Robert Dinsdale has been interviewed by Fantasy Hive, the vibrant UK site celebrating fantasy, science fiction and horror fiction. In her in-depth conversation with Robert, Nils Shukla goes behind the scenes of Once a Monster, exploring how this imaginative retelling of the Minotaur legend came to be and why Victorian London was the perfect setting for this story.
Set in London in 1861, Once a Monster follows ten-year-old Nell, a mudlark scraping a living from the Thames’s mudbanks, who discovers a strange and wounded man with the scars of myth woven into his flesh. As Nell nurses him back to health, the narrative blends gritty historical realism with a mythic reimagining of ancient legend.
In the interview, Robert reflects on his lifelong fascination with Greek myths, especially the Minotaur, and describes how Victorian London with its buried rivers and subterranean world became a rich backdrop for the novel. He also offers insight into his characters, including Nell and Benjamin Murdstone, and talks candidly about his approach to editing and the storytelling process.
Read the full interview on Fantasy Hive to discover more about the inspirations behind Once a Monster, Robert’s creative process and his hopes for what readers take away from the story.