PRESS CUTS
Getting publicity for a book once published is the hardest part of the process, as most independent authors are not marketing experts. In truth, we would just like to get on with the business of writing our next novel.
Fortunately, so far, I have been lucky with the promotion of all my books, having seen them featured in magazines, newspapers and on the radio.
Social media is also an important tool for promoting my novels, and without Facebook and Twitter, self-marketing would have been almost impossible. It remains to be seen what Meta’s new platform, Threads, can offer.
THE STORY OF VIRNA BABINEAUX
R&A (Round and About) Magazine - September 2023
Mad, Bad & Sad?
One of the reasons I enjoy writing novels is that much of the inspiration originates from where I live in Knaphill, near Woking. People passing through will probably tell you the village may not look that much, but it is steeped with history, and I find all that very spiritual.
The village is often described as ‘mad, bad, and sad’, a tag which is associated with the former Brookwood Asylum, Woking Invalid and Women’s Prisons, and the sprawling Brookwood Cemetery, which is situated on the south side of the Basingstoke Canal and South-Western railway line.
When I first started my novel-writing journey in 2015, I was advised by a literary acquaintance, to “write what you know”, and having explored Knaphill’s unique history, I was able to produce my first novel,The Asylum Soul, which is a 1929, diarised account of a young man incarcerated at Brookwood Asylum with a simple speech defect.
Indeed, all my books have a local backdrop. My second novel, Fly Back and Purify, is a paranormal affair and tells the story of a train driver who is convinced he has hit and killed a young woman at Brookwood railway station in 1994, but the police can’t find a body. My other titles, An Invisible Nemesis, Jude & Bliss, and Fluke’s Cradle, are also mostly set in or around Woking.
My latest novel, The Story of Virna Babineaux, tells the tale of a once famous glamour model/turned prostitute, who is stabbed to death in a Southeast London brothel. Several years later, the corpse remains unclaimed until it is inexplicably discovered missing by mortuary staff. It all starts off with mysterious goings on at a deserted luxury house in Littlewick Road, Knaphill.
As the story unfolds, the case is dropped by Surrey Police, before the initial investigation is completed. Had there been a possible connection with the missing body?
Investigating officer DI Sue Grendel is furious as she believes she is close to solving the mystery. Against her better judgement, she tips off her former lover, the wayward journalist Daniel Blue, urging him to bag a good story.
Daniel feels he is on nothing more than a wild goose chase as he strives to solve the mystery. However, in a final twist, assistance comes from an unlikely source.
The Story of Virna Babineaux is available in paperback and e-book formats and can be ordered from any good bookshop and online. Website:www.malfoster.co.uk
(Reproduced Courtesy: Round and About Magazine)
Woking News & Mail - August 2023
A WOKING author has released his sixth book, The Story of Virna Babineaux.
Mal Foster’s debut novel, The Asylum Soul, won many admirers after its publication in 2015 – and his writing continues to attract praise.
His latest outing explores fresh subject matter and introduces a new protagonist. Daniel Blue, a hapless local news reporter. Blue is drawn into the story of Virna Babineaux, a once-famous glamour model turned prostitute found stabbed to death in a London brothel. Several years later, the corpse remains unclaimed until it is inexplicably discovered missing by mortuary staff.
Strange goings-on at the victim’s former luxury home in Surrey arouse the interest of local police, but the case is dropped before the initial investigation is completed.
Investigating officer DI Sue Grendel is furious as she believes she is close to solving the mystery. Against her better judgement, she tips off her former lover, the wayward Blue, urging him to bag a good story.
“I’m always looking to experiment with my writing and explore alternative subject matter,” Mal said. “My protagonists, who are usually quite vulnerable types, are always very important to me, and when I start a new novel, I enjoy getting into character with each of them.
“I have used Blue to address my own inner inhibitions and some of life’s what-might-have-beens.”
The Story of Virna Babineauxis published by PublishNation at £8.99 paperback, e-book £2.99. It is available from Amazon and bookshops.
(Reproduced: Courtesy - Woking News & Mail)
FLUKE'S CRADLE
Woking News & Mail -August 2022
Local Authors Meet the Public at Bookshop Signing
Four local authors came together to sign copies of their latest books at the Lionsheart Bookshop and cafe in Woking’s Commercial Way on Saturday (23rd July).
The mayor, Cllr Saj Hussein, joined the writers and congratulated them on their publications and the shop staff who helped organise the event.
“Arranging the event was something of an unknown quantity,” saidFluke's Cradleauthor Mal Foster, “I don’t think a multiple signing event had been attempted before, but with the help of the shop’s manager, Patrick Jones, we managed to pull it off with each of us selling a reasonable number of copies.”
Lelita Baldock, author of Where the Gulls Fall Silent, added, “I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was determined that we all had a fun afternoon, and we did!”
Also present was fantasy author JRC Cox, who recently published his debut, Kings of the Land and the 'Write Out Loud’ poet Greg Freeman, who was signing copies of his recent publications, Marples Must Go ndThe Fall of Singapore.
If you want to buy any of the author's books, signed copies are now on sale at 10% off their normal retail price at Lionsheart while stocks last.
(Reproduced: Courtesy - Woking News & Mail)
Writing Magazine - December 2022
Mal Takes Five
"In 2015, I inadvertently embarked on my novel-writing journey believing that my first book," says Mal Foster. "The Asylum Soulwould be a one-off. As I was about to rest on my laurels, I quite unexpectedly began receiving numerous requests such as, “When is your next book out?” and getting some very generous reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and elsewhere.
It didn’t take too long for me to realise that some people were actually reading and enjoying my work. I had also caught the writing bug, so inevitably, a second, third and fourth novel was always forthcoming, again with some great reviews.
Now though, I was at a crossroads, wondering where my next book was coming from. In the end, following a short spell and with plenty of time to think in hospital last summer, I didn’t need to look too far. Memories of my own upbringing and some of the things I witnessed in the 1970s presented me with a whole kaleidoscope of possibilities and my fifth novel,Fluke’s Cradle, was born.
The book, set in the present day, tells the story of middle-aged Eddie Noble, who is somewhat down on his luck. Eddie had always wondered who his father was. His mother had died shortly after childbirth, and those shielding him from life’s future challenges were not always forthcoming with any answers. Following a mysterious medical episode whilst searching for his mother’s grave, Eddie becomes increasingly convinced he is the person he was in a previous life. He then undergoes an enforced period of regression therapy to aid his rehabilitation.
Since its publication in April, the book has been very well-received and has been featured on local radio in Surrey. I’ve also hosted two very successful book-signing events in Woking where I live."
Fluke’s Cradle is available in Amazon's eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.
(Reproduced Courtesy: Writing Magazine)
Knaphill Magazine - June 2022
When Knaphill author, Mal Foster completed his first book,The Asylum Soul, he thought the publication of his acclaimed historical novel would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I was really happy with just that,” he says. Seven years later, he has just released his fifth title, Fluke’s Cradle, which tells the story of a local man who wakes up from a coma, believing he is the person he was in a previous life. Only published in April by Publish Nation, it has already received numerous five-star reviews and has been labelled as Mal’s best writing yet.
Eddie Noble had always wondered who his father was. His mother had died shortly after childbirth, and those shielding him from life’s future challenges were not always forthcoming with any answers.
Following a mysterious medical episode whilst searching for his mother’s grave, Eddie becomes increasingly convinced he is the person he was in a previous life. He then undergoes an enforced period of regression therapy to aid his rehabilitation.
Enter Marianne Borg, a beautiful psychic medium, Nathaniel Bream, a quirky psychiatric paranormal research specialist, and Professor Allan, a mental health scientist, who all take a particular interest in Eddie’s plight.
Mal also hosts the Woking Writes book blog, which helps promote the work of other local writers and runs low-key ‘Writing as Therapy’ sessions in the area for people with mental health issues.
Fluke’s Cradle, is available in ebook, paperback, and hardback versions from Amazon.co.uk. The paperback is also stocked at the Lionsheart bookshop in Commercial Way, Woking.
Article Courtesy: Sue Stocker, My Knaphill
JUDE & BLISS
Woking News & Mail - January 2022
Mal’s fourth novel was inspired by a real-life story.
A Knaphill author’s latest book, Jude & Bliss, has received glowing reviews... “I’ve been sitting on the concept of writing Jude & Bliss since the summer of 1994 when I first discovered the real-life tale of a young girl from Surrey who was tragically wronged by her employer towards the end of the 19th century,” Mal said, “It somehow stuck, so much so that this was the novel, I was always going to write.”
Readers have certainly taken to the story, which has attracted a series of five-star reviews on Amazon. “The feedback has been brilliant,” Mal added.
Jude & Bliss relates to the experience of Jude Rogers, a wide-eyed but vulnerable 16-year-old who, in 1896, secures a position in domestic service at a large house in Half Moon Street, near Piccadilly, in London. After a brief settling-in period, she quickly realises everything is not as it seems.
“In the synopsis, I did say that the story is not for the faint-hearted, but that’s really because of the descriptions of the autopsy,” Mal said. “It is not a spoiler to say that there is a death in the book.”
“I spent a lot of time reading through reports of Victorian autopsies, and they were so graphic, I had to tone them down for the book. Research is important to me, and I enjoy that part of the process.”
Mal has drawn widely on local events and locations for his previous novels, including Brookwood Hospital, for his first novel, The Asylum Soul, published in 2015.
Previously, he had concentrated on poetry. A talent he had discovered before having to leave school at 15 to support his single mother and younger brother.
He soon had his poetry published, although the greatest accolade came in 2007 when his most widely read poem, The Wedding, was published in the Australian Secondary School’s anthology Poetry Unlocked, which was part of the country’s English Literature exam curriculum for that year.
“I always thought that was quite amusing, considering I left school without any formal qualifications,” Mal said.
(Reproduced: Courtesy Woking News & Mail)
Writing Magazine - March 2021
"Some authors will tell you, there is no better feeling than receiving the proof copy of a new novel, particularly during these challenging times when many people are struggling to keep their mental health, and indeed their lives and livelihoods intact," says author Mal Foster.
"When the proof copy of my fourth book,Jude & Blisswas delivered, it was with a sense of pride and fulfilment that I gleefully accepted it from a rather bemused postman who would never have understood the reason for my excitement.
I’d been sitting on the concept of writing Jude & Bliss ever since the summer of 1994 when I first discovered the harrowing account of a young girl from Surrey who had travelled to London towards the end of the 19th century to enter domestic service. The story somehow stuck, and I was inspired. This was the Victorian tragedy I knew I was always going to write."
In 1896, Jude Rogers, a wide-eyed but vulnerable sixteen-year-old, from Woking, Surrey, secures a position as a domestic servant at a large terraced house in Half Moon Street, near London's Piccadilly. Following a brief settling-in period, she quickly realises everything is not quite as it seems. As time moves ruthlessly forward, what happens next is almost beyond comprehension. Jude finds herself in the most impossible of situations and finally succumbs to the pure evil dealt out by her employer. "I should add, this book is not for the faint-hearted."
"When meeting readers, book bloggers, and indeed fellow authors, the conversation often leads to a character in one of my novels. In all my books, the characters are important to me and I like to introduce them as identifiable and colourful souls without being too over descriptive. Fortunately, the feedback is usually positive, and this makes the whole writing and publishing experience worthwhile. Proof, if needed, amidst all this gloom of contagion, global stress and uncertainty, there is a certain therapy in writing."
(Reproduced - Courtesy: Writing Magazine)
R&A (Round & About) Magazine #2 -February 2021
A good story can take root in the most unusual way. And the seed for Mal Foster’s latest book was planted back in 1994, thanks to the lady running a Surrey Museum stand at the annual Bisley Fayre.
“It was a very informed conversation about this young local girl who was tragically wronged by her employer towards the end of the 19th century,” Mal tells me. “The story stuck, so much so that this was the novel I always going to write.”
Jude & Bliss is Mal’s fourth novel, inspired by this real-life tragedy which ultimately contributed for calls of national reform to help protect young women and girls working in domestic service.
“The death of Emily Jane Popejoy in 1896 was chilling in itself,” adds Mal. “It’s a sad tale.”
Jude & Blissis set In 1896 and tells the story of Jude Rogers, a wide-eyed but vulnerable 16-year-old who secures a position as a domestic servant at a large terraced house in Half Moon Street, near London’s Piccadilly.
Following a brief settling-in period, she quickly realises everything is not quite as it seems. Jude finds herself in the most impossible of situations and finally succumbs to the pure evil dealt out by her employer... This book is not for the fainthearted!
Who is Mal’s favourite author? “Leonard Cohen. I have always been enthralled by his novel The Favourite Game, which I have read more than once."
What advice would Mal give anyone reading this who wants to write their own book? “If you have an idea, stick with it and persevere,” he advises, “Become your own protagonist as if you were playing that person on stage or in a film. You will find your other characters will form themselves and help build the very essence of your book.”
An established and award-winning poet and former local journalist, Mal was born in 1956 and has lived in Woking since the late 1980s. He loves the area’s rich history, adding: “When you dig deep, you will find it fascinating... My favourite haunt has to be the Garibaldi pub in Knaphill. Always good food and drink and excellent service.”
Jude & Bliss is available in paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon.co.uk. And other online outlets. It can also be ordered from all good bookshops. ISBN 979-8550129265.
For more information about Mal & his other books, please visit malfoster.co.uk
(Reproduced: Courtesy Liz Nicholls, Round & About Magazine)
R&A (Round & About) Magazine - January 2021
Sometimes a true crime, especially one set within earshot of our own neighbourhood really stays with you. That’s what happened to Woking author, Mal Foster, whose fourth novel Jude & Bliss is out now.
Set towards the end of the Victorian era, it tells of a wide-eyed 16-year-old Jude Rogers who secures a position as a domestic servant at a large terraced house in Half Moon Street, near London’s Piccadilly.
“I’ve been sitting on the concept of this book since the summer of 1994 when I first discovered the real-life story,” he tells me. “The story stuck, so this was the novel I was always going to write.”
Watch this space for a longer article in a future edition.
(Above taken from Editorial by Liz Nicholls)
Knaphill Magazine - November 2020
Knaphill-based author Mal Foster has just completed his fourth book Jude & Bliss which is scheduled for publication at the end of November. Readers may remember his debut novel, The Asylum Soulset at Brookwood Hospital which has gone on to receive many accolades including scores of five-star ratings and reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and elsewhere. It has also been a big hit with local readers on social media, with Mal hoping his new historical novel will do the same.
In a recent interview on Radio Woking’s Breakfast with Lara Show, Mal shared his hopes for the new book. However, with his feet firmly on the ground, he has no illusions. “If I were in this for the money, I would be extremely disappointed. However, if just a few people read and enjoy my work, then the whole journey through to publication has been worth it,” he said.
Jude & Blissis set towards the end of the Victorian era and tells the heartbreaking story of a young girl who lived in Knaphill. In 1896, Jude Rogers, a wide-eyed but vulnerable sixteen-year-old, secures a position as a domestic servant at a large, terraced house on Half Moon Street, near London's Piccadilly. Following a brief settling-in period, she quickly realises everything is not quite as it seems. As time moves ruthlessly forward, what happens next is almost beyond comprehension. Jude finds herself in the most impossible of situations and finally succumbs to the pure evil dealt out by her employer.
Mal has lived at his present address in Knaphill since 1993, although his ties with the village go back much further. His other novels are Fly Back and Purify and An Invisible Nemesis.
Mal’s books can be found for sale worldwide on Amazon and from many other outlets across the internet. You can also find out more about his work from his website atwww.malfoster.co.uk
(Reproduced courtesy: Sue Stocker, My Knaphill, village magazine)
AN INVISIBLE NEMESIS
Gozo News - January 2019
An Invisible Nemesis: A tale of conspiracy and murder on Gozo
An Invisible Nemesis– is the title of the latest novel by Mal Foster. A tale of conspiracy and murder predominately set on the island of Gozo.
It tells the story of a Princess Diana look-a-like who goes missing in Venice, Italy, in 1997, just a few short weeks before the death of the real princess.
The book’s protagonist, investigative journalist Jack Compton is on the case following the brutal murder of his former colleague Suzanne Camilleri.
Mal Foster said about his latest novel, “My priority was to write something completely different from what I had done before. I also wanted to write a novel that was against the grain, something that would separate my story out from other so-called conspiracy theories.”
Mal Foster was born in Farnham, Surrey 1956, and now lives in Knaphill near Woking.
He produced his successful debut novel, The Asylum Soul, in 2015. His second book,Fly Back and Purify, a paranormal drama, was published in 2017.
Also an established poet, his work has appeared worldwide in a number of anthologies, newspapers, magazines and across the internet.
A former local journalist, he is an avid fan of progressive rock music but turns to the late Canadian singer/songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen when pressed about who and what inspires him.
An Invisible Nemesis is available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon.co.uk and Lulu.com.
