My debut novel, The Vellum Morta, is going to be available from the 1^st May. As you would expect, I am rather excited about this. Hours of writing and editing coming together at last. I am, however, conscious that this is book one of a trilogy, so there is still much to do.

I have been thinking back to how it started, so I thought I would share a little about how the story came together in the dark, and perhaps warped, recesses of my mind.

The titular Vellum Morta is a piece of vellum that is produced from skin flayed from the body of the God Heldron. There, I’ve said it. It is pretty grim. I don’t want anybody running away with the idea that I have an unhealthy obsession with torture and generally gruesome practices. However, once this thought of a piece of human parchment was in my head, there was no shifting it and the rest of the story began to unfurl.

With this rather unsettling spectacle of flaying in my mind, I moved onto the names – places and characters. The story is set in the city of Cap Freyn and our main character, indeed the voice of the tale, is a grizzled, older assassin called Blayne. As you journey through the Cap, you will also meet Lady Oryanne, Lord Eschvar and the intriguing Tylaena.

The final piece for my initial thoughts was how to incorporate some Gods. I have read, and re-read, the tales of Greek mythology many times over the years. The interaction between mortal and immortal in these myths has always fascinated me. As has the frankly appalling behaviour of many of these deities! The inclusion of an immortal or two was a must have for me.

So, the foundation was set and the story could begin. It only remains for me to say, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.