Welcome to Always True Crime, a podcast network bringing you gripping real-life stories that you won't be able to stop thinking about.

Discover your next true crime obsession at alwaystruecrime.com.

In this episode, debut crime author C. Tom Zabel reveals how a publishing scam nearly ended his dream before it began.

From growing up with Talapies to writing The Manichens,

he shares how obsession, resilience and dark inspiration shaped his story.

What drove him to keep going when everything fell apart?

To order your copy of The Manikins, head to seethomsarbell.com.com.uk or Amazon. You can grab a signed copy at Christian's website or you can buy the Kindle version or whatever you like on Amazon. There is a link in this episode's description.

And before we jump in, please hit that follow button on your podcast player. It's a zero cost way to support the show

and really does help it reach more people who are interested in true crime. To listen ad free,

head to patreon.com forward slash British murders. Now let's get into it. Hello everyone. I am here

with a very special guest who means a lot to me. He's a close friend. He nods his

head when he talks. That's what I'm doing now. You can't see it, but I am. That's one of my

favorite mannerisms about you, by the way. It's Christian Tom's Arbell. See Tom's Arbell as you go by

nowadays. You are now about to be a published author for the first time. How does that feel, sir? Yeah, well, first of all, thanks for having me on the show. I think this is the third time of you're here in the show. I did two of your British murders. Third? Yeah, because I did two. Oh, you did. I did the Scottish guy. What was his name? Yes, Patrick Mackay. Mackay, did Patrick McI and the Hintz Akai back? I forgot about that. Yeah, I remember the Hinter Kaifik. I forgot about that first one, yeah. I've sort of jumped in there just without introducing you properly. So Christian is not only a friend of mine, but he's a published author.

And he's been on the show twice.

He's told you the story of Patrick Mackay and the Hint of Kaifek murders, which I think

that kind of stuck with you with that one, didn't it?

Because we'll come on to the book and your inspiration for it.

But for anyone that doesn't know, Christian and I met in 2014

are a little festival called Creamfields in Dairsbury, Cheshire, and it's a rave festival.

And Christian, who, how tall are you claiming to be now? Because it changes every time we speak.

Last time I checked, six foot seven.

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