Note: The above article also appeared via News Malta - (Reproduced: Courtesy - Gozo News)
Writing Magazine - August 2019
"Having just completed my third novel, An Invisible Nemesis I think now is the perfect time to look back and reflect. Indeed, if someone had said to me just five short years ago that I would sit down and write a novel, I would have politely laughed at such a wild remark," says author Mal Foster.
"Fortunately, despite my early reservations, writing, publishing and then finally promoting my books has been an engaging and enjoyable experience which despite a few minor knock-backs has given me the confidence to carry on writing and ultimately produce my latest work.
The concept for An Invisible Nemesis remained on the back-burner for quite a while as I concentrated on other aspects of my writing. My first novel, The Asylum Soulis a historical tale of incarceration set in 1929 while my second offering, 'Fly Back and Purify' is a paranormal drama set around a mysterious incident at a railway station in 1994.
Set predominately in present day Malta, well, Gozo to be precise, my latest novel is a story of conspiracy and murder. My priority was to write something completely different to what I had done before. I also wanted to write a novel that was against the grain, something that would separate my story out from other so-called conspiracy theories.
Only time will tell if the story works, but early feedback from professionals who have had privy to the final draft of the manuscript prior to publication, have used such words as “addictive” and “awesome” in their reviews and that’s encouraging!"
An Invisible Nemesisis available now from Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.
FLY BACK AND PURIFY
Woking News & Mail - July 2017
Author's Second Novel Published
Published in July, Woking-based author Mal Foster's new novel Fly Back and Purify is a psychological/paranormal drama set in 1994. Since its release, the book has already reached No.1 in the Lulu.com general fiction chart and has attracted a number of five-star reviews at Amazon.co.uk and elsewhere.
Recovering from a severe psychological meltdown, young local journalist Jack Compton returns to his job at the (fictitious) Woking Tribune after a twelve-week period away.
In July 1994 he gets his big break. An ‘unusual incident’ occurs at Brookwood railway station in leafy Surrey and he’s sent to investigate.
What happens next is a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of implosion that will either make or break him. An event so strange that even those around him cannot explain or comprehend. But with Jack... is it all just a state of mind?'
Fly Back and Purifyby Mal Foster, whose debut The Asylum Soulaccumulated numerous five-star reviews on Amazon and at Goodreads, is now available from lulu.com and amazon.co.uk in both paperback and Kindle formats or can be ordered from all good shops.
Mal told the News & Mail, “Following the success of my previous novel, The Asylum Soul, I was always a little apprehensive about releasing my second title. I’ve often used writing for therapeutic reasons mainly to escape from life’s sometimes harsh realities. I needn’t have worried though; early feedback has been very kind and I’m pleased that readers are connecting with the characters in the book. To gain a No.1 chart placing is obviously a very pleasant surprise, and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has bought the book so far.”
(Reproduced Courtesy Woking News & Mail)
Writing Magazine - October 2017
"I believe there is a valuable therapeutic benefit to be gained from writing and this is something that I have always used as a way of coping with life’s often unpredictable challenges," says author Mal Foster.
"Whilst writing my second novel, Fly Back and Purify, I experienced one of the most beautiful periods of my life, quickly followed by perhaps my darkest ever spell. Seeing the light of day is something we all take for granted so it’s quite ironic and unnerving that I have inadvertently chosen the backdrop of mental health for both of my novels so far.
My first novel The Asylum Soulis set in 1929 and tells the story of a young man who was incarcerated because he had a simple speech defect which these days would be easily treated through elocution therapy. Fly Back and Purify is set some years later in 1994 and tells the tale of young local journalist Jack Compton.
Jack is now back at work at the ‘fictitious’ Woking Tribune following a psychological meltdown brought on by his marriage split from the wayward Kazkia. He’s then seduced by the newspaper’s editor Nancy Salem who is described as a scruffy, man-eating, chain-smoking eccentric.
Eventually, Jack gets his big break after an unusual incident occurs at a local railway station and he’s sent to investigate. What happens next is a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of implosion that will either make or break him. An event so strange that even those around him cannot explain or comprehend. But with Jack... is it all just a state of mind?
Some of the key characters in the new book are the descendants of those in The Asylum Soul which connects the two titles."
