A Different Direction

It’s been five years since I released my first book.

I never thought it would take me so long to release another.

‘Jack the Ripper: Threads’ will always be special to me. It was my debut novel on a subject I am deeply interested in. That subject being history’s most infamous serial killer cold case, and how I believe James Maybrick was the murderer.

I may revisit this topic in the future through a different medium. Possibly as a podcast.

No more books on it. For now, at least.

I do know that my writing career, moving forward, will not be based purely on Jack the Ripper or James Maybrick.

I had been working on ‘The Londoner’ as an idea for years. It began as a small idea, then slowly became an entire world. This alternate reality now feels fully formed in my head.

However, it wasn’t easy to get here.

As yet, I do not write full-time. It is not my main source of income. So I had jobs. Life commitments.

Also during this time, I found myself in an online spat with Ian Bailey (now deceased), whom I believe murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Suddenly, strangers knew things about me they shouldn’t. It became exhausting.

The subject I loved had started attracting the wrong noise.

I genuinely wondered if this was worth continuing.

After much soul-searching, I decided: yes, it is.

I’d write three paragraphs at eleven at night, then not open the manuscript for three weeks. Somewhere along the way, I realised I’d been writing the book I thought I should write, not necessarily the one only I could write.

‘Threads’ is filled with meticulous research and strong prose, and I am proud of it.

However, it does not quite accurately reflect my inner voice. I need to be more authentic to that.

Once I understood who I am as a writer and how I want to write, it became a lot easier to move forward.

I am inspired by the likes of Charles Bukowski’s poetry. Economy of words. Atomic power. Dirty realism.

My favourite poem, which massively inspires me, is “The Genius of the Crowd.”

I also like cinematic writing. I see that as a positive. As a reader, I prefer brevity over purple prose. I like direct. I like pauses. I like silence. My writing style is very much like that.

It won’t appeal to everyone.

What my characters don’t say means more than what they do say.

I also like humour. Nostalgia. Pathos.

‘The Londoner’ is much more me. I have drawn on many of my own experiences in this series and will continue to do so. Write what you know is what you are told.

I know I will lose some readers expecting a continuation of my first book. I am sorry for that. I hope to recruit many more new readers who enjoy the same kind of books I do.

I write for myself first. Not out of selfishness. Because I want the work to be honest. I have to be proud of it. I am very proud of this. Stories have always been the place I disappear to.

If you’ve followed me since ‘Threads’, thank you. If you’re new, welcome. Either way, I think I’ve finally figured out what kind of writer I want to be.

The novella ‘The Londoner: Origins’ is available now FREE for email subscribers.

If you have read this far, thank you for your support. It means a lot.

The Londoer: Book One will be coming soon.