Blog>News>Checkatrade teams up with award-winning author to tell real life DIY horror stories
Last updated: 4 October 2023
Checkatrade teams up with award-winning author to tell real life DIY horror stories
Checkatrade has joined forces with award-winning novelist and oral storyteller Sophie Draper to create 'A Bloody Mess', an exclusive short story recounting the horrors of DIY gone wrong. The short story, downloadable as an eBook, sees Bram Stoker's iconic 'Dracula' get a dramatic makeover just in
Checkatrade has joined forces with award-winning novelist and oral storyteller Sophie Draper to create 'A Bloody Mess', an exclusive short story recounting the horrors of DIY gone wrong.
The short story, downloadable as an eBook, sees Bram Stoker's iconic 'Dracula' get a dramatic makeover just in time for Halloween. Draper's retelling is inspired by real tales of DIY disasters from social media, as well as first-hand horror stories as told by Checkatrade members.
Illustrated by comic book artist Amrit Birdi, the plot sees Jonathan Harker, the main protagonist from Stoker's original, recast as a decorator called in to revamp Dracula's castle. Once inside, Harker encounters a litany of ghoulish home maintenance horrors, including red paint seeping like blood through the door and patterned, chrysanthemum yellow wallpaper horrifyingly hung upside down.
Real life DIY horror stories
Although Stoker's original is purely fantasy, new research conducted on behalf of Checkatrade ahead of the book's release proves that truth can indeed be scarier than fiction.
The research found that almost half (47%) of Brits admit to having had a DIY disaster, with bad paint jobs (34%) and cut fingers/toes (30%) the most common DIY mishaps. Plastering a wall (34%), hanging wallpaper (31%) and fixing a blocked toilet (31%) were top of the list of DIY duties Brits dread and 46% admit they are now scared to try. In fact, 62% of Brits would rather call in a tradesperson than tackle a task themselves for fear of DIY catastrophe.
Modern day DIY nightmare
Speaking ahead of its release, 'A Bloody Mess' author Sophie Draper, said:
"It may be short but this story was huge fun to write – it's based on an absolute classic but modified to reflect those modern-day nightmares all homeowners can relate to, adding an extra level of spooky domestic suspense.
"I loved the idea that a building project might be transposed to darkest Transylvania, and my biggest challenge was which of the multitude of DIY disaster scenarios to feature."
Mike Fairman, CEO of Checkatrade, commented:
"Many of us are willing to take a stab at some household tasks, we might even relish the challenge, but alongside the triumphs come the inevitable DIY difficulties and horror stories.
"As such, the prospect of tackling mysterious dripping noises, baffling blockages and shocking electrics can prove all too daunting, especially at this time of year, so the moral of this story is that it could be well worth calling in a qualified expert if you find yourself in a fix."
"At Checkatrade, we're committed to making it as easy and safe as possible for people to find vetted trade experts so your home renovations and repairs don't turn into a nightmare. We do at least 12 checks on every single member, meaning our verified tradespeople are second to none when it comes to planning your next home project."
To download Sophie Draper and Checkatrade's new 'A Bloody Mess' eBook and learn more about how Checkatrade professionals can help you avoid or repair those DIY disasters, click here.
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