Fly Back and Purify 'came out in July 2017 in both paperback and e-book formats and is available fromAmazon.co.ukorLulu.com
(Reproduced - Courtesy : Writing Magazine)
RADIO WOKING - WE LOVE WOKING SHOW - October 2018
Mal talking about Fly Back and Purify and his new writing on Radio Woking with Zahir Ahmed and Jackie Witney -LISTEN
THE ASYLUM SOUL
Woking News & Mail - September 2015
Walking in the Land of Ghosts
Published in the Woking News & Mailon 24 September 2015, an article set around the former Brookwood Lunatic Asylum grounds entitled ‘Land of Ghosts’ by columnist Ann Tilbury mentions The Asylum Soul. My special thanks to fellow author Phil Whittick for bringing this piece to my attention. The whole article is reproduced below...
'What ancient feet trod Knaphill and Brookwood lands? Certainly in Victorian times and subsequently, the asylum at Knaphill housed in various names which feature in modern literature. Names for example that are hinted at in a book called The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale. The life story of Julie Andrews also had a relative linked to the venue.
'More recently local writer Mal Foster shed some interesting light on the life of an inmate at Brookwood Asylum in a fictionalised but well researched book entitled The Asylum Soul.
Another book of great interest to researchers is From Asylum to Community Care - A history by those who lived and worked thereby Alison Craze which was published in 2014.
In earlier times the poet John Donne resided with friends near Pyrford, doubtless explored the locality of these parts on horseback perhaps, being inspired by the topography to compile some of his renowned muse.
'Much could be said about the inmates of this establishment prior to its closure in recent times. Inmate’s hardships, worsened by spurious detention in the first place, leave something of a dark shadow still clinging to these parts. But where tragedy once reigned, the ghosts of the old grounds are now being assuaged and former asylum farmlands, transformed into country parks. The first of these was opened on the completion of recent housing development around Redding Way more than 20 years ago.
'But what currently excites nature lovers in the wake of more building on land near Sainsbury’s is the walk through now afforded by a further country park recently completed around the Bagshot Road area, and following in the wake of The Carla Homes' new builds. This new country park affords not only picturesque views but an enjoyable walk through to Brookwood railway station. No longer are pedestrians required to skirt the hard pavements and dodge busy Bagshot Road traffic - And never a ghost they will see!'
(Article by Ann Tilbury – Reproduced Courtesy Woking News & Mail)
Surrey Advertiser - May 2015
Patient's diary notes inspire debut novel
Diary notes written by a patient at a mental hospital in the early part of the 20th century, and secreted in a hollow tree, provide the basis for a Knaphill man’s debut novel.
The Asylum Soul, by resident Mal Foster, tells the harrowing account of Thomas Compton, whose life was ‘ripped apart’ when he was sent to Brookwood Hospital by his mother because he had a speech defect. Mr Foster said: “There is some horror in it, some happier parts and a little bit of spicy stuff as well.
“There is some fact and fiction, because some of the diary notes were missing and you couldn’t read all of it. Essentially, though somewhere between the lines and within the surviving script, there was a unique and harrowing story waiting to be told.”
It was more than two decades ago that a tree surgeon discovered a rusty old tin containing the diary entries of the 23-year-old patient while clearing part of the former Brookwood Hospital grounds during the redevelopment in 1994. Contained in the tin, there was a lock of red hair, a dictionary and most importantly, some leather-bound books filled with diary notes of Mr Compton, who resided at the asylum as far back as 1929.Upon the discovery, the tree surgeon handed it to his foreman, who returned it to its rightful owners in Camberley.
Mr Foster said: “I have been sitting on the story for years and I retired last year, so I thought now is the time to write it. I’ve never written a novel, let alone a 330 page-long novel. I took a writing crash course, which also taught me how to proofread – I’m not saying it’s flawless.” but the Knaphill-based retiree is no stranger to writing. Between 1976 and 2014, he wrote a selection of poems, published in 2012 as Travelling with Strangers and Knaphill (All in One Place), which tell the istory of the village.
Mr Foster began writing The Asylum Soul in July last year and completed the novel in six months. “I’m excited and nervous for people to read it,” Mr Foster said. “My former wife has read it and she has been a big help. I have actually had quite a lot of interest from people saying they can’t wait to read it.”
“I knew there would be quite a lot of people interested in it because I haven’t stopped talking about it,” he added.
The paperback is available from www.lulu.com and www.amazon.co.uk
Surrey Advertiser #2 - October 2016
Pie offers a slice of history...
