Frequently Asked Questions
Q&A with the Author
About The Sister Redux
Q: Why did you 'redux' (meaning bring back or revive) The Sister?
A: I needed to revisit the story to research my next novel. It was my first book. I thought I could cut some fat, make the story clearer and more engaging. In the end, I trimmed it by about a third.
Q: The Sister references a cult, but that thread was never fully resolved. Was that deliberate?
A: Yes. The Sister was always intended to be the first in a series under The Miller Stories label. The cult storyline was never meant to be wrapped up in one book — it continues in the follow-up novel, The Resurrectionists. Life and work delayed the writing, but that project is now firmly back on track.
Q: Was The Sister always envisioned as part of a series?
A: Absolutely. The character of Miller was created to carry a broader narrative arc. The first book introduces the world — the second expands it. A lot was left unresolved in The Sister by design.
Q: Can you give us a quick summary of the cult storyline?
A: It begins with the disappearance of heiress Olga Kale, who is drawn into a cult operating under the guise of spiritual enlightenment. Miller uncovers the group while researching mind control techniques in an old library book. His investigation takes him to Piccadilly Circus, where he sees them recruiting, and then to Amsterdam, where their headquarters are based.
Recruits are isolated, love-bombed, and manipulated. Miller infiltrates the group and rescues Olga. Her father, billionaire Donovan Kale, uses his power to dismantle the cult.
About The Resurrectionists
Q: How does The Resurrectionists pick up the story?
A: Two years after the events of The Sister, the cult re-emerges. This time it’s rebranded as The Church of the Resurrectionists of Monte Cristo and is far more ambitious. Led by a shadowy former cult recruiter, Carlos, the group now seeks to infiltrate the Vatican.
Q: That’s quite a leap — from mind control to the Vatican. Was that a natural progression?
A: It was always part of the long game. The cult isn’t just about controlling individuals — it’s about influence, faith, and power. Their plan involves using a figure known as The Seer to discredit the pope, force his resignation, and install their own man, with the goal of controlling 1.2 billion Catholics.
Q: Donovan Kale returns in The Resurrectionists. What’s his role?
A: Initially, he dismantled the cult. But when he learns Carlos is alive — and sees the scale of influence and wealth involved — he switches sides. Power corrupts, and Kale’s betrayal shifts the dynamic in a major way.
Q: The idea of billionaires infiltrating the Vatican sounds far-fetched. Was that the point?
A: Maybe once. But now? Billionaires influence elections, control media, and fund wars. Why not religion? The idea felt extreme when I first started writing it. It doesn’t anymore.
Q: What is The Sister’s role in this?
A: That’s part of the twist. She’s already embedded in the Vatican when The Resurrectionists begins. How she got there — and what she’s doing — is central to the story.
Behind the Books
Q: Where did the idea for the cult come from?
A: It started with a fascination with manipulation — how people can be coerced when they’re vulnerable. Cults are built on charisma, control, and filling emotional gaps. That became the springboard for the story.
Q: Why Amsterdam?
A: It’s a place with contrasts — open-minded and liberal on the surface, but like any city, it has shadows. A cult could operate there quietly and effectively.
Q: What’s next for The Miller Stories?
A: The Resurrectionists is in motion now. After that, Miller’s journey continues — each story pulling at a different thread of power, belief, and control.
Author Contact / Media Inquiries
For interviews, ARCs, or speaking engagements, please contact:
Max
Email: Max@skinnybirdproductions.com
Website: https://maxchina.co.uk/