?
I’ve already achieved it by having my book become a real thing I can hold and people can read. Further dreams would be giving book readings and the Cleo Howard Diaries being read on BBC Radio Four.
What’s your favourite band?
This is such a difficult question, I can’t pick just one; Memoriam, Suicidal Tendencies, Danzig, The Ramones, Sykko Dollz, Terminus (my husband’s rock/metal and blues covers band), Motörhead, Type O Negative, Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction.
If you could work with any band on a book, who would it be and why?
I’d like to work with Memoriam or Danzig on a book, both have a huge following but haven’t had their stories told as much as other bands.
What’s the plan for you in 2018, any more projects?
I’m going to finish writing The Y2K Diary Of Cleo Howard and Eviscerated Panda 6: The Number Of The Panda (my saga about a fictional thrash metal band). I’m also going to work on a second book of Christmas short stories.
I’m going to tweet The Very Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard entries on the appropriate day throughout 2018. I’m going to make sure I see lots of live music to inspire me.