Literature is being brought to life and put on the menu at a Knaphill pub thanks to a collaboration with an author in the village. A pie recipe featured in a book by Knaphill man Mal Foster and now the words are literally jumping off the page and into punter’s hungry stomachs after staff at The Crown decided to recreate the Knaphill Pie for customers to enjoy.
Mr Foster published his debut novel, The Asylum Soul, in May this year and is thrilled with its five-star reviews on Amazon. Readers have praised the writer for his work and said that they can really identify with the fictitious characters and appreciate the diary format of the novel.
It follows the tale of Thomas Compton, who was a patient at Brookwood Hospital as far back as 1929. The book is loosely based on diary notes, which were discovered in leather-bound books in 1994 during redevelopment works at the hospital site. Thomas, who works on the pig farm at the hospital, is invited to dinner by the head pig farmer’s wife who cooks up the Knaphill Pie.
Mr Foster, 58, who has also had poems published, said: ‘The actual recipe for Knaphill Pie came from a family in Queens Road, Knaphill. They lent me some old books and there were some loose leaf pieces of paper inside and one fell out with the recipe on. All we had was a list of ingredients, bacon, leek, cheese, garlic and mashed potato, so we had to work out how to make the pie.
In the book the bacon comes from pigs slaughtered in the grounds of Brookwood Hospital. I made a couple of my own pies at home and then Sarah at the pub put her own take on it.’ As autumn begins the Knaphill Pie has been added to the array of dishes available at The Crown in Knaphill’s High Street. Its ham hock, leek and cider recipe with a cheesy mash topping is the perfect choice for a cosy filling meal.
Pub owner Sarah Nubeebuckus-Jones told the Woking Advertiser ‘I have read the book and then there was a conversation in the pub about Knaphill Pie. One evening I just said that I would make a version of it and then it went from there and people asked if it would be on the menu. I thought that it was coming into autumn so we could put it on the menu. Once I made my first batch I asked Mal to try it and he said it was spot on.’
And the pie is definitely a popular choice for diners as the second batch has already sold out and more will be made. Mrs Nubeebuckus-Jones added: ‘It is nice to have a dish with a story. People ask about the Knaphill Pie and we can tell them the story behind it.’
(Article by Beth Woodger, Surrey Advertiser - October 2016)
Writing Magazine - January 2016
A tale of incarceration
“In 1994 I was alerted to the fact that during redevelopment an old tin had been found in a hollow tree in the grounds of what was left of the old Brookwood Lunatic Asylum in Knaphill, near Woking Surrey. The tin contained a number of artefacts belonging to a young male patient who had resided at the asylum as far back as 1929. These included some scribbled diary notes, not enough to simply reproduce, but enough to inspire me to eventually write my debut novel, The Asylum Soul some twenty years later,” says author Mal Foster.
“I am a keen advocate of self-publishing and have been consistently enlightened and inspired by the many authors whose success stories have appeared in Writing Magazine across the years. Now was the time to follow suit I thought.
I knew I would need some assistance and I had no hesitation in going to PublishNation whose advertisement I had previously seen in Writing Magazine. They provided a quality and cost-effective service. I was also aware that despite that old saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’ I would need something special to draw people to the story inside the book. I went to a company called Spiffing Covers whose professional design based on an early synopsis of my book was spot on.
The most challenging part of my publishing journey so far however has been in the promotion of the book. I began looking at alternative angles and where I should send my press releases. Quite soon local radio and newspapers were in contact and I also enjoyed a very successful book launch at my local pub. As a result, a bacon and leek pie which is mentioned in the novel is now on their new winter menu!
Next, I feel that I need to expand my marketing approach beyond the local boundaries and this is where social media such as Facebook and Twitter has already helped. I believe the marketing of any book is ongoing and that no title should have a ‘sell-by date’. After all, from my own experience, having written and then self-published my first novel I believe that I owe it to myself to continue peddling the book as best I can.”
The Asylum Soul is available in Kindle and paperback formats from Amazon.co.uk and Lulu.com
(Reproduced - Courtesy : Writing Magazine)
Brookwood Magazine - May 2017
Our attention has been drawn to The Asylum Soul, a debut novel by local author, Mal Foster, which is available in paperback and on Kindle.
