In this thought-provoking interview, we delve into the creative mind of author J J Noad, exploring the intricate themes of memory, time, and reality that shape his debut novel, Fractured Echoes. From the inspiration behind his compelling characters to the vivid settings that breathe life into his story, Noad shares his writing process, the challenges he faced, and the messages he hopes readers will take to heart.
But first, who is J J Noad?
J J Noad is the author of Fractured Echoes and the forthcoming Residual Echoes, psychological suspense novels exploring memory, mystery, and the fragile boundary between reality and loss.
A long-time resident of Lancashire, he draws deeply on its towns, coastlines, and histories to shape the unsettling worlds of his fiction. The streets, shadows, and silences of the region provide both backdrop and inspiration, grounding his stories in a sense of place that is as real as it is haunting.
J J Noad‘s Books
- Fractured Echoes plays with memory, time, and reality—what first inspired you to explore these themes?
It started with a few thoughts that wouldn’t leave me alone. One idea was that, within three generations, most of us will be forgotten apart from our names. Another was how people drift in and out of our lives, and unless they’re very close, we just accept they’ve gone and move on. Thirdly, that feeling of uncertainty or déjà vu. And then there are dreams, how they can feel completely real, yet slip away as soon as we wake up. Somewhere between those ideas, the story began to take shape. My interest in psychology and behaviour probably pushed those ideas further. I wanted to explore how memory and perception shape what we believe is real.
- Mick Holden is such an intriguing character. How did he come to life for you?
Mick was meant to be the hero from start to finish, but as the story developed, I realised his path was already set. He came to me quite fully formed, someone who’d been left behind by his choices and by circumstance, someone we might all recognise. We never really know what happens in people’s lives when we’re not around them, and I wanted to explore that idea. When you reach a certain age, people see you through their own lens, shaped by their experiences. You become something different to each of them. In that way, I think we can all be Mick. And like him, we sometimes fill the gaps in ourselves by focusing too much on one thing.
- The setting feels vivid and atmospheric. Did you base it on a real location, or is it entirely imagined?
Blackpool is real, but I changed a few details to fit the story. I lived there, so I know how the town shifts between the high season and the quiet months. That change in rhythm leaves a mark, the sense that people come and go all the time. With so many seasonal workers, it’s hard to tell who’s just moved on and who’s vanished. That made it the perfect backdrop for a story about memory and disappearance.
- Can you walk us through your typical writing process—are you more of a planner or a “discover as you go” type of writer?
I start with an outline, A to B to C, and then break it into chunks that might become chapters. In my business and academic writing, I’d plan every detail. But with Fractured Echoes, it was different. I began with a single idea: older people losing relevance as work fades, routine taking over, and how easily we forget those who slip from view. From there, I explored why we don’t notice people dropping out of our lives.
Most of the early work went into a green Moleskine notebook, bullet points, questions, bits of dialogue. I’d turn those into beats, then scenes, then chapters. I was fully committed to the idea of a poor first draft. It helped me see the story take shape. It went through four full redrafts before reaching beta readers, then another couple before the final version. I set daily goals: five beats a day, then one scene a day, four days a week, about an hour a day.
- What was the most challenging part of writing Fractured Echoes?
The hardest part was motivation. The story grew out of thinking about how people fade from memory and how easily someone’s life can slip from view. It made me reflect on how little we sometimes know about the people around us, even those once close. I was never sure if the story would work because it asks readers to fill in some of the gaps themselves. Then I began to see that as its strength. We all experience loss and memory differently, so each reader might take something unique from it. I just had to trust the process. Having beta readers share their thoughts really helped; it meant more work, but it also confirmed that the story was worth telling.
- What message or feeling do you hope readers take away after finishing the book?
I hope readers feel the importance of connection. We often assume we know what’s going on in other people’s lives, but we rarely see the full picture. I wanted to challenge that kind of comfort we take in assuming. The story isn’t about fear; it’s more about unease, that quiet sense that something is missing or not quite right. If readers finish the book and start to look at the people around them a little differently, then it’s done its job.
- When did you first realise you wanted to be an author?
I’m not sure I ever had that moment. I’d already written business books, academic pieces, and magazine articles, so I knew I could communicate an idea. But I never set out thinking, I want to be a novelist. One day, I started writing things down, small thoughts, bits of dialogue, just to get them out of my head, as they were distracting me from the day job. That’s probably why notebooks and writing things down feature in the book. Then I wrote a bit more. At some point, I decided to give it some structure, and that became Fractured Echoes.
- Who are some writers or books that have influenced your style or approach to storytelling?
I’ve always enjoyed the Maigret detective novels and the way those stories are told. I later discovered that Georges Simenon would often write a book in a week, completely absorbed in it. Fractured Echoes took me about seven months, but that idea of total focus really appealed to me.
Anthony Price’s Audley books also influenced me. I liked how he wove history into each spy story; it grounded the plot and gave it depth. In my own writing, I wanted to leave space for the reader to fill in the blanks. None of the characters are described in full detail; I prefer readers to see their own version in their mind as they go.
- What has been the most surprising part of your publishing journey so far?
The difference between the first draft and the final book was incredible. Getting feedback, beyond family, who are always supportive, gave me the push to keep going. The first reviews were a huge boost, too. Putting something creative out there is always an emotional risk, so hearing from people who genuinely connected with it mattered a lot. Three moments stand out: the proofreader telling me he’d buy the book himself, and the voice actor for the audiobook saying it was unsettling (in a good way), Getting a Must Read rating was a great moment. That made me feel I’d achieved what I set out to do.
- Can you give us a glimpse into what you’re working on next?
I want my main character, Alice, to continue her journey. Her next story is already at the first-draft stage. This book looks back at how everything in Fractured Echoes came to be, focusing more on the origins. I can clearly see two more experiences ahead for her after this one, so it feels like the start of a wider story that’s still unfolding.
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