Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Subject 375
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.nikkiowenauthor.com/
CITY: Gloucestershire, England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: Irish
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Dublin, Ireland.
EDUCATION:Received B.A. Attended the University of Salamanca.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and teacher. Worked previously as a Marketing Manager and as Head of Copywriting for an advertising agency.
AVOCATIONS:Running, swimming, surfing, cycling, skiing, and participating in triathlons.
AWARDS:Teaching fellow at the University of Bristol.
WRITINGS
Contributor to periodicals including Gloucestershire Gazette, Citizen, Echo, and Weekend.
SIDELIGHTS
Nikki Owen is a writer an columnist living in Gloucestershire, England. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Owen has been writing since childhood. While she recalls writing as young as age five, she began gaining recognition for her work at age fourteen, when she won a competition for a book jacket and blurb design that was judged by children’s book writer Quentin Blake. Early in her writing career Owen was long-listed for a BBC Talent script and short-listed for a Guardian travel writing competition. She was awarded third place in the Wotton-Under-Edge Arts and Literature Festival Short Story Competition in 2013.
Owen received her B.A. in International Business Studies and Spanish and spent a year studying at the University of Salamanca. She has been a writer and columnist for publications including the Gloucestershire Gazette, for which she writes about politics and society issues, and The Citizen and Echo newspapers and Weekend magazine, for which she writes columns commenting on popular culture. Owen has also worked in marketing, copywriting, and has taught at the University of Bristol as a teaching fellow.
Owen began publishing novels in 2015, starting with The Spider in the Corner of the Room (which was republished as Subject 375 in 2016), the first book in the “Project” trilogy. She has since published the second book, The Killing Files, in 2016, and the third and final book, The Girl Who Ran, in 2017. In addition to writing fiction, Owen teaches courses, including “How to Get Published.” She also chairs events at Literary Festivals.
The Spider in the Corner of the Room
Owen’s first book presents the story of Dr. Maria Martinez, a plastic surgeon with profound Asperger’s Syndrome. The story opens with Maria in a London prison, convicted of the brutal murder of a Roman Catholic priest. A Salamanca native, Maria had been working as a plastic surgeon in Britain before finding herself locked up. She doesn’t remember committing the murder, but as she fights to defend her innocence while struggling with life in prison, what is real and what is not becomes convoluted to both Maria and the reader. This sense of disorientation is heightened by the format of the story. The setting shifts, often abruptly, between Maria’s prison cell and sessions with her therapist and psychologist, creating a sense of uncertainty for the reader, which mirrors Maria’s own struggle to maintain sanity.
Liz Robinson in Love Reading noted: “For much of the novel … suspicions are roused and then extinguished.” While this diversion from traditional plot progression could be irritating to the reader, Verity Wilde in Novelicious wrote: “Owen also does a really good job of drip-feeding you information about Maria through the book to build your understanding of her character and to create more and more layers of intrigue.” David Prestidge in Crime Fiction suggested that this format is not always effective, explaining that the “daring and ambitious idea on the part of the author doesn’t always work.”
The Spider in the Corner of the Room is the first in the “Project” trilogy, and while it ends in a logical way, there are still questions left unanswered.
The Killing Files
The second book in the “Project” trilogy begins with Maria on the run, having escaped from prison in London. In this novel, the suspicions that Maria developed in the first book are proven to be true. It is revealed that she is the subject of a top secret government project, wherein the government has been observing and experimenting on her since her youth. Maria thinks she is safe at home, but as the story unfolds both the reader and Maria become uncertain as to who and what to trust. In The Killing Files new characters are introduced, which helps the reader to better understand Maria as well as the world in which she lives.
Similarly to the style of Owen’s first novel, The Killing Files jumps around in time, moving between the present and the future. The reader is, again, unsure of what is real and what is not and if Maria’s suspicions are in her head or are based in reality. Despite this lack of order, a contributor to the Book Muffin Web site explained that this does not deter the reader as “the plot was fast paced and everything was logical and well researched by the author.” Although the events in the novel are not presented chronologically, the contributor to Book Muffin explains that as the novel comes to a conclusion “the story got very exhilarating and everything started to be revealed and discovered slowly and pieces were put together.”