Lunatic asylums were an inescapable hangover of Victorian Britain and they harnessed a certain stigma borne from an environment of fear and shame as well as the great unknown. For many families the asylum system helped create their darkest 'skeletons', and for Thomas (Tommy) Compton, it was unforgiving. In 1929 he was 23 years old when his mother had him sent to the Brookwood Lunatic Asylum in Surrey, his only ailment – a simple speech defect. Based on Tommy's own diary notes, The Asylum Soul is a disturbing account of an innocent young life ripped apart by unthinkable institutional failings, false hope and ultimate family betrayal.
Amongst the customer reviews is this one by David Pennant - ‘I bought this e-book because I live near Brookwood Hospital, where the action takes place, and have been interested in it for twenty years. It's also nice to support a local author. I did not have high expectations for the book itself in advance, to be honest. My prejudice has been shattered. I am almost halfway through, and I am finding it compulsive reading.
The story is well told, and the picture that emerges of the institution is fascinating. It is easy now to rant against the former practice of locking up supposedly mentally ill people without the opportunity for appeal. In reality, there must have been good sides as well as bad to life there. I find the treatment of the day-to-day running of the place utterly convincing. I am also intrigued to discover how the story ends. The account is a diary of an inmate, from 1929 onwards. He shares his thoughts and feelings as well as recounting the events of each day. I find I care what happens to him – always the mark of a good read, to my mind.'
'I also enjoy the ambiguity in the title: is this a book about an individual, or is it a book about the soul of the hospital? You don't need to have an interest in mental health to enjoy this book. I would commend it to anybody interested in human relationships of any kind. The language used is straightforward making for easy reading. Enjoy!'
Writing Magazine #2 - October 2016
Who wrote all the pie?
"Many of us see self-publishing as the most obvious route to getting our work in print but what happens after that? How do we market our books?" Asks author Mal Foster.
"In the lead-up to the publication of my debut novel The Asylum Soul, and given that much of its content could be of local interest, I was more than aware of the need to promote the book on a local platform. A follow-up article in my local newspaper picks up on the Knaphill Pie, an old local recipe which is mentioned in the novel and is a typical example of the marketing avenue sthat I have recently been exploring. The result, a renewed interest in the book and increased sales!"
The Surrey Advertiser reported that... ‘Literature is being brought to life and put on the menu at a Knaphill pub thanks to a collaboration with an author in the village. A pie recipe featured in a book... Mal Foster published his debut novel, The Asylum Soul, in May and is thrilled with its five-star reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. Readers have praised the writer for his work and said that they can really identify with the fictitious characters and appreciate the diary format of the novel.’
The book tells the story of twenty-three year old Tommy Compton who was incarcerated at the Brookwood Lunatic Asylum in 1929. The asylum was closed in 1994.
The actual recipe for the Knaphill Pie came from a family in Queens Road, Knaphill, near Woking in Surrey whilst I was researching material for the novel. They lent me some old books and there were some loose leaf pieces of paper inside and one fell out with the recipe on. There was a list of ingredients, bacon, leek, cheese, garlic and mashed potato, so all I had to do was to work out how to make the pie.’
In the book, the bacon comes from pigs slaughtered in the grounds of the old asylum. I made a couple of my own pies at home and then the landlady at the pub put her own take on it. The landlady at The Crown, Sarah Nubeebuckus-Jones who has read the book had a conversation with regulars in the pub about the pie. She then decided to make a version of it and now it’s top of the list on the pub’s main menu.
My advice to everyone is to interrogate their book’s subject matter, try not to overlook the finer points; there could be something there which might just warrant that extra publicity.
(Reproduced - Courtesy : Writing Magazine)
SURREY HILLS RADIO – INTERVIEW - May 2022
Mal answered questions by presenter Jon Andrews about the concept of his debut novel, 'The Asylum Soul', and what inspired the story. LISTEN
(Note: Mal had a ten-minute slot in this two-hour show which commenced in 42nd minute)
RADIO WOKING - WE LOVE WOKING SHOW - August 2015
Mal talking about his debut novel 'The Asylum Soul' and what inspired him to write on Radio Woking with Zahir Ahmed and Jackie Witney -LISTEN
RADIO WEY - BREAKFAST WITH JON ANDREWS - July 2015
Mal talking about his debut novel 'The Asylum Soul' and what inspired him to write on Radio Wey with Jon Andrews -LISTEN
