Menticide [The Awakening] follows a programmer who discovers a plot against the oppressed population of her city and sets out to stop the perpetrators with the help of a covert group of digital warriors. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I drew inspiration from classic cyberpunk themes and contemporary societal issues, and wanted to create a richly layered world filled with morally ambiguous characters, pulse-pounding action, and thought-provoking commentary on the perils of unchecked technological and corporate advancement. The story is one of good (ish!) against evil or David versus Goliath, charting the journey of a reluctant hero into a world that she had faithfully promised to keep away from.

Do you have a favorite scene in Menticide? One that was especially enjoyable to envision and bring to life?

I have several, but I’ve selected Cassandra’s pursuit through the Lower District. Having a plot that I had meticulously prepared and crafted was enjoyable to bring to life, however I kept a few scenes less planned, so I could write in more of a pantser style. I found this style of writing suited this scene well and as an author, I could really get under the skin of the protagonist and prise out the tension and adrenaline by writing in this way. It allowed me to almost embody the character and make the horror and chilling narrative feel more believable.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

One of the main themes of the story is about control and subsequent oppression. This has arisen from both poorly checked and monitored corporate and technological advancement, where the latter has permitted a symbiotic relationship between man and machine. Imagine where AI was five years ago to where it is today – then imagine where it will be over 130 years into the future! Technology is progressing at a lightning quick rate and I wanted to write speculative dystopian fiction surrounding the consequential erosion of humanity and quality of life. I enjoyed also exploring the symbiotic tie between the corporation and the cybergangs; a sort of upstairs downstairs relationship that had evolved in this new era. The food chain is such that whilst the corporation sits firmly at the top, it needs prey in order to survive and thrive. Despite being in a high technology era, nature finds its way and consequently, history has a tendency to repeat itself through resistance and the battle to level inequality.

Can you give readers a glimpse inside book 2 of the BINARY series?

Book 2 is entitled Neon Rush and takes place less than 24 hours after the final page of Menticide. The story takes us to a manmade island located just offshore from New Babylon, which is the home of the Neon Rush, a publically broadcasted weaponised and violent race through terrifying stages designed to push drivers to their limits. The story is non-stop, pulse pounding action where the inference of inter-gang conflict and corporate control becomes even more evident. Whereas Menticide (book 1) focuses on Cassandra’s journey, Neon Rush will continue this arc, but also draw in more characters from rival gangs. I wanted to continue to embelish New Babylon’s underworld and enrich the story outside of Paradise and the Neon Reapers, but also to show the extent to which humanity has gone in order to survive. The characters we meet along the way will develop the premise of book 3, which will return to the metropolis. Expect thrills, chills, and a few shed tears.

Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon