The following is an interview with author S.B. Caves regarding the release of the thriller novel, Honeycomb, through publisher Datura Books. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Caves about his creative process in bringing the world and characters to life on the page, what he hopes that readers may take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of Honeycomb! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the book’s premise, and what inspired you to tell this story?
S.B. Caves: Honeycomb is about a burned-out, washed-up one-hit wonder who is offered the chance to take part in a social experiment (which, in the small print, also has an element of medical testing) to help alleviate her financial woes. Along with five other strangers, Amanda will spend a week in an old mansion, and every day the participants are required to take a pill (five will be taking placebos, and one person will be taking a revolutionary drug, though they aren’t told what it does). And of course, things go awry quickly!
The inspiration for the story came from a couple of different places. But I once randomly saw a YouTube video about what happens when a beehive rejects a queen. The beekeeper has to put the queen in something called a ‘Queen Cage’ to keep it safe, otherwise the other bees will try to kill it. But that phrase ‘Queen Cage’ really intrigued me and stuck in my head.
BD: You have deftly intertwined the appeal of celebrity culture with the twists and turns of a dramatic thriller. How would you describe your creative process in weaving these elements together while bringing the story and characters to life on the page?
SBC: I’m not really sure how it all works if I’m honest. I don’t tend to write an outline beforehand or plan much. A lot of the story kind of unravels as I sit down to write it (but I’ll have a rough idea of where I’m going). A lot of the book starts out as still imagery in my head. I had a scene playing out detailing a distressed woman banging on the windows of a mansion, begging for help, and for the people on the other side of the window being unable to open the doors or windows.
So, I start writing and can only see a few steps in front of me, but my brain kind of downloads the story as I go along. Of course, this sometimes leaves me open to walking into a wall or having to do a lot of heavy editing on the manuscript afterwards, but in this instance, Honeycomb came together very smoothly.
I have tried to plot novels beforehand but found that I don’t really enjoy it.
The characters are a law unto themselves. A lot of the time, I don’t know much about them, and they tend to reveal their identities through dialogue or mannerisms that I hadn’t consciously planned. That sounds weird and mystical, but it’s more about spontaneity I suppose.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Amanda’s story may connect with and impact readers?
SBC: Amanda is only in her twenties but has already been through so much; from dealing with overnight fame as a reality TV singing competition winner, to then becoming a nationwide laughingstock as the fame dissipated. There’s also a lot in the book about paranoia, drug use, online embarrassment, and the need for redemption. It’s not something I planned, but the book does deal with the pursuit of fame, at any cost, no matter how toxic it may be.
There’s a quote by the late comedian Patrice O’Neal that I can’t remember verbatim, but in essence he says that fame is a beast that chews people up and spits them out. And even though everyone knows that’s how it works, there’s always a queue of people lining up to go into the beast’s mouth.
BD: Do you foresee expanding the novel into subsequent books or even into other entertainment mediums, if given the opportunity?
SBC: The story stands alone really well, but it does leave a few suggestions for the reader to think about beyond the final page. But if given the opportunity to expand beyond the book in any medium, I’d jump at it. There’s definitely a lot to play with and I love these characters so much!
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
SBC: Currently working with my agent to fine-tune a new novel, which is about a woman who is haunted by a crime she committed as a teenager, and now, in middle-age, must confront what she did. It’s a really dark psychological thriller that straddles the horror fence but has a constant sense of dread throughout. I’m quite excited about it!
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Honeycomb and your other work?
SBC: You can follow me on Twitter/X: @SB_Caves, Instagram: s.b_caves, or directly at my website: www.sbcaves.com
