Is Betrayal of the Soul, an autobiography in disguise? asks Kathy Kelso

Well, here we are again. I’m with Mal Foster, talking to him about his forthcoming novel, ‘Betrayal of the Soul.’ Having read an early draft of the manuscript, I can confirm that Mal really does know how to deliver the WOW factor.

Mal, who has been revelling in the success of his previous book, ‘In the Shadow of Marc Bolan’, for the past two years, has somehow found the time to write something that is more than just profound. Something that is thought-provoking and definitely something people will talk about. Here’s the blurb…

Johnny Tinder is the epitome of being one's own worst enemy. Indeed, the handsome, yet ill-starred former local journalist and would-be private investigator wages a personal battle against himself amid a life of emotional turmoil, existential struggle, regrettable misdemeanours, and long-term despair. As with many other poor souls, Johnny’s life had been mapped out for him by negative events that occurred during childhood and throughout his adolescent years.

Now in his late forties, Johnny finally realises it is time to step back, reflect, and work out how to change his ways. He doesn't like the person he has become. Johnny has never forgotten Catherine, a girl he describes as ‘the love of my life’, whom he unceremoniously dumped some twenty years earlier. He wants to put things right, but he feels his long-lost love will almost certainly reject him if he attempts to re-enter her life. In a harrowing twist, he faces a situation far, far worse than that! 

So, Mal, what inspired you to write something that seems very personal?

“Firstly, I must emphasise that this is purely a work of fiction. It is a novel, after all. What made me want to write the story? I don’t know. Maybe there was something lurking in my subconscious, waiting to get out.”

I get the feeling ‘Betrayal of the Soul’ is your autobiography in disguise?

Ha, ha. You know me too well. I’ve said many times that I’ve always believed in the notion that I should write what I know. It’s always worked well for me, and it is the same advice I would pass on to any aspiring writers, still pondering the pros and cons of storytelling and seeing their work in print.

The book hits on some very sensitive subject matter. What on earth…?

Mal interrupts. “It does. Having reached the age I’m at, I now feel comfortable looking back and sharing some of my life’s experiences. Yes, some of them I have encountered myself. Other storylines are slightly exaggerated, and others are simply based on wishful thinking. All that said, the book is NOT about me. Well, not the current me. My protagonist, Johnny Tinder, is perhaps a younger version of myself, although when I was in my late forties, I think my own life had settled down a bit by then.”

How do you create your characters?

“I think of people I know, or used to know. I match their personalities. Sometimes I may merge two people into one. Zac Merrick, the hippie-type, in 'Betrayal of the Soul', is a perfect example. Back in the seventies and eighties, I used to know a Dave and a Paul. Zac has elements of both of them in his character.”

And how do you come up with character names?

“Sometimes I ask my readers for suggestions. Zac Merrick is one such example. Some people even ask to have a character named after themselves. Often, I think back to the street where I grew up in Camberley. I used to know the names of everyone who lived in every house. In many of my novels, I’ve mixed their first and last names to come up with a new character.”

Given the subject matter in the book. I get the feeling you needed to open up your heart and get something out?

“Most definitely. Men my age clam up. Too proud perhaps to share how they feel. Many of us have led lives of regret and keep those misdemeanours to ourselves. We tend to stew on our frailties. What I’ve done here is to expose my inner self through the protagonist. The book is mostly about honesty and opening up. Accepting all that has gone wrong before and apologising to those affected.”

Is there such a thing as a midlife awakening?

“Yes. More commonly known as a midlife crisis, I believe all men go through one at some stage. Mine came late. It’s when you look back on the past and think about what you could have done differently. You also think about what you should have done and what you should not have done. It’s also about the realisation that age is taking its grip, that it’s now too late to do certain things. Time is like a wrecking ball, and it's difficult to accept that certain elements of your life will, by default, change forever.”

Do you think the book will sell well?

“Put it this way. I hope people will enjoy the book and understand its sentiment. I’m not in novel writing for the money. It’s simply a hobby. With regards to sales, if I break even, that’s great. Anything else is a bonus.”

Whom do you write for?

“Originally, I would have said just myself. Some of my regular readers tell me that they don’t read that many books, so I try to keep my writing simple and relatable. I always write in the first person, something I learnt to do when I played the part of Lt Joe Cable in an amateur stage version of South Pacific as far back as 1983. I like to get into the character of my protagonists. That way, I feel I’m speaking directly to my readers through them.”

Many of your readers say that they always like to “fight the corner” of your protagonists. How do you feel about that?

“Mission accomplished. If you write something, you want it to create a reaction. Any reaction proves that someone has taken the time to read my book. If they actually come to you with some positive feedback afterwards, that really is the proverbial icing on the cake.”

'Betrayal of the Soul’ is published by Publish Nation and is due out towards the end of June 2026. It will be available in paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon. 

Mal Foster was talking to Kathy Kelso – 12 June 2026