The ending of The Killing Files leaves room for the third, and final, book in the “Project” trilogy. A contributor to The Welsh Librarian Web site noted that The Killing Files has “a fantastic ending with some shocking revelations that appears to have everything wrapped up, but in reality leaves everything wide open with so many possibilities for the next novel.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly August 1, 2016, review of Subject 375, p. 52.
ONLINE
All Things Jill-Elizabeth, http://blog.jill-elizabeth.com (October 1, 2016), Jill Elizabeth, review of Subject 375.
Book Muffin, https://bookmuffin.wordpress.com (July 28, 2016), review of The Killing Files.
Crime Fiction Lover, http://www.crimefictionlover.com (June 4, 2015), David Prestidge, review of The Spider in the Corner of the Room.
Love Reading, https://www.lovereading.co.uk (April 10, 2017), Liz Robinson, review of The Spider in the Corner of the Room.
Novelicious.com, http://www.novelicious.com (August 27, 2015), Verity Wilde, review of The Spider in the Corner of the Room.
Welsh Librarian, http://thewelshlibrarian.blogspot.com (June 6, 2016), review of The Killing Files.*
Author data
Nikki Owen AuthorHi! Welcome to my website 🙂
And a huge thanks for being here and (maybe) reading my book(s). A true honour.
So, let’s see. A bit about me as an author. Well, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always written fiction. And talked. Boy can I talk.
Aged 5, I re-wrote Thumbelina (with paint & scribbles); at 14, won a competition for a book jacket and blurb design judged by Quentin Blake; at 27, was long-listed for a BBC Talent script for Casualty; and at 34, was short-listed for a Guardian travel writing competition.
In February 2013, I was awarded third place in the Wotton-Under-Edge Arts and Literature Festival Short Story Competition.
In between, I gained a BA (Hons) in International Business Studies and Spanish (get me), spending a year in Spain and studying at the acclaimed University of Salamanca – the same city where my protagonist of The Spider in the Corner of the Room and the Project trilogy, Dr Maria Martinez, hails from.
I’ve written for the Gloucestershire Gazette, commenting on politics and society issues, and have been a columnist for the Citizen and Echo newspapers and Weekend magazine, commenting on popular culture.
Previously, I’ve been a Marketing Manager, Head of Copywriting for an advertising agency, plus a Teaching Fellow at the University of Bristol.
These days I still teach, except now its more creative writing led, including courses on How to Get Published, chairing events at Literary Festivals and even running the social media feed for my lovely local Nailsworth Arts Festival. It’s great and I get to meet and work with some truly amazing, dedicated and fun people.
Originally a Dublin (Irish) gal, I now live in Gloucestershire (UK) with my beautiful little family. Ooo, and I like Guinness (naturally…)
PS There’s a secret quiz on this website. Have you found it yet..?
EXTRA DATA: Me answering some FAQs…
Q. How do you deal with writer’s block?
A. I go for a run. I am an exercise junkie: swimming, surfing, cycling, skiing, triathlons. You name it. Going for a quick run clears my head a treat. And, of course, helps me eat more chocolate.
Q. What’s the best thing about being a writer?
A. Best: being your own boss; calling the shots on the hours you work. Worst: can be a bit solitary when immersed in novel writing. But chocolate always helps 😉
Q. What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
A. Read everything. Every genre you can get your hands on. And learn the craft. You don’t have to spend a fortune on courses etc.
The best fiver ever spent was when my husband bought me a book called Writing a Novel. It’s in the Teach Yourself series and was just awesome in learning the step by step details of the craft.
After that: practice. Write as much as you can, enter everything. You may not win – I didn’t always – but who cares? You’re writing, that’s what counts. Put the hours in and see what happens. And good luck 🙂
Q. How do you get inspired to write?
A. I get inspired by pretty much everything, really. Life, I guess. Just opening my eyes, looking around. The trickle of a droplet on a window pane; the soap bubbles in the washing up bowl. I’m big on the benefits of daydreaming. Welcome to my odd life!
Q. Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?
A. The idea came from a newspaper article about a man in a super max prison in the USA. Interesting fact: The protagonist of The Spider in the Corner of the Room began as a man. But several chapters in, something wasn’t right. I switched it to a female lead and bang: it worked. Step forward Dr Maria Martinez.
Author Nikki Owen!
10/25/2015 0 Comments
About the author
Picture
Nikki Owen is a writer and columnist.
For as long as she can remember, Nikki has always written fiction. Aged 5, she re-wrote Thumbelina (with paint & scribbles); at 14, won a competition for a book jacket and blurb design judged by Quentin Blake; at 27, was long-listed for a BBC Talent script for Casualty; and at 34, was short-listed for a Guardian travel writing competition. In February 2013, Nikki was awarded third place in the Wotton-Under-Edge Arts and Literature Festival Short Story Competition.
In between, Nikki gained a BA (Hons) in International Business Studies and Spanish, spending a year in Spain and studying at the acclaimed University of Salamanca – the same city where her protagonist of The Spider in the Corner of the Room, Dr Maria Martinez, hails from.
Nikki writes for the Gloucestershire Gazette, commenting on politics and society issues, and has been a columnist for the Citizen and Echo newspapers and Weekend magazine, commenting on popular culture.
Previously, Nikki has been a Marketing Manager, Head of Copywriting for an advertising agency, plus a Teaching Fellow at the University of Bristol.
Born in Dublin, Nikki now lives in Gloucestershire with her family.
Interview
Can you tell me about your book?
Dr Maria Martinez is a Spanish plastic surgeon with Asperger’s who finds herself in prison for the murder of a Catholic priest. To cope with it all, she meets with a therapist and it unlocks a world not only was she unaware existed, but a world that stretches in its deception to the highest levels of state.
The Spider in the Corner of the Room is a tale of how the truth can be a lie, but not only that. It’s also, underneath, about the strength and emotional pull of family, of the vital importance of friends. With Maria as the protagonist, Spider conspires to be a reflection of society, of how we view those different to us as weird and how that is wrong to do that, to judge that way.
What made you want to write this kind of genre?
I’ve always loved a page turning thriller – who doesn’t? That heart racing quality of it, that moment when you know you are nodding off to sleep and it really is late now, but you really just have to read on, just one more page. I’ve written other genres and in other mediums – light comedy sketches, contemporary fiction, plays – and I enjoy them immensely, but thrillers are where my ferocious love of reading lies.
Who inspires you?
I’m inspired, in general, by strong women, inspirational women. They can come from any walk of life, not just writing: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Sheryl Sandberg, Amelia Earhart, the entire Suffragette movement – women who, yes, like us all have fears, but overcome them, are stronger because of them and forge a way ahead not just for themselves, but for us all. Author wise, it would have to be: Margret Atwood (for her writing voice); JK Rowling (for her sheer determination); Mary Angelou (for being a voice of sheer clarity and beauty). But there are so many more.
Who are some of your favourite authors?
I have a diverse mix! Harper Lee, Harlan Coben, Jean Paul Satre, Dickens, Stieg Larsson, Alan Bennett, John Le Carre, Bill Bryson, Marian Keyes, Isla Dewer, Sue Townsend, Frank McCourt. And there are so many new authors with amazing debuts and distinct voices – I’m spoilt for choice!
What is one thing you love about writing?
I love the freedom of it. The glide of pen on page. The way I can call the shots on my day. But that’s pure practicalities. What I love most about writing is the ability it gives you to express yourself, to keep the drama of the day on the page. We can all do it, write. You just need a pen and a paper. And I think that’s what I love the most about writing – the fact that, no matter where we are, no matter how little we may have, with a pen or pencil and a scrap of paper, with just one flicker of a thought, anyone can write. How great is that?
Subject 375
Publishers Weekly. 263.31 (Aug. 1, 2016): p52.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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Full Text:
Subject 375
Nikki Owen. Blackstone, $24.99 (368p) ISBN 978-1-5047-2579-8
Owen's ambitious, often confusing first novel launches the Project trilogy, featuring Dr. Maria Martinez Villanueva, a consultant plastic surgeon with Asperger's syndrome, who was convicted of the murder of Joseph O'Donnell, a Catholic priest. Settings and circumstances shift abruptly from Maria's cell in London's Goldmouth Prison to sessions with her therapist and with her psychiatrist, often giving the reader no clue about the transition. What is clear is that Maria has remarkable talents for absorbing data and solving puzzles, has no recollection of killing O'Donnell, and struggles to maintain her sanity in a situation where she can trust no one. Gradually, Maria makes discoveries suggesting that she is a "subject" per the cryptic title, that MI5 is somehow involved, that people she trusted were "handlers," and that the mysterious Project Callidus is at the heart of all that has happened to her. Maria's struggles are unresolved, paving the way for the next installment for those who may feel compelled to follow her adventures. Agent: Adam Gauntlett, Peters, Fraser; and Dunlop. (Sept.)
THE SPIDER IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM
June 4, 2015 Written by DavidPrestidge Published in Kindle, Print, Reviews 0 Permalink
SpiderWritten by Nikki Owen — Written by a Dublin-born author who now lives in Gloucestershire, this debut novel is the first in the planned Project trilogy. The action begins inside a British women’s prison. By any standard Dr Maria Martinez is just a little bit different. First, she is a native of the ancient city of Salamanca, but has been working as a plastic surgeon in Britain. Secondly, she suffers from profound Asperger’s Syndrome. Thirdly, she finds herself starting a long sentence in HM Prison Goldmouth, convicted of the brutal killing of a Roman Catholic priest.
We see, hear and smell the brutalising world of a women’s prison through Maria’s eyes. The guards are unthinking and uncaring about her mental state, and her difficulties in social perception and interpreting language. Like Maria, we are not sure who we can trust. Are the therapist, Kurt, and the seemingly kind Dr Anderson who they seem to be? What, exactly, is the relationship between the prison governor and Maria’s mother and brother?
One particular fellow inmate seems determined to bully Maria and to inflict as much hurt on her as possible, but the intervention of a sympathetic cell-mate provides a degree of protection. As Maria undergoes more therapy, she struggles to make sense of time and place, and tries to replay the events which led to her trial and conviction. She suffers hallucinations, but as she attempts to distinguish between reality and fantasy, a tiny worm of truth begins to form, and it slowly dawns on her that she may be the victim of a very clever conspiracy, and that the upside of her Asperger’s Syndrome – the ability to work with terrifying accuracy and speed with numbers and code – has somehow been harnessed by persons unknown.
In her moments of clarity, Maria is able to petition for a retrial, and her new barrister is convinced that the speed with which she was initially convicted doesn’t ring true. He has uncovered new evidence that the DNA samples which were crucial to the original trial were flawed, and he has strong suspicions that evidence given by nuns from a convent near to where the priest was killed is similarly unreliable. Maria herself is beginning to wonder if both the attacks on her in prison – and the efforts of others to protect her – are both the product of external agencies with a very sinister agenda.
First person narrative in crime novels can be a double-edged sword. What is gained in terms of immediacy and intensity of observation can easily be lost by the narrowness of only seeing the action through the pin-hole of a single viewpoint. It’s one thing to view the world through the eyes of a Philip Marlowe or a Spenser. By and large we trust their judgments, and when they make mistakes, we can nod sympathetically as we think, ‘Yes – been there, and done that.’ In this case, however, Wayne C Booth‘s theory of the unreliable narrator comes into play. If Maria Martinez isn’t sure what she is seeing, then how are we supposed to know what is going on?
Just as Maria’s nightmare world seems to be morphing into a more prosaic setting – in this case the courtroom at her retrial – the author throws in yet another seemingly parallel narrative which, initially, is even more confusing. Was this happening before or after the trial? Was it real, or was it induced by Maria’s handlers injecting her with yet another syringe full of perception-bending chemicals? These two threads finally resolve, in a manner of speaking, but this daring and ambitious idea on the part of the author doesn’t always work.
If you want a similar novel with a female lead who is just a bit different, then you could try Rosie Claverton’s Amy Lane series, or Harry Bingham’s books featuring Fiona Griffiths.
MIRA
Print/Kindle
£5.03
CFL Rating: 3 Stars
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Review – The Spider in the Corner of the Room by Nikki Owen
Reviewed by Verity Wilde
The Spider in the Corner of the Room by Nikki OwenDr Maria Martinez is in prison. Convicted of murder. She says she didn’t do it and she’s fighting to clear her name. She has Asperger’s syndrome and is finding prison life hard. But are her problems all in her mind – or are the mysterious forces that she fears real and out to get her?
The back of my copy of The Spider in the Corner of the Room calls this “The first in a gripping, high concept psychological conspiracy trilogy” and it’s not wrong. I had to read it in daylight – it is so tense and atmospheric. I was pretty much constantly discombobulated – you never know who to trust or what’s really going on. This is partly because the narrative jumps around and you’re not always sure of the chronology. Then there are the gaps in Maria’s memory and her Asperger’s which affects her behaviour.
The book is told in the first person from Maria’s point of view and Nikki Owen has created a really pacey and distinctive short, sharp, stop-start style for her. Owen also does a really good job of drip-feeding you information about Maria through the book to build your understanding of her character and to create more and more layers of intrigue.
I was worried that as it’s the first part of a trilogy that I wouldn’t get enough answers to be satisfied at the end. But although there’s clearly more to know, the book stops in a logical place and doesn’t come to a jarring halt.
If you like a good, tense thriller that will play with your head then this may be for you. But read it in a nice, bright place – where no-one can creep up on you and you can’t imagine any bogeymen in dark corners!
9/10
Monday, 6 June 2016
(Blog Tour) Review: The Killing Files by Nikki Owen
The Killing Files by Nikki Owen
Publisher: MIRA
Release date: 2 June 2016
Rating: *****
Back cover blurb: No matter how fast you run, the past always catches up with you. Dr Maria Martinez is out of prison and on the run. Her mission? To get back to the safety of her family. Little does she know that this might be the most dangerous place of all…
The Killing Files is the second novel in Nikki Owen's 'the project' trilogy, and it is outstanding!
Dr Maria Martinez has finally broken free from 'the project' a top secret government project who have been experimenting on her since an early age.
Maria thinks she is safe in her Spanish home, hidden away from the Project. Or is she?
Despite her best attempts at total security she is rumbled by the project and back in their capture before she realised what has happened.
Maria realises that she recognises the surroundings that she in, and the voice she is hearing, even though she is certain that they have nothing to do with the project.
Or do they?
I don't want to say too much more, as these books are too good for you not to read for yourself.
However, I will say this, there are some brilliant character additions to the series in this second novel, and I really can't wait to see where this trilogy is going to go next.
A fantastic ending with some shocking revelations that appears to have everything wrapped up, but in reality leaves everything wide open with so many possibilities for the next novel.
I am so excited for the third and final installment in this series, even though it will mean the end of a fantastic trilogy. I just hope the author has something equally exciting and original up her sleeve for the future, whatever it is, is sure to be a brilliant read.
The Killing Files is available from 2 June 2016.
You can pre-order it now via Amazon online.
Don't forget to follow the rest of the blog tour;
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Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of ‘The Killing Files’ by Nikki Owen
posted in 4.5 Muffins, Book Reviews by bookmuffin
I was sent a copy of The Killing Files from Harper Collins and after reading the first installment in the trilogy- Subject 375- I was sucked in and had to more…
Below is my review, plus a sneaky peak at the front cover and description and places to buy:
About The Book
26050850
‘The Killing Files’ by Nikki Owen
No matter how fast you run, the past always catches up with you
Dr Maria Martinez is out of prison and on the run.
Her mission? To get back to the safety of her family.
Little does she know that this might be the most dangerous place of all…
My Review
The Killing Files is a sci-fi thriller which follows Maria, now on the run, and her mission to escape both The Project and MI5. Set in various places but mainly in her home country of Spain, the novel is written in a similar style to the first, whereas the present and the future are happening at the same time and meet at the end to create the chronology of the book and make sense to the reader. The events, especially towards the end, were definitely unpredictable, making the ending climactic and exciting, setting the reader up for an incredible end to the trilogy. The plot was fast paced and everything was logical and well researched by the author.
My favourite character, besides Maria who you can’t help but root for, was probably Chris, as he brought out the more relaxed side of Maria, and also Patricia, who did the same. Like ‘Subject 375’, most of the characters had well developed back stories which made them a lot more realistic.
The story definitely kept me guessing, and this was increased due to how the story was structured, beginning with Maria in an unidentified location that you only find out about towards the very end of the book. The best part of the book, in my opinion, was the end when the story got very exhilarating and everything started to be revealed and discovered slowly and pieces were put together.
I would definitely recommend The Killing Files to anyone interested in the thriller or sci-fi genre, as it definitely follows both down to a tee!
My Rating: 4.5 Muffins out of 5
Book Review: Subject 375 by Nikki Owen
Jill Elizabeth posted this on October 1st, 2016
subject375Subject 375 was an absolutely extraordinary story! I will admit, there were a few times in the beginning where I found the shifts in time/sequence to be distracting and difficult to follow – never to the point that I lost interest though, rather the opposite… I found the bizarre back-and-forth, the nothing-is-what-is-seems of it all, only piqued my interest. This is a phenomenal read. I’ve read about Asperger’s before, but never read OF it, if that makes any sense – this story was gorgeous in its treatment of the complexity of a brain that operates under its own set of strictures and guidelines… There are layers upon layers of story line here. Poor Maria Martinez has no idea what is happening to her, or why, and you as the reader often do not either – until, suddenly you do. Sort of. Maybe. Unless… If that sounds frustrating and unnecessarily confusing, just wait until you dig into the story – you’ll rapidly realize it’s exactly that frustrating and unnecessarily confusing nature of “reality” that makes the tale so immersive and engaging.
It opens with a murder. And prison. And also a visit to a therapist. But what, exactly, ties all those things together – and, more importantly, what underpins those connections – is left on the table for most of the book. This sounds like it might be irritating; it is, but not in a bad way – in a “oh merciful heavens, read FASTER!” kind of way. I am a fast reader; my eyes were flying over the pages as I tried to force my brain to comprehend the letters faster, quicker, better, simply so I could see what was going to happen next. This was one hell of a ride – my stomach was left on the floor more than once, but I couldn’t wait for each new twist and turn…
There’s a gorgeously convoluted tale here, comprised at times of fantastically simplistic yet intensely deep sentences. To read Maria’s brain is a truly amazing thing – her observations are startling in their unusual perspective, but beautifully crafted nevertheless. A few of my favorites:
“This came for you,” she says, her voice a bowl of plums, a swollen bunch of black grapes.
“No,” she says, her smile like a splinter on her face. I want to dig it out, throw it away.
When he finally sits, he feels less looming, more honey-like, natural. But honey is made by bees, and bees can sting.
Everyone appears to be wheeling suitcases of legal files, dragging them behind like clubbed seals.
There is power in Maria’s view of the world. Power granted her by an immensely talented author. Power that I hope continues to come pouring out in the remainder of the series. Amazon lists a second book (The Killing Files) with a 2016 date but no new purchasing information; I’m cautiously optimistic it means I won’t have long to wait for the next installment, because the ending was a doozy and left me with as many new questions as it did answers… There are paperback copies available used, which coincides with some internet research I found suggesting this is a rerelease. Regardless, if you enjoy your thriller with a more than healthy dose of the unusual, this one is for you!
The Spider in the Corner of the Room
Nikki Owen
Lovereading view...
June 2015 Debut of the Month.
A powerful, penetrating and intensely different read that seizes your attention from the very first page. The author cleverly writes in the first person narrative in two different time frames, Maria has Asperger syndrome and we are held on the edge of a connection and understanding, yet allowed intimate access to her anxiety, fear and torment. As Maria questions her memory, her thoughts, her grasp on the present and past, a creeping sense of foreboding and fear settles across the pages. For much of the novel you are kept in the dark alongside Maria, which provokes and agitates your interest, suggestions are made then ripped away, suspicions are roused and then extinguished. This fascinating premise works, it leaves you wanting more; just who can be trusted and what is the truth? ~ Liz